Happy Thanksgiving! Praise Jesus for His marvelous grace. We all have so much to be thankful for. I am extra thankful to be back on 3rd shift again. For over 2 years I've been working 2nd shift while our grandchildren have been growing up without seeing much of Paw. The Lord has blessed me indeed by moving me back to a similar job in the dept. where I started over 3 years ago. This will also allow me again to share our Vision in other churches on Sunday and Wednesday nights. Please pray that I will soon develop a consistent sleeping routine that is critical to my well being as a Bi-Polar patient. Thank you also for remembering Pat in the many sacrifices she has made for my service to the ministry. Both of us have many health issues, but praise Jesus, one day we'll have a new body! My long-range goal is to eventually return to full-time Ministry Service. God has given me a great passion for this ministry and my heart longs to be with the people in need.
We've seen many prayers answered this year and we've been touched with so many blessings from those we serve. There are hundreds of stories I could share from over the years. Today I'd like to tell you about Mrs. Willie Mae Strickland in West Point, Ga.
I first met her in the fall of 2008 as I picked her up in a wheel-chair going to the wound clinic in Newnan, Ga. Both her legs had been amputated, but the left leg was not healing. After waiting there about 3 hours, the staff told me they were calling for an ambulance to admit her to the Hospital next door. I told them I brought her this far, that I could also take her next door. As I left her at the admissions desk, she asked me to call her family to let them know.
I left a message on her daughter's voice mail. In just a few minutes she called me back. As we were talking she said, “do you know who this is?”. To my pleasant surprise, I was talking to a co-worker from the West Point plant (Twanda Winston). This was the beginning of a wonderful friendship with Willie Mae.
Many times over this past year we've transported Willie Mae to Doctor and Hospital trips in LaGrange and Newnan concerning this bad leg. Finally it had to be amputated again. One night at work, Twanda hugged my neck saying, “thank you for helping my Momma. This is the only way I can repay you.” I told her that hug meant so much to me. It was an honor for me to be there for her Mom. I had no idea what Twanda was dealing with. As her mother was recovering from the latest surgery and doing very well, Twanda went into the Hospital again in Opelika, Al. After a few short weeks, she lost her battle with cancer. She came home from the Hospital on a Tuesday and went home with Jesus on the following Sunday morning Oct. 4, 2009.
I had the great honor of transporting Willie Mae to Twanda's funeral. What a great testimony was proclaimed about the life of her sweet, young, loving daughter Twanda Winston. Please pray for Twanda's 3 daughters also. Twanda poured her life into her children.
Willie Mae is very special to me. She's still doing very well with her leg. We're all thankful that Twanda didn't have to suffer a long long time. I can only imagine the pain of losing a child and then add that to the loneliness of being home-bound. I am blessed whenever I get to visit Willie Mae.
God has been so good to us all. I can't praise Him enough. What are you thankful for today?
Love in Christ,
Bro. Rondel Story