JULY 2009 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

Lakewood Nursing Home Salem Village Nursing Home Rosewood Care Center Sunny Hill Nursing Home

Paradise Park Assisted Living Senior Star @ Weber Rd.

I’m overwhelmed with all the joy and excitement that is happening within the SonShine Ministry, I hardly know where to began. Please keep in mind as I babble on and on with excitement that I realize, it is nothing that I or any of the team has done, “only Jesus” can make these things happen. He alone, must receive ALL the Praise, All Honor and ALL the Glory, we are only the clay that He is molding and using as He unfolds His plans for this Ministry for His Honor and Glory.

This week we had a very special Blessing and I just keep rejoicing with a song in my heart as one of our very dear friends, Tony, invited Jesus into his heart. Have you ever been so excited that you laugh and cry at the same time, just rejoicing with him over his salvation? His precious wife, Robin, has been praying for him, as we all have been, but she planted the seed, a lot of friends began watering it, but it was God that gave the increase and we Praise Him and give Him the Glory. We all have a new brother in Christ. Praise the Lord, He is so good.

We recently took a trip to Kentucky with a group of 30 people, to visit the Creation Museum and what a Blessing it was. It is hard to pick out just one thing that inspired you most, because it was all so good, but I keep thinking about the Planetarium as it talked about how vast this universe is and how small the earth is in comparison, and yet man is only a speck compared to all God has created and yet He loves each one of us and knows us by name. He made us to have and enjoy a relationship with Him. It is a humbling experience.

We walked through the “Garden of Eden” with all the flowers, the animals and the stream of water flowing down from the river and Adam and Eve was enjoying a perfect evening in the cool of the day. Can’t you just picture what awaits each one of us who know Jesus? Perfect bodies that are made whole, many that on this earth have been wrecked with pain and suffering. There will be no tears, only joy and happiness.

What a day that will be when we see Jesus.Gail Weir’s mom, Pauline Krebs, went home to be with the Lord this past week. Pastor Bert Baker led her to the Lord and what a thrill to know she is now with Jesus, singing and rejoicing with Him. Gail shared with me on Sunday, at the wake, how much her mom loved the SonShine Ministry and how she had never heard the song “In the Garden” until we sang it at one of the services and it had become her favorite song.

The Ministry team that holds the services at Paradise Park sang it last month for her. What a Blessing. Thanks Amanda, Judy and all the team, we appreciate all you do.

Another one of our faithful residents went home to be with the Lord in May. Floyce Sanders never missed a service at Salem Village throughout the 4 years and 2 months that we have been going there. She loved the singing and she would often tell me how she and her family use to attend Ridgewood Baptist many years ago and how much she loved it.

She had so many good memories and often shared them with me. We will miss her.

The services went well at the new facility, Senior Star @ Weber Road. They just opened the Memory Care unit in May and we had 7 residents attend the service. The services are held on Saturday morning @ 10:00 a.m. So if any of you are available on Saturday, come on out and join us.

We had a great time. I read the 23^rd Psalms and the residents quoted it with me without looking at a Bible and they knew every verse. They loved all the hymns and sang along with us.

We are really praying about the new building at Senior Star that will be opening in January that will house 270 residents. This will be an “assisted living” residence and what an opportunity for us to serve. We feel like the Lord has opened the door for us and we ask all of you to be in prayer regarding our starting services there, that people may come to know the Lord.

The services at Rosewood have been changed to start at 2:30 p.m. instead of 2:00 as we have always done, so mark your calendars. This will give the workers time to clean the dinner tables from lunch.

All the services went really well this month, good participation, good crowds and the Lord just keeps on Blessing and Blessing.

Gloria Lee sang Amazing Grace at Sunny Hill and that was special. Her grandchildren, Austin and Nina helped me get the residents to the service. They helped me push wheel chairs and the residents love the children. Thanks guys, for your help. Austin sang with the worship team. We try to involve everyone that comes. We want you to be a Blessing to others.

The trio, Kim, Karl and Margie sang and they always do a beautiful job. Larry, the activity director, came over to me and said, “those guys need to go professional” and of course, I agreed with him. They are a big hit with all of us.

We really appreciate all our worship team and our pianist, Lisa, Grace, Dr. Kent and Barb. We have a wonderful group of people.

As soon as “Hanes sweatshirts” arrive in the stores, I will be buying them for Christmas. If any of you want to help with the sewing, please give me a call or e-mail me. With all of the homes we have now, we will be giving out more gifts this year, so we must start early in order to get them all done. We cut them down the front and sew a pretty border down both sides and make a sweater for them. We usually give them a choice of a blanket or sweater.

We have already purchased 50 blankets; however, we will probably need more since some of the homes have 50 or 60 residents that come to our service. We will need approximately 250 gifts this year.

We have prayed the prayer of Jabez, “that He would Bless us and enlarge our territory” and He has indeed done that, however, we have not stopped praying that prayer so look for bigger Blessings to come as we continue on in faith believing.

The next Sunday night singing is on July 26^th at 5:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Lockport. Come and bring your talents. We have a great time of fellowship and testimony. Refreshments are served after the service. If you enjoy singing, you will want to join us. Invite a friend.

Amanda Fuller is still in need of our prayers. Please continue to remember her daily. Tony Pasderetz is having heart surgery this month; he needs your prayers, as well as, Robin and the family. Missionary Tom and Gela Graef and family will be leaving for Romania the 1^st of August. We Praise the Lord that they have received 100% of their support and they are ready to go. The house is up for sale and the packing and shipping all their belongings have begun. They are very excited.

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 July is as follows:

Lakewood Nursing Home, Plainfield – July 5th @ 2:30 p.m.

Senior Star @ Weber Rd –(Saturday) July 11^th @ 10:00 a.m.

Salem Village, Joliet – July 12^th @ 2:30 p.m.,

Rosewood Rehab Center, Joliet – July 19^th @ 2:30 p.m.,

Sunny Hill, Joliet –July 26^th @ 2:30 p.m.

Paradise Park, New Lenox – July 26^th @ 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.

Telephone: 1-815-351-7659