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
Sunday, July 12, 2009
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
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.
We recently took a trip to
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
Another one of our faithful residents went home to be with the Lord in May. Floyce Sanders never missed a service at
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 23rd 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.
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 26th at 5:30 p.m. at
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
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 – July 5th @ 2:30 p.m.
Senior Star @ Weber Rd –(Saturday) July 11th @ 10:00 a.m.
Salem Village, Joliet – July 12th @ 2:30 p.m.,
Rosewood Rehab Center, Joliet – July 19th @ 2:30 p.m.,
Sunny Hill, Joliet –July 26th @ 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
