Monday November 5, 2007

 

 

Sunday

Our day started by going to Sunday School, where our youngest son, Jere, taught the entire adult class.  It is humbling to watch and listen to a son do a great job of teaching the Word.

The lesson focused on Joseph’s forgiveness of his brothers, years after they deceived their father and sold him to traveling merchants.

I was reminded that when compared to Joseph, almost everyone’s family squabbles seem minor, yet we often hold each other at arm’s length, or don’t talk at all ~ sometimes for years.  What a waste of precious time.

Jere’s challenge to liberate those who have offended you, captured my attention, and reminded me of a truth I believe with all my heart.

~~~

To liberate someone from their offense

not only liberates the other person,

it liberates you from the prison of anger and self-pity.

~~~

A funny moment happened (especially for me) when Jere tried to put himself and his brother in the same situation.  “I wonder how Jeff, would have reacted if I told him I had a dream where his bundle of wheat bowed down to mine?”

Later in the day I told Jere that Jeff probably would have sold him to traveling merchants as well! 

~~

Missions Conference

Middle Creek Church of the Brethren

 

After Sunday School, we went to the TFC Office to get the International Chapel and take it to the afternoon/evening missions conference.  We have to arrive early at these events, so cars don’t hinder our entrance and parking.  Church parking lots aren’t laid out for tractor trailers!

 

We arrived by 12:30 p.m. and set up in our assigned spot.

 

 

We had time to review our PowerPoint presentation that was scheduled for 5:15 p.m.

 

Before long other mission representatives arrived and set up their displays.

 

We were pleased that Inge, second from left, (Executive Assistant to TFC’s President) joined us.  She was surprised to discover that SEND International’s representative was also from Brazil.  They had fun connecting and talking in Portuguese.

 

People began arriving at 3:00 p.m.  Shortly after that, the entire day changed for me, and taking pictures escaped my mind.

~~~

As I was directing people to the chapel outside, where Cerwin was explaining TFC’s ministry, my attention was drawn to two women who were weeping.  I walked over to see if they were okay, if I could pray with them, or help in anyway.

They replied that they would be okay, but they had just received news that their friend Linda Neidermyer just died from a brain aneurism.

My response probably surprised them, because Linda is my first cousin (our dads are brothers).  It definitely put a somber note on the day, because Don and Linda are members of this church.  Linda was a Sunday School teacher and both served as Junior High Youth Advisors.

Linda was fifty-four years old. 

Their family has been through more than most people will ever have to deal with.  Several years ago their oldest son took his own life at the age of eighteen.  They were recovering from that tragedy, when their next daughter died in a car accident, also at the age of eighteen.  Now, a few years later, Linda has gone home to be with the Lord.  It is difficult for me to look at this photo and wrap my brain around the fact that she is gone.

My heart is crying for her husband, Don, and their children Tanya, Christofer, and Shaina.  (Christofer is a student teacher for our granddaughter, Jana.)

My heart aches for her parents (my Uncle Glenn and Aunt Romaine) and her siblings (my cousins) Lucille, Galen, Bob, and Louanne.