Wednesday, December 30, 2009
JANUARY 2010 NEWSLETTER AND CALENDAR
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, ye have done it unto me.
Matt: 25:40
Rosewood Care Center Sunny Hill Nursing Home
Heritage Woods,
Wow!! ! What a month we have had. Just when you think it can’t get any better, God opens the windows of Heaven and just pours out His Blessings upon us. It was a great month, a busy one, hauling all the boxes of gifts and sound equipment into each home was a challenge, but it was so rewarding. As I have said so many times before, we do all this trying to be a Blessing to others but we come away feeling like we are the ones on the mountain top with all the Blessings. It’s really neat how God showers His Blessings on both the giver and the receiver. Isn’t that just like our God? He is an awesome God.
We had 92 residents and volunteers at the Lakewood Nursing Home in December. The room was packed and residents were sitting in the doorway. We gave out sweaters to all the residents and that went over very well. We brought several boxes of sweaters with us but when we saw the crowd, we started praying that God would multiply the sweaters like He did with the loaves and the fishes so we would have enough and we praise the Lord that it all went well and everyone got a sweater. The
We gave out skid-free socks and anklets with a bottle of lotion to all the residents there and they loved them. We have given them blankets and sweaters the past two years and decided to do something different this year for them.
We receive lots of verbal thank yous, and many notes of thanks that people mail to me when they mail their contributions and we appreciate each and every one of them so very much. We have lots of people that tell us they are praying for us and that means so very much. We need your prayers. That is why the ministry continues to grow because of the prayers of God’s people. It’s not about us, its all about what God can do in and through lives that are willing and committed to let go of ourselves and let God work in and through each one of us. The ministry continues to grow beyond all our expectations and it’s exciting to be His servant. I’m humbled that God would choose me, as unworthy as I am, to serve Him in this Ministry. I am so very Blessed.
Angie and Karen Hanson did a beautiful job with monogramming the sweaters and we thank you so very much for all the work and the love you put into it. We appreciate your sweet sweet spirit and your willingness to serve.
After all the services in December were done, we had handed out almost 300 gifts this year. It was a great month. We have a great team of people who all work together so beautifully. It is so apparent that each one of them loves the Lord and has such a heart for the Ministry. God has truly brought together a wonderful group of people with a love for each other, as well as, for others. Ron and Barb Durham have also joined our team and we love it. We welcome you with open arms and we need you and thank you for joining us.
We look forward to even greater things in the New Year. It is so exciting to just wait on the Lord and see what He is going to do next. We will be completing our 5th year the end of March and starting into our 6th year in April. Please pray with me that we may lead more people to a saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. During these past five years, 13 people have been saved but there are many more that need Jesus Christ in their life. So many empty lives, they have no peace and joy. Many times people tell me, “you all look so happy” and it’s a great way to start the conversation and tell them why we are happy and that we all know Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and He gives us peace, joy and contentment.
Max Lucado wrote the following message in his book “On the Anvil”. “Thousands of years before Jesus was called the Lamb of God, God promised forgiveness. Someday, he promised Hosea, someday I will remember their sins no more. Someday, God confided to Jeremiah, these people will be my people and I will be their God. And someday, wrote David, the mistakes of men will be tossed, not under a rug or behind the sofa, but far, far away. As far as the east is from the west. And then that someday came, on a garbage heap outside of
May we ever be found faithful pointing others to the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
PLEASE NOTE: All contributions to our ministry should be made payable to “Sonshine Outreach Ministries”. You can mail your gift to SonShine Outreach Ministries, c/o Joyce Mancke,
Lakewood Nursing Home, Plainfield –Jan. 3rd @ 2:30 p.m.
Senior Star @ Weber Rd (Saturday) Jan. 9th @ 10:00 a.m,.
Salem Village, Joliet – Jan. 10th @ 2:30 p.m.
Rosewood Rehab Center, Joliet – Jan.17th @ 2:30 p.m.,
Heritage Woods,
Sunny Hill, Joliet –Jan. 24th @ 2:30 p.m.
Paradise Park, New Lenox –Jan. 24th @ 2:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Joyce Mancke jmancke@sbcglobal.net.
Phone: 815-351-7659
Monday, December 21, 2009
TRIBUTE TO THE US MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES BY VICKI LUTCHMAN - "Home for Christmas"
SONSHINE OUTREACH MINISTRIES IS BLESSED AND PLEASED TO PRESENT JOYCE MANCKE'S DAUGHTER - VICKI LUTCHMAN SINGING HER ORIGINAL SONG AND TRIBUTE TO THOSE FIGHTING IN THE WARS SINCE SEPTEMBER 11, 2001. VIDEO PRESENTATION BY BERNIE LUTCHMAN (www.bernielutchman.blogspot.com)
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
DECEMBER 2009 NEWSLETTER & CALENDAR
Rosewood Care Center Sunny Hill Nursing Home
The story was told of a woman who was tired of struggling with life and all its problems. As soon as one problem was solved, another one would come, life was hard and she didn’t know where to turn and how she was going to make it and she wanted to give up. She was tired of all the fighting and struggling. Not knowing where to turn, she went to her mom and shared all her burdens with mom.
After her mother listened to her problems, she took her to the kitchen and filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil and in the first pot of water, she placed a bunch of carrots, in the second she placed eggs and in the last pot she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word.
After twenty minutes, she turned off the burners and placed the carrots and the eggs in a bowl, and ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup. She then turned to her daughter and asked, “Tell me what you see”. “Carrots, eggs and coffee” was her reply. Her mother brought her closer and asks her to feel the carrots, when she did; she noted that they were very soft. After pulling the shell off the egg, she observed that it was hard. Finally, the mom asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma and asked “What does all this mean, mom”?
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity; boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting, however after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile, its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique; however, after they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water and released fragrance and flavor. Which one do you relate to when problems arise, the carrot that becomes weak, the egg that hardens or the coffee bean that get better and change the situation around you? May we all be like the Coffee bean.
The Nursing Home services went well this month, although you can always tell when the football season has started as many of the residents will choose football over a church service, especially the men. One of our regular attendees at Lakewood was watching the game when I went to his room to let him know we were there and he told me he was not coming today, that he wanted to watch football, however, he really does enjoy the praise and worship service and during the service, he would come down to see what we were doing and then go back and watch football. It was pretty comical, he wanted so badly to see the game and attend the service. He finally chose to attend the last 10 minutes of the service.
Betty and I visited the Nursing home during the week and to our amazement, we saw John Larson, the 96 year old who just lost his wife after 75 years of marriage, walking around and around the outside of the Nursing home and no
one was with him and he wasn’t even using a cane. He said it was a nice day to do some exercise and walking just made him feel better. He is amazing.
We had a great crowd at Rosewood this month. Lots of good music. Karl sang a solo, Sandy sang a beautiful song, Sam played the violin and Vicki and Bernie sang Amazing Grace. It was a great service.
Senior Star went well and the attendance is increasing there. The memory care home has about 15 residents now and the assisted Living will be opening in January. We are looking forward to starting services there.
The activity director was confused this month at Sunny Hill and apologized over and over for making a mistake. I couldn’t figure out why the crowd was smaller than usual until one of the residents told us we were on the calendar for the following week. We always go on the 4th Sunday and that is normally the last Sunday of the month, however, November had five Sunday’s this month and he had put us on the resident calendars that we were coming on the fifth Sunday as that was the last Sunday of the month. We still had around 25 or 30 residents attend and it was a good service. Even if we only have 2 or 3, and Jesus is there with us, it is worth it all.
It was nice to have a Sunday off this month. We love the ministry and we work hard at it and that 5th Sunday always gives us a much needed break, however, after being off for a week, I am always anxious to get back. It is a wonderful ministry and it reminds me of the scripture verse in Matthew 10:39 that says, “He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it”. When I completely lose my life in this ministry, helping and serving others, it is then that I truly find all the Blessings that God has in store for us. He wants to bless us, but we have to completely lose our self, and serve Him in order to enjoy all the Blessings He wants to give us.
We did not have a service at Heritage Woods this month due to a scheduling problem at the home. Another church was scheduled on the date that we were to come and we agreed to wait until December until they resolved the scheduling problem. I understand the residents were not happy as they were really looking forward to our coming. All plans right now are to have services in December.
We will be giving out gifts during each service at each home in December. The sweaters are ready, “THANKS” to all the ladies who did the sewing, you did a beautiful job. A special “THANKS” to Angie and Karen Hanson who so graciously monogrammed our name “SonShine Ministries” on all the sweaters. I know it took a lot of time and energy and it is so very much appreciated. They look great. It is so neat to see how God provides our every need and sends people our way with a servant’s heart to do these kinds of things. I have never had to beg or plead for workers; everyone just volunteers and does a great job. Last year Margie Valade monogrammed all the sweaters and gave all her time and energy. We have never had to ask for money, God just continues to provide over and above our needs and He continues to multiply our talents with good music and it is a Blessing.
We also have blankets and non-skid socks as gifts. We will be giving “bibs” along with a bottle of lotion at Senior Star to the memory care residents. The activity director said they were in desperate need of bibs so we ordered 30 bibs and they can also be given to residents at other homes who are completely down and helpless. We do have some of them that come to the services. The family members bring them and that would be a great gift for them.
December will be a fun month, as well as a busy one so come and join us. We can use your help singing Christmas carols, distributing gifts or assisting with the residents...
PLEASE NOTE: All contributions to our ministry should be made payable to “Sonshine Outreach Ministries”. You can mail your gift to SonShine Outreach Ministries, c/o Joyce Mancke, 509 Rhonda Dr., Lockport, IL. 6044l. Your gifts are tax deductible and you will receive an end of the year statement.
Our schedule for December is as follows:
Lakewood Nursing Home, Plainfield –Dec. 6th @ 2:30 p.m.
Everyone is welcome. Come join us, we need your talents. You will make a difference and God will bless you for it.
Respectfully submitted by Joyce Mancke
Saturday, November 7, 2009
NOVEMBER 2009 NEWSLETTER AND CALENDAR
The Nursing Home Ministry is filled with its mountain top experiences but also its valleys. Week after week we go and hold the Praise and Worship services and the Lord just showers us with new Blessings each and every time we go. It’s like the windows of Heaven opens up and we come home on top of the mountain with excitement, but then we have the valleys that we have to cross when we often loose dear friends that we have grown so close to and come to love as part of our family. Death is hard and yet we have to face it often as we work in this type of Ministry. I thank the Lord when one of our residents pass on and I know they had accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, then I can truly say “Thank you Lord, for they are home now, free from all pain and suffering”.
We had three very special residents that went home to be with the Lord this month. Ruth Larsen, who had celebrated her 75th wedding anniversary with her husband John this year, went home to be with the Lord. They were a very special couple and always attended our services at
Roland Brands from
Theresa Rudy from
The SonShine Ministry is reaching out to the relatives and more and more we have many who are attending the services. People are hungry for the gospel. Many times they don’t realize why they feel so empty and alone until they hear the music and the devotionals and they come back looking for the peace and joy they feel. Please pray with us that we will reach more people for the Lord and they will come to know Him personally.
We have enjoyed some wonderful services this month. The room was packed at
Salem was well attended this month as well and we had a great service. My daughter and son-in-law, Vicki and Bernie, came up from Springfield and sang along with other special music from the trio and also Gloria. My grandson Sam played the violin. It was a great time and the residents loved it.
Salem was our first home that we started holding services in, almost five years ago and it seems we are greeted more often with problems at this home than any of the others. The devil does his best to discourage us, however, its hasn’t worked yet. Last month, the radio was playing so loud it interfered with our service and no one knew how to disconnect the speakers nor were they willing to help us figure it out. The Lord answered our prayers this month with that problem. The State inspectors were due to come and do an inspection so the speakers had been disconnected this month but the piano was gone. After searching for the piano, we found it in a room in the lower level and we had to get all our men to push it down a long hallway and bring it up the elevator and once again we thanked the Lord that the devil didn’t get his way. We had a great service.
Senior Star is growing and we had 12 people attend the service this month. Even though it is memory care, we have great participation with these people. We had a lot of the SonShine team join us and it was fun.
We had a wonderful service at the new Assisted Living home, Heritage Woods, in September with over 40 residents attending the service and I was really looking forward to going there on Saturday, the last week of October, however, I came away very disappointed. The activity director had scheduled a Catholic service from 9:30 until 10:00 and we were supposed to start our service at 9:45 which we could not do because the other service was in progress. Then we had a problem with the cafeteria personnel complaining because we were using the dining area and it interfered with their lunch preparation so it was a bit frustrating and we must solve this problem before we can continue and be effective. I have placed a call in to the Activity director, but I have not heard from her as of the date of this newsletter, however, I will keep all you team members posted as to what we are doing in November.
We are thrilled to have Sandy Hundley join our Ministry team and sing with the Worship team each week. It is always nice to see new volunteers. Thanks
Thanks to all of you who have been helping with the sewing of the sweatshirts. We are nearing the end and I appreciate each and every one of you taking the time to sew them. I think we will be ready for December. You are all a Blessing to the Ministry, as well as, to others around you.
We have also purchased some “non-skid” footies and socks and will include a bottle of lotion with each pair and that will be one of our gifts. We will be wrapping them with a large ribbon and placing a Christmas tract with the gift as we have done in the past.
We have a good variety of gifts this year with the blankets we have always given, the sweatshirts and the footie/lotion combination. I am ordering “bibs” for the memory care residents at Senior Star. The Activity director said they are in need of bibs and that would make a good gift for them. We will need lots of volunteers in December to help us distribute the gifts so plan to join us if your schedule permits.
Thanks to all of you for your faithfulness and support. We appreciate each and every one of you. We also appreciate all our friends who receive the newsletter and many of you support the ministry with your gifts and prayers and we are so grateful. You are all a part of our Ministry team and we could not do what we do without you and we give God all the Glory, Honor and Praise.
PLEASE NOTE: All contributions to our ministry should be made payable to “Sonshine Outreach Ministries”. You can mail your gift to SonShine Outreach Ministries, c/o Joyce Mancke,
Our schedule for November is as follows;
Salem Village, Joliet – Nov. 8th @ 2:30 p.m.,
Senior Star @
Rosewood
Sunny Hill, Joliet – Nov. 22nd @ 2:30 p.m.
Heritage Woods,
Everyone is welcome. Come join us, we need your talents. You will make a difference and God will bless you for it.Respectfully submitted by
Joyce Mancke
Email: jmancke@sbcglobal.net
Saturday, October 3, 2009
OCTOBER 2009 NEWSLETTER AND CALENDAR
Paradise Park Assisted Living Senior Star @ Weber Rd.
I saw an obituary in the paper this week that explained the deceased person’s life by saying, “she had such a caring heart, she never looked at whether the glass was half full or half empty, she saw there was a need and she tried to fill it. There are so many needs, so many lonely and depressed people waiting for someone to come their way, someone to talk with, to share their load and their burdens with. Many of them do not have that personal relationship with Jesus. They need someone to tell them, to love them and to care. The fields are white unto harvest, but the laborers are so few.
Ben and Betty enjoyed some vacation time in California with their son, Ian, the first part of September and in their absence, we had Jim & Karen, Joe, Nellie and Kelly from Phalen Acres Church come up and help us out at Lakewood. We had a wonderful service with lots of special music. Thanks to all of you, it was a special time of fellowship. We welcome you back anytime. It is such a blessing to fellowship with God’s people.
Beth Ann, the activity director, was so excited and she gave her testimony as to how much she appreciates our group and the hard work we put into our program, and the fact that we come up with a new program of songs each month and how she even uses some of the songs in her activities with the residents throughout the week.
I had a long talk with Beth Ann after the service and she told me how God is working in her life to mold her into His Image. I shared with her the story of the silversmith and how he has to hold the silver in the fire until he can see his image and sometimes that’s how God works in our life, He wants to see His image in us. She was abused as a child and then in a relationship. She struggled most of her young life. She is the one I ask prayer for in the August newsletter as her husband was electrocuted from such a high voltage of electricity that his hip bone was shattered. She is now working and taking care of him and also traveling back and forth to Chicago to visit her son that is in a Nursing Home. She really needs our prayers.
When you have a “down” day and something doesn’t go exactly right, go visit someone else and listen to their story. It will make your load seem lighter.
We had a good service at Senior Star this month, with Leo and Linda Elechicon helping us out with the music. It was a good day of fellowship with the Memory Care residents.
Leo and Linda also joined us as we started services in our seventh home on Saturday, the 26th. Heritage Woods Assisted Living is located in Bolingbrook just off Boughton Road. We had a great service with over 40 residents attending and a lot of participation. Rev. Ruel Akut, pastor of Pillar of Faith Baptist Fellowship where Leo and Linda attend, gave the message from Psalm 23 and he gave a beautiful message. Sammy Odasco came with his 4 year old daughter, Kayleen, and she sang “Jesus Loves Me” and it was beautiful. What a Blessing to have all these people join our SonShine Outreach Ministry team. You are a Blessing to us and we look forward to working with you.
We had a great group of people at Rosewood and Salem Village this month. We appreciate all of you who come and sing or play special music.
We are in need of children who will sing or play an instrument. The older folks love the children. I encourage all of you who know any children who would be willing to participate to get in touch with me. We have seven homes now that we are having services in, so pick a Sunday afternoon or one of the two Saturdays’s and join us.
It was difficult to go to Sunny Hill this month as we are still grieving the loss of Verlin’s mom. We praise the Lord that she is now with Him and made whole, free from pain and suffering but the emptiness is still there. There is always a “void” when we loose someone we love. We have been the care giver for both my parents and Verlin’s parents for the past 14 years and one by one God has called them home to be with Him and we thank God for the assurance of knowing they are rejoicing and in the presence of Jesus today.
We had great attendance at Sunny Hill Nursing Home on the fourth Sunday. I noticed one of the ladies that was attending the service with her mom, who is a resident, seemed so stressed, as if, she was carrying a burden that she didn’t know how to deal with. I spoke with her after the service and her comment was, “you guys seem so happy and it is so obvious that you love what you are doing”. That really spoke to my heart because I believe she is looking and searching for what we have, which is, the Lord Jesus Christ in our hearts and lives. I don’t know her name, but the Lord knows, so please pray for her and for me that I may be able to share the plan of salvation with her.
Paradise Park went well this month; however, Amanda is in need of our prayers. She was unable to attend the services as she is down with her back again. Please pray for her, she is struggling and it’s even harder with a family to take care of. She loves the ministry and I know she misses it when she cannot attend.
Christmas is not far away and I have already purchased over 200 sweatshirts so if anyone wants to help with the sewing please give me a call. We will do the same thing this year as we did last year, cut them down the middle and sew a border down each side and make a sweater out of them. We have 7 homes now so we have lots of work to do. We will have sweaters, blankets and possibly non-skid booties to give away as gifts this year.
Happy moments – Praise God. Difficult moments – Seek God. Quiet moments – Worship God. Painful moments – Trust God. Every moment – Thank God.
Exercise daily, Walk with the Lord.
PLEASE NOTE:
Our schedule for October is as follows;
Lakewood Nursing Home, Plainfield – Oct. 4th @ 2:30 p.m.
Everyone is welcome. Come join us, we need your talents. You will make a difference and God will Bless you for it.
Email: jmancke@sbcglobal.net.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
SEPTEMBER 2009 NEWSLETTER AND CALENDAR
The summer has flown by so quickly and I can hardly believe it is September already and the kids are all back in school. Where did it go? Seems like only yesterday that I was typing the July newsletter and now August is gone. Time passes by so quickly, it is truly like a vapor, its here for a little while and then its gone and only the things that we have done for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will have a lasting value when its all over. I hope and pray that each one of you reading this news letter is fully committed to serving Jesus with all your heart, soul and mind. There is joy in serving Jesus and He is a friend that will never let you down. The 23rd Psalms says it all;
The Lord is my Shepherd -- That’s Relationship
I shall not want --That’s Supply
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures -- That’s Rest
He leadeth me beside the still waters -- That’s Refreshment
He restoreth my soul -- That’s Healing
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness -- That’s Guidance
For His name sake --That’s purpose
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death -- That’s Testing
I will fear no evil -- That’s Protection
For Thou art with me -- That’s Faithfulness
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me -- That’s Discipline
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies -- That’s Hope
Thou annointest my head with oil -- That’s Consecration
My cup runneth over -- That’s Abundance
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life --That’s Blessing
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord -- That’s Security
Forever -- That’s Eternity
God created each one of us so that He could have a relationship with us. He wants us to be close to Him, to walk with Him every hour of every day and talk with Him and get to know Him. He offers so much more than the world can give. Besides having a relationship with Him, He supplies every need we have. What an amazing thought, the world cannot do that. The world doesn’t care about our needs but Jesus cares. He gives us rest and refreshes us with new Blessings every day. He heals us when we’re sick, He guides us in the right direction and because of Him, we have a purpose in life, an inner peace, knowing that He is protecting us and Blessing us and keeping us safe and secure in His loving arms and what a day that will be when we are with Him forever, praising and rejoicing as we serve Him for Eternity.
As I think of my relationship with Jesus and how beautiful it is to know Him personally, I start thinking about all the people who don’t know Him and I have this burning desire to tell them about His love. I want them to know my friend, the one who gives me joy and peace and wakes me every morning with a new song in my heart. That’s my desire as I visit all these residents in the Nursing Homes.
I remember the time, when I was to timid to ask people what their relationship was with Jesus, but when I really fell in love with Him and committed my life completely to serving Him, it all comes so easy now. Many times, I walk into the room of a resident and simply say, “I want to tell you about my special friend” or “I came to visit you today, to make sure you know you are going to heaven when you die”. It doesn’t matter what denomination you are, the one thing we all have in common is, we all want to go to heaven but there are so many people who don’t know how to get there and I love telling them.
Rosadia, the lady that Gloria led to the Lord last month, is telling everyone she works with that she invited Jesus into her heart. She is busy handing out tracts to all her co-workers and we praise the Lord for her excitement and joy and desire to tell others. Rosadia’s dad is in Salem Village and we got to know her when she came to the home to visit her dad. It’s a Blessing to know that the ministry is reaching out into the community and into the work places. Its more than just a nursing home ministry, God’s love is contagious and we want it to reach out to everyone we meet.
I had some great visits this month with residents. There are so many wonderful and interesting stories of people’s lives. I love hearing them. One gentleman, his name is Roland, in his 90’s told me his story and I could relate to many things he said because I was also raised on a farm with lots of hard work. He was one of eight children and his father committed suicide when he was 16 years old and he had to quit school and work on the 100 acre farm to help his mom support the family. He talked about all the hard work and many hours of labor but he holds no resentment in his heart, he feels that was what God wanted him to do with his life. He later married and had six children of his own. His wife died a few years ago and he is now alone. He fell and broke his hip in February and he is now in the Nursing Home.
We had great services in August with about 35 residents attending the service at Lakewood. The Activity aid was as encouraging as she told me how the residents look forward to our coming and she wishes we could come every week. One of the residents was very emotional and needed to talk and we were able to pray with him and present the plan of salvation to him. He did not make a decision but we know that God only ask us to plant the seed and in His own timing, He will convict his heart. The neat thing about it all was his daughter was there with him and she listened to us as well, so perhaps it was her that God wanted us to share the gospel with. We may never know, but the one thing we do know, we did as we were led to do and God’s plan and timing is perfect.
Beth Ann, the activity director, and her husband Dwight needs our prayers. He was electrocuted at work with such a high voltage of electricity that it shattered the bone in his hip. He had to have surgery and is now in the nursing home going through therapy. I visited with him and shared with him that I felt God has saved his life for a reason and so many times God gets our attention in unusual ways but the important things is, try not to get discouraged but seek God’s guidance and Will for your life. There is a reason why God allows these things to happen. He is a Christian and understands but his life has had many trials and hard places. He needs our prayers.
Kim also needs our prayers as she was hurt in a bike accident and spent one night in the hospital. Kim is a very important part of our ministry and we really missed her on Sunday but most of all, please pray for her recovery.
Midge is in Africa and I have received two e-mails from her and I can tell by the e-mails that she is so excited to be there. She will be gone for six weeks. Please pray for her as she ministers to the people there and for her safety as she travels and also for her health. Continue to pray for one another. Exercise daily, Walk with the Lord
The next Sunday night singing will be held on Sunday, September 27th at 5:30 p.m. Refreshments will follow the singing. Please make plans to join us and come ready to sing. Don’t stay home and miss a Blessing.
PLEASE NOTE: All contributions to our ministry should be made payable to “Sonshine Outreach Ministries”. You can mail your gift to SonShine Outreach Ministries, c/o Joyce Mancke, 509 Rhonda Dr., Lockport, IL. 6044l. Your gifts are tax deductible and you will receive an end of the year statement.
Our schedule for August is as follows:
Lakewood Nursing Home, Plainfield – Sept 6th @ 2:30 p.m.,
Salem Village, Joliet – Sept 13th @ 2:30 p.m.,
Rosewood Rehab Center, Joliet – Sept 20th @ 2:30 p.m.,
Sunny Hill, Joliet – Sept 27th @ 2:30 p.m.
Paradise Park, New Lenox – Sept 27th @ 2:00 p.m.
Everyone is welcome. Come join us, we need your talents. You will make a difference and God will bless you for it.
Respectfully submitted by Joyce Mancke jmancke@sbcglobal.net. 815-351-7659
Thursday, August 6, 2009
AUGUST 2009 NEWSLETTER & AUGUST CALENDAR
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, ye have done it unto me. Matt: 25:40
Paradise Park Assisted Living Senior Star @ Weber Rd.
I am always thrilled to write these newsletters when I have really good news to share with you and this has been another exciting month, another soul has been saved. Rosaedia, a Mexican lady, who is the daughter of a gentleman that we visit at the Salem Village Nursing Home, invited Jesus into her heart on Tuesday, July 28th. Natalia and Gloria have both visited with the gentleman many times, however he doesn’t really enjoy visitors and we have not been able to reach him. Since they only speak Spanish, I have not been able to communicate with them at all, other than a hug and a smile, however, Gloria and Rosaedia got to know each other and she really enjoys hearing Gloria sing and she would make comments that we always looked so happy and she was looking for that happiness. She came to our service this month, even though she didn’t understand all the words we were singing, she loved the joy that she felt in her heart. She agreed to meet Gloria at
As I have said everytime someone comes to know the Lord, it takes all of us. Someone plants the seed, many people come along and water it, but it is God who gives the increase. I am so thankful that we have workers with willing hearts that will take the time, however long it takes, to lead a soul to Jesus Christ. If Gloria had not spent that two hours with her, she could have gone out into eternity without God, but now, we may see her dad, who is at
The Bible says, “There is joy in heaven over one soul that repents” and our hearts are filled with joy that God has chosen us to be used for Him, to bring a lost soul to faith in Jesus Christ. Gloria was on shouting ground when she called me and what a Blessing to listen to her share the good news. We give Him all the praise, honor and glory.
On the 4th of July, Ben and Betty Tan and Verlin and I, drove to
All the services went well at all the homes this month with good attendance. Dorothy, the resident at Lakewood who sings with our worship team and also does special music with Karl, informed us she will be moving out of Lakewood and going to an Assisted Living home in Bolingbrook, however, she does not plan to miss any of our services and will be coming back each month to join us. She is an inspiration to all of us and we are so happy that she will continue to be a part of our Ministry. She loves the music and we need her talent. She has a beautiful alto voice.
We had 11 workers come to the Saturday morning services at Senior Star this month. They only have 6 or 7 residents, as the home just opened in May, but we had a great time of fellowship. We forgot the adapter for the keyboard which left us without a piano. Ben decided to go back to
We had a good crowd at
We had over 20 residents at Rosewood this month which is really good and great services at Sunny Hill. Lots of good special music.
Amanda reports
Amanda Fuller’s back is improving, Praise the Lord for answered prayer. Please continue to remember her daily. Tony Pasderetz is doing well after his heart surgery even though he spent another couple nights at Silver Cross. He is back home now and on the mend and we give God the Glory for that answered prayer.
Missionary Tom and Gela Graef and family will be leaving for
Many of you know that Verlin’s stress test came back abnormal and he had to have an angiogram done and we are Praising God for the results of that. Only God can do miracles like this. His blockage has actually reduced from the angiogram that was done 12 years ago and he does not have to have surgery. The doctors are amazed and they don’t have the answer, BUT WE DO and we are Praising God for it all.
Many of you continue to ask if we “need” additional help with the services each week and I sometimes hesitate when I answer you. I want to make sure you all know, we would like for each and everyone of you to be a part of the Ministry, however, we realize not everyone enjoys working with Nursing Homes and we feel it is truly a calling from the Lord. If you feel God is leading you to work with the Nursing Home Ministry, you are always welcome to join us and we will put you to work. I am not sure that God “needs” any of us, but He wants us to have willing hearts to be submissive to His call and do what ever He leads us to do. May He find us all faithful as we seek His Will for our lives?
The Sunday night singing that was held on the 26th went really well and was well attended. Lots of great music and with good food and fellowship. You missed a Blessing if you were not able to attend.
Exercise daily, Walk with the Lord.
PLEASE NOTE: All contributions to our ministry should be made payable to “Sonshine Outreach Ministries”. You can mail your gift to SonShine Outreach Ministries, c/o Joyce Mancke,
Our schedule for August is as follows;
Lakewood Nursing Home, Plainfield – Aug 2nd @ 2:30 p.m.
Senior Star @ Weber Rd –(Saturday) Aug. 8th @ 10:00 a.m.
Salem Village, Joliet – Aug 9th @ 2:30 p.m.
Rosewood Rehab Center, Joliet – Aug 16th @ 2:30 p.m.,
Sunny Hill, Joliet – Aug 23rd @ 2:30 p.m.
Everyone is welcome. Come join us, we need your talents. You will make a difference and God will bless you for it.
Respectfully submitted by Joyce Mancke
Email: jmancke@sbcglobal.net
