A Celebration of Spiritual Heritage

Yesterday in our Sunday School time we were blessed to have a 90+ year old former missionary speak to us in the form of an interview by her son, Tim.  Tim is the husband of Deanna from Creekside Cottage.  His mother was visiting because her grandson, Nate, got married on Saturday.  You can see some photos from the wedding day if you click on the link above.

It is not every day you get to watch and hear a biography shared in such a manner but this was special.

My eyes were misty right away.  I am such a softie for history, legacy, family and Faith.  This offered all of those things.

One of the first things that was impactful was that this family had a grandfather who prayed blessings for each of his children....and the generations to come.  When I see this woman, who would have been that man's granddaughter and her children, who are all serving the Lord I am excited about the next generation and how they will serve Him.  It is a worthwhile endeavor to pray for our children and beyond!  When we are praying for them we will likely be invested in teaching them as well.

Tim drew out from Jean that when she was younger she had opened a book store and then sold it when she wanted to go to missions school which afforded her the money to pay for all that she needed.  However, by the time she was done with that school year she had given all of the money away to people who "needed" it more than she did and had to borrow money from her parents to return home at the end of the school year.  Of course she had no regrets as she was simply being obedient to her conscience.

Jean eventually married Elmer, a pioneering missionary to Senegal.  They were married for 30 years before he passed away.  While in Africa they had some children.  Two of those children died there.  One as a baby from Malaria and the other as a young boy when he was attacked by an alligator.  She shared how God ministered to her in her grief through a book she was reading at the time.  I'm thinking that her children should help her write a book about her life.  It would be a very interesting book.

In time Jean remarried.  This second marriage also lasted 30 years before his passing recently.  So many can't claim to have been married to one person for 30 years and this dear woman did it twice.

We learned that after returning to the States ministry remained a very important part of her life in that she got involved in Prison ministry, helping on the mission base where she lives and reaching out to women who needed mentors.

When Tim asked Jean what she does these days she said that she is in a period of "doing nothing".  It seemed to trouble her.  He challenged her on that thought and assured her that she is now in a period of ministry through prayer.  Amen!!  I know that this woman continues her grandfather's legacy of praying for her children and the generations that are coming through them.

Definitely not nothing.  

These were 45 minutes well spent and many reminders that God is faithful to us both 

in the happiest times and in the devastating times.

The prayer of a righteous man or woman does avail much!!