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Thank you

Respectfully

Brenda Ferreira

I read your Chocolate Covered Jesus last night and then the article from AMBS Window and decided to contact you. I’ve read other article by you before and then just prayed for your ministry. May God bless you Mightily. I am so glad for the times we did get to spend in conversation years ago when you were our Youth Pastor. And wish conversation times were possible again. Alas my traveling days are over. Two years ago I was hospitalized and diagnosed with congestive heart failure. No more driving my car, no more work and no more living alone. God has been so good to me and I have a wonderful care giver who gives me 21 hours of work each week and takes me where I need to go. I give her a stipend and room and board. She moved up here from Fresno for the job and to be closer to her 2 daughters. I’m not sure but I think Al was gone when you were here. He died in 1999. Gordon Horst died about 2 years ago and Goldie lives at Quail Run, assited living, and I don’t get to see her that often.

Oh, I must tell you we have a youth, & Associate Pastor, Matt Shedden, who became a convinced Mennonite from searching. He preaches about once a month and seems to be in charge of planning the worship. His wife generally has children’s time when ever he preaches. She found a job teaching in a school. Kelli & Matt and I are good friends and we are blessed to have them. I really enjoy his messages.

Life becomes more lonely in the 80′s, I’m not lonesome but a loss of friends etc.. I’m now 88 and keep losing relatives and friends constantly. I do work at making new friendships but it takes time. You woiuld know few of our folks at church anymore, in fact I can’t keep up. Our attendance averages 150 and I can still attend worship but Goldie seldom comes and Clara Miller lives out of the area. I’m still involved with my family. We haven’t had a family gathering for the past two years since my one daughter-in-law is not on speaking terms with my daughter & family. This gives me sadness but seems as all I can do is pray in order to keep my friendship alive.

I do all my bookwork, Taxes are due, Genealogy and would like to get rid of lots of books and clean up my office. I’m much slower and don’t have good balance due to my diseases. I’m the eldest of seven and a third sibling died less than a month ago and another one is real sick.

I now have 5 gr. grandchildren, ages 9 years to two weeks. Two live in Chicago and I haven’t seen the 1 yr. old yet. My daughter Karen, the childs grandma has Alzheizer’s and is in a care facility, unaware of it. That’s also sad but I don’t dwell on sadness when Life has so much more to offer.

I praise the Lord for the work you are doing, may God continue to lead you by His Spirit and give you wisdom and strength. May God bless your family

Love, Marjorie N