APRIL 2010 NEWSLETTER/MINISTRY CALENDAR

Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me....Matthew 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. Weber Place

A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside. “Your son is here,” she said to the old man. She had to repeat the words several times before the patient’s eyes opened heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack; he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.

The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile but each time he refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients. Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night. Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding all night and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited. Finally, she returned and she started to offer words of sympathy but the Marine interrupted her. “Who was that man?” he asked. The nurse was startled, “He was your father”, and she answered. “No, he wasn’t,” the Marine replied. “I never saw him before in my life”

“Then why didn’t you say something when I took you to him?” “I knew right away that he needed his son, and his son just wasn’t here and when I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed.” I came here tonight to find a Mr. William Grey. His Son was killed in Iraq today, and I was sent to inform him….What was this Gentleman’s Name? The Nurse with tears in her eyes answered, “That was Mr. William Grey.” The next time someone needs you ... just be there for them.

I can relate to that story with the Nursing Home Ministry. So many times when I go visit the homes and I have no clue who I will be visiting that day, but the Lord will lead me to a person who so desperately needs a friend at that moment or someone to pray with them and its such a Blessing to know the Lord directs our steps and leads us in the direction He wants us to go and leads us to the people who need the Lord.

We had great services at Lakewood this month and we always have a great crowd there. The residents are always so excited on the Sunday when they know we are coming. We really enjoy the services there. We also had good number attend the services at Rosewood. Alyce is a resident at Rosewood and will be celebrating her 100^th birthday on May 7^th and is praying that she lives long enough to see it happen. She needs our prayers as she has not been able to attend the services the last 2 months.

We started services at Weber Place, the new Assisted Living on Weber Road, this month and it went really well. Jocelyn Akut, one of our Ministry team, led a resident to the Lord and that is always exciting.

Her name is “Lena” and she needs our prayers. She is our new sister in Christ. That’s what the Ministry is all about, bringing the lost to Jesus and encouraging those who are down and out.

The little children continue to bless our Ministry with singing at the services on Saturdays at Heritage Woods, Senior Star and Weber Place. The residents love the children and they make the services very special. I keep praying that the Lord will send us children to sing at all our services. What a Blessing to see families training them in the ways of the Lord.

We appreciate all the Ministry Team who so faithfully gives of their time and talents each and every week. With eight homes, it takes a lot of dedication and commitment and our team is very dedicated and we give God all the Praise, Honor and Glory for all He is doing through the Ministry and for a Ministry Team that has soft hearts and willing to listen to the still small voice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to be willing to follow His complete Will in their lives.

Kim is back with us after a successful Mission Trip to Honduras. Welcome back Kim, we love your spirit and your heartbeat for Missions.

What a Blessing it is to walk with the Lord and you realize it so much more when you get out of your comfort zone and you have to depend totally upon the Lord. You draw so much closer to Him and the good news is, He will never let you down, and He is always by your side.

You say: 'It's impossible'	God says: All things are possible	( Luke 18:27)
You say: 'I'm too tired'	God says: I will give you rest	( Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: 'Nobody really loves me'	God says: I love you	( John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )
You say: 'I can't go on'	God says: My grace is sufficient	(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: 'I can't figure things out'	God says: I will direct your steps	(Proverbs 3:5- 6)
You say: 'I can't do it'	God says: You can do all things	( Philippians 4:13)
You say: 'I'm not able'	God says: I am able	(II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: 'It's not worth it'	God says: It will be worth it	(Roman 8:28 )
You say: 'I can't forgive myself'	God says: I Forgive you	(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: 'I'm afraid'	God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear	( II Timothy 1:7)
You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated'	God says: Cast all your cares on ME	(I Peter 5:7)
You say: 'I feel all alone'	God says: I will never leave you or forsake you	(Hebrews 13:5)

PLEASE NOTE: All contributions to our ministry should be made payable to “Sonshine Outreach Ministries”.

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 April is as follows-

Lakewood Nursing Home, Plainfield –April 4th @ 2:30 p.m.

Senior Star @ Weber Rd (Saturday) April 10^th @ 10:00 am,.

Weber Place (Saturday) April 10^th @ 11:00 a.m.

Salem Village, Joliet – April 11^th @ 2:30 p.m.

Rosewood Rehab Center, Joliet – April 18^th @ 2:30 p.m.

Heritage Woods, Bolingbrook, - (Saturday) April 24th @ 10:00 a.m.,

Sunny Hill, Joliet –April 25^th @ 2:30 p.m.

Paradise Park, New Lenox –April 25^th @ 2:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by Joyce Mancke

Email: jmancke@sbcglobal.net

Phone: 815-351-7659