Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, ye have done it unto me. Matt: 25:40
Lakewood Nursing Home Salem Village Nursing Home Rosewood Care Center
Sunny Hill Nursing Home Paradise Park Assisted Living Senior Star @ Weber Rd.
I received a good article in an e-mail recently and thought it was worth sharing called “The Road of Life” and it goes as follows:
At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there sort of like a president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I really didn’t know Him, but later on when I met Christ, it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal. I don’t know just when it was that He suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since.
When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable, it was the shortest distance between two points. But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds. It was all I could do to hang on!
Even though it looked like madness, He said, “PEDAL”.
I worried and was anxious and asked, “Where are you taking me?”
He laughed and didn’t answer, and I started to learn to trust.
I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure, and when I’d say, “I’m scared,” He’d lean back and touch my hand.
I gained love, peace, acceptance and joy; gifts to take on my journey, My Lord have and mine.
And we were off again.
He said, “Give the gifts away. They’re extra baggage, they are too much weight.” So I did, I gave them to the people we met, and I found that in giving, I received, and still my burden was light.
At first, I did not trust Him to have control of my life.
I thought He’d wreck it; but he knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, knows how to jump to clear high rocks, knows how to fly to shorten, scary passages, and I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I’m beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ.
And when I’m sure I just can’t do it anymore, He just smiles and says, “PEDAL”.
As I read the article, I couldn’t help but feel like I was the one on the bike with Jesus riding with me.
There have been so many delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at high speed and sometimes I felt like it was all I could do to hang on.
But the really wonderful thing about it all is I have learned to trust Him completely and I have gained love, peace and joy that the world cannot take away, but they are gifts that we can give away.
I remember how excited we were when we were asked to take on a second Nursing Home. We all thought, WOW “do you think we can do two”, that’s a lot. Then a third home called us and we really began praying about what to do and then a fourth one, leaving us with no more Sunday afternoons.
Then a few months ago we were asked to do services at a fifth home and it is a very large home, and we didn’t have any more Sundays left and we cried out to Jesus and said, “Lord you called us to do this, you have opened another door, there must be a way”, so the Lord just parted the waters and we walked through on dry ground.
We were able to split the Ministry team and now we have two Ministry teams and what a Blessing it is, we have more people involved, as well as, a youth group.
I can hear Him say “keep Pedaling”.
Last week, we received another call, the activity director from a brand new facility, called “Senior Star” at Weber Road, called and said “I really want your group to come here”. This is an independent and assisted living home and will house just fewer than 300 people. They also have a home for Memory Care. What an opportunity to share the good news of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So what do you think our answer was?? ? Well our services will start there in June on Saturday morning with the possibility of expanding and having two services a month there. “Just keep pedaling, for Jesus”.
Lots of great things happening and God is pouring out His Blessing upon us.
One of the missionaries that we sponsor, Tom and Gela Graef & family are going to Romania.
Praise the Lord, the support is coming in and they have their house up for sale and hope to be on the field by August 1
st.
Keep praying for them, as well as, Bob Holmes, the one man Volleyball Team and Midge Pittman and Amanda Fuller from our own Ministry team who has not been feeling well.
Services were really good at all the homes this month and very well attended. We had over 60 in attendance at Lakewood. We have been having relatives and visitors of the residents attend and several have asked for prayer. A lady named Carol was sobbing after the service on Sunday and I prayed with her and gave her my phone number and I hope to hear from her. She was carrying a heavy burden. Please pray for her.
One of the residents wrote a poem entitled, “
Old Hymns” and she quoted it for us at one of the services, and it was really nice.
We received a $25.00 check from another resident, Praise the Lord.
We thank the Lord for all the gifts of money that we continually receive each month.
We couldn’t do all we do without you.
After the services at Lakewood, we were invited to share in the 74th Anniversary party of John and Ruth Larson. The party was given by their daughters. What a Blessing to have shared 74 years together.
Please mark your calendars; there will be NO service at Rosewood in June, due to Fathers Day. The home does their own special thing for fathers that day. Also, the service time has been changed to 2:30 beginning in July. Make sure you mark your calendars.
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 June is as follows:
Lakewood Nursing Home, Plainfield – June 7th @ 2:30 p.m.
Salem Village, Joliet – June 14 the @ 2:30 p.m.
Sunny Hill, Joliet –June 28th @ 2:30 p.m.
Senior Star @ Weber Rd. June 13th @ 10:00 a.m. (Saturday)
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
Telephone: 815-351-7659
