In the summer of 1981, we were “sent out” from our country church in Kansas to be missionaries. A gracious woman, then in her 50’s, began writing notes to us as well as supporting us through the church. Having moved away from our home church as well as farther from family and community, she was one who provided a strong connection to home and church life, and a friendship emerged over the years. Sometimes she would refer to us as kids, as I had grown up with her daughter and my husband Dan and I were in our early years of marriage.
Now, nearly 41 years later, we continue as missionaries (23 years with World Impact) and this gracious woman continues to send notes, sometimes with a check tucked inside. She now resides in a retirement village and I occasionally stop by for a visit. She has expressed surprise, saying, “Why would a young person come to see an old lady like me?” That surprised me as well, and to which I responded, “Because you are an encourager and I’m still learning from you!” In addition, I so appreciated her desire to pray together and she would regularly pray for the ministry.
I asked her what she liked to read. She said, with a smile, that her eyesight was no longer good enough to read but she liked to listen to scripture and the radio. But I also learned that she has lots of writing to do, sending out birthday cards to 80 family members! So on top of that, she includes us every so often in her writings. Just the other day our letters passed in the mail and she was responding to our newsletter about spending so much time at Morning Star Ranch without guests coming during the pandemic. She so identified with loneliness having a recent ailment in her leg that needed hospitalization for a time followed by two weeks of isolation in her apartment. While her family was near, she was unable to see them.
A donor like I’ve shared about is one who cares and takes time to let us know she does. What a privilege to have a praying friend, one generous with kind words, prayer, and her resources!
July is our month of gratitude! As a thank you to our supporters, please check out our 30-day devotional City Prayers Volume 2.