October NewsLetter

Dear Friends & Family,

We have friends everywhere and lots of family too. I am most thankful for both! I have a story to tell, its one of those stories called, "Gods Mysterious Ways." His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways....

I knew of an elderly lady, Alice Gilkerson, through my friend Sharon Lacheney who resides in South Carolina. She told me of Alice a number of months ago. I started to send Alice our monthly newsletters while she lived in her own apartment. I inquired a lot about Alice through Sharon and Sharon would keep me updated on how she was doing. Sharon said she really enjoyed our newsletters. Alice’s health wasn’t to good and she was moved to a nursing home, her daughter Kathryn was her care taker until then. I continued to send her our letters. One day not to long ago I decided to call Alice in the nursing home to speak with her and encourage her over the phone. Alice lived in Paris, Illinois. It took her a few minutes to understand who I was. As soon as she knew, she was happy to hear from me. By speaking to Alice I could tell she was a Christian and was a sweet, wonderful lady. I would soon call Alice again. Before I could call again, on Sept. 22, 2003 Alice went to be with the Lord. Before she died Alice wanted no flowers at her funeral, instead she wanted donations to our ministry as a memorial to her. What a blessing it was and still is to see the donations come in the mail. It is so awesome!!! God has a plan for us. And I cant wait to see what it is! This was so mysterious that we met her through a friend, and never met face to face, and Alice believed in our ministry and what we were doing enough to have donations given in her memory. I'm excited to see what God is going to do in our ministry!! And I look forward to seeing Alice on those streets of gold!!

Alterra-Oct. 2- Today was one of David’s training days so it was me and sister Betty. We had a good service and a short devotional. Please pray for this assisted care facility that the staff would get the people into the service. They need to hear God’s word.

Cedar Hills-Oct. 6- Today’s service was good although there were fewer people in attendance. There are always disruptions here most of the time and the devil is the cause of it. Ms. Cooney is the welcoming committee and she does a lot of evangelizing in the home so we give her extra gospel tracts. She told me today she is trying to start a library in the prison in Lake City, Florida and she is asking for donations of books for the library. If you can help by giving books, please contact me and let me know. Its great to see a nursing home resident doing great things for the Lord. I will share something that happened to us in the services that was truly of God! David was giving an illustration as to how sin had us in bondage before Jesus set us free. David said it was like being in handcuffs (in bondage) but that Jesus had (or was) the key to open those handcuffs! One of our residents (Ralph Hall) blurted out (perhaps testifying) that Jesus did that (opened the handcuffs) while His hands were nailed to the cross. Wow, that will preach, consider the theology behind that one!

Life Care Center-Oct 9- We had a nice service today. Bro Watkins was there. Bro Watkins expressed that he might like to preach a sermon (because he tried to start a study group in the nursing home that didn’t really work). We suggested that if he wanted to preach a sermon, it would bless us (and his fellow residents). Bro Watkins said he would pray about it! It would be a tremendous sermon, that this 100 year old preacher would preach, and we look forward to it!

Cedar Hills-Oct. 14- We had a nice service today. David preached a good message the Lord impressed upon him that morning. And as always, he presented a clear presentation on salvation.

Alterra-Oct 16- We started singing and didn’t have any residents present, we were a little discouraged but finally the staff started getting the residents to the service. Sis Shasta came and brought her baby Victoria and Mark. The residents love to see Victoria. We sang and the message was brought and it was a nice service.

Life Care Center-Oct. 23- The services were quite unusual today as Pat was sick and we overlooked one small item (my guitar). Well, we made a joyful noise unto the Lord and we had a few visitors (that were visiting some residents) that attended our services. Shasta was a blessing to the residents and we just give God the glory for all He is doing. Pray for Everett Watkins as he is struggling with pneumonia (pretty serious at 100 yoa). We preached a message on two unbelievable facts; God is a God of tremendous grace and mercy (in spite of our incapability of perfection) and that we have a Father that will never, never, never leave us or let us go, in spite of what we truly deserve.

Please Pray: Our family, Residents in the nursing homes, Salvation to the unsaved.

In Christ,

David, Pat & Rachel