E is a Christian and recently rededicated her life to God, and I’ve really noticed a change in her life; her humble and servant-like heart really challenges and encourages me. We eat lunch together after our Sunday services, and she always volunteers to help wash all the dishes. I personally don’t like to use plasticware, and maybe E doesn’t enjoy to either, but her willingness to help shows me how much she appreciates us and wants to serve.
Happy Birthday!
This past Sunday we held our monthly birthday celebration for the residents at GB. The residents really appreciate our small efforts to celebrate their birthdays with them; we usually just pick up a cake that Sunday morning and head over to GB. This past Sunday we had planned to celebrate J’s birthday, but after lunch everyone was cleaning up and J headed back to his apartment. No one had mentioned to him his birthday celebration, so he was so pleased and happy when H called him back and he saw all of us waiting with a cake. It was encouraging to see how the residents have grown closer to one another through our Sunday services and fellowship; they heartily sang “Happy Birthday” to J, and even jokingly thanked him for his birthday so that they could all enjoy the delicious birthday cake together!
J is not a Christian, but has been gradually opening his heart so that he is more responsive to people and to the gospel, and he always listens attentively to the Sunday messages. His participation during praise and his presence during our mingling times show he is increasingly comfortable with us. I really pray that through these steps of faith that we take through our ministry at GB, J will open his heart to God and know Him personally.
Grandma B
In the past when Grandma B could not attend our services, some of us would rush over to her room to sing some hymns for her after our worship service ended. Some of the times we visited, she wasn’t eating well or was in some pain. But as soon as we would start singing, she would close her eyes, turn her face upward, smile, and begin to sing along with us. It seemed that her discomfort and unhappiness would temporarily go away as she sang along with us. I could tell that these hymns were such sweet hymns to her, songs that she has sung over the many years of her life that she has committed to memory to this day. I’m brought to tears when we visit her, sing and pray for her because I see a grandma who loves the Lord so very dearly. All my petty thoughts, my worries, and complicated day-to-day calculations go out the window when I’m with her. And although on the outside when you look us there is absolutely nothing in common between us, as she always puts it, “It’s wonderful that we all love the Lord.” When she sings, I can’t help but smile, watch her sing and praise God for such a wonderful godly woman that brings so much encouragement to us all.
