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

Lakewood Nursing Home Salem Village Nursing Home

Rosewood Care Center Sunny Hill Nursing Home

Paradise Park Assisted Living Senior Star @ Weber Rd.

Heritage Woods, Bolingbrook.

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 First Baptist Church choir presented the Cantata, “Christmas is a Birthday” and they did a great job and Ben did a great job directing. Thanks to all who participated, it was a wonderful time. We have had a lot of great comments from the staff at Lakewood and they continue to make comments that they wish we could come every week because the residents love the SonShine Ministry so much.

We gave out blankets along with bibs and lotion to the 17 residents at Senior Star. Our attendance is increasing there and the residents are so happy when we come. It is such a Blessing when we see all the happy faces. One of the residents grabbed me and kept hugging me as tears rolled down her face and she kept saying, “It’s not about the gift, it’s the fact that you care enough to come and see us and visit with us”. It was a very emotional time. Pastor Akut, and Leo and Linda Elechicon always help us with this home and also with Heritage Woods in Bolingbrook and we enjoy the fellowship with them as well.

Despite the fact that Salem Village doesn’t always cooperate with us, we still had about 30 residents and a great service. They did not put the announcement in the resident’s calendar this month that we were coming, and some of the residents were very upset about that. A couple of the ladies met me at the door as soon as I walked into the Nursing home and was complaining about the administration. After speaking with the activity director, I was informed that they have also thrown the piano away, saying it is a safety hazard to the residents. I am still wondering how a piano can be a safety hazard but we refuse to be defeated or let the devil interfere so we will take our keyboard and keep smiling.

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.

Our next service was at Rosewood. The attendance was very good and we passed out sweaters to them. We received the following “Thank you” note from the Activity Director and it says, “SonShine Ministry, Thank you for the gifts for the seniors. They really enjoy them and are wearing them. They also enjoy the Sunday service, even some of the staff comment on the program. Thanks again and God Bless you all”. Signed by Janice Hauser, activity director.

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.

On Saturday after Christmas Day, when all the snow was falling and the roads were a mess, we made our way to Heritage Woods in Bolingbrook. It was a challenge but we have never cancelled a service and all the Ministry Team is so very faithful and we all made it safely and had a great time. We had about 30 residents and they were very happy with the sweaters and the service. Little Kaitlyn Tovilleja sang a beautiful song for the residents. Thank you Kaitlyn, we look forward to you singing again. We loved it.

Sunny Hill was the last Sunday of the month and we had almost 50 residents in attendance. As we passed out the sweaters, one of the ladies took my hand and looked up at me and said, “Oh it’s so beautiful, is it really for me?” I told her yes we wanted her to have it, and then she begin to cry and said, “How did you know I had a really bad Christmas and I haven’t received any gifts from anyone”. I gave her a big hug and we sat and talked for a few minutes and I kept thinking about how much that tiny little gift meant to her and what a Blessing it is to give. The Bible says it is more blessed to give than to receive and I sure felt the joy and the meaning of the scripture when I gave her that sweater. She was so very grateful.

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.

Ian Tan was home for Christmas and he really made our services special this month at three of the homes, playing the violin. He played along with the worship team and also performed some special music. It was great. Thanks Ian and thanks to every one of you who come week after week. We appreciate all you do.

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 5^th year the end of March and starting into our 6^th 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 Jerusalem. Someday the almighty God, who has every right to make me burn forever, will look past my apathy, my gluttony, and all my sins and will point to the cross and invite me to come home…..forgiven…..forever”. Praise the Lord

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, 509 Rhonda Dr., Lockport, IL. 6044l. Your gifts are tax deductible and you will receive an end of the year statement.

Our schedule for January is as follows;

Lakewood Nursing Home, Plainfield –Jan. 3rd @ 2:30 p.m.

Senior Star @ Weber Rd (Saturday) Jan. 9^th @ 10:00 a.m,.

Salem Village, Joliet – Jan. 10^th @ 2:30 p.m.

Rosewood Rehab Center, Joliet – Jan.17th @ 2:30 p.m.,

Heritage Woods, Bolingbrook, - (Saturday) Jan. 23^rd @ 10:00 a.m.

Sunny Hill, Joliet –Jan. 24^th @ 2:30 p.m.

Paradise Park, New Lenox –Jan. 24^th @ 2:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by Joyce Mancke jmancke@sbcglobal.net.

Phone: 815-351-7659