Generations

I am married to the most wonderful man. I am honored to be his wife. This apple does not fall far from the tree, so to speak, because he has wonderful parents who are an amazing example. Many of you have asked about my mother-in-love, Margie. I wanted to share with you all an email from Lind. What an example of grace and joy and living life they are to us. We all have had bad days, but I have never seen two people tread such deep waters together as these two. For those of you who don't know, Margie lost her leg to cancer 20ish years ago, and has suffered from phantom pain. This is not like a toothache or a headache - it is real, excruciating, undescrible pain that she describes as feeling like being stabbed by hot knives or stung by millions of bees. They live by grace and have shared this lesson with their family.
So, here is their update...


Just a note to all our faithful prayer warriors.

As you may remember, Margie had a pain pump installed last May. The pump has given her a great deal of relief from the phantom pain, although it was still necessary to give her shots from day to day. Over a period of time, she began to build up a tolerance to the medication being used in the pump. The doctor determined to change the medication last month. After a few adjustments, the new medication has done better than anything we have used so far. It has been three weeks since I've had to give her a shot. Praise the Lord!!!

We also wanted to let you know that the Lord has called us to a new ministry. Here's how He brought it about:

After my retirement, Margie and I began to make short term mission trips with Wings of Morning, a medical missions group based here in Tampa. Margie & I worked as helpers and evangelists. What a joy those trips were as we saw hundreds of people come to know the Lord as their Savior. However, as Margie's phantom pain became more intense and debilitating, it was not possible for us to continue these trips.

Over the years, we had rented an RV (motor home) from time to time to travel with the family. Last June, we purchased a used RV, just to see how we liked it and if RVing was something we could do on a semi-fulltime basis. Well, we loved it. We could travel at our leisure and Margie could recline on the couch as we traveled, rather than having to sit in pain for long periods on a plane or in a car. Subsequently, we became aware of a group called Campers on Mission, a part of the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. This group works throughout the United States and Canada doing evangelism, disaster relief, construction, back yard Bible schools, etc.

Now the Lord has allowed us to combine our love for missions with the pleasure of RVing. We leave on our first trip this Thursday, Feb. 17th. We will be working with 1st Baptist Church in Punta Gorda helping victims of Hurricane Charlie. While rebuilding the homes of their members, 1st Baptist is reaching out to the community through their food bank. Margie will be working in the food bank and doing counseling while I will be doing construction. (Margie has said "no roofs"). We visited the area several weeks ago and were amazed at the devastation. Many were left homeless by the hurricane. And now, more people are having to vacate their homes as a result of mold that is just now being detected. Almost every house in the area is in need of some repair.

The food bank operated by 1st Baptist, is very short on funds. If any of you would feel led to contribute to this work, the money would certainly be put to good use. If you attend Idlewild, make your check out to Idlewild, indicate that it's for the Punta Gorda Food Bank and give it to Pastor Reno. Please, DO NOT PUT IT IN THE OFFERING PLATE. If you attend a church other than Idlewild, simply make your check out to 1st Baptist Church, Punta Gorda. Indicate that it is for the food bank. Mail it to:

1st Baptist Church
459 Gill Street
Punta Gorda FL 33950

Please keep us in your prayers. Pray for the following:

That all that we do on these trips would be honoring to the Lord.
That we would show the love of Jesus as we minister to those in need.
That we would have opportunities to share about God's love with those we encounter.
That Margie's health would allow her to work and counsel.
For the unity and safety of the team with which we'll be working.

Thanks for all your prayers. We have been bolstered by them over the past several years. We certainly praise God for answering your prayers for us.

So then, while we have opportunity,let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. Galatians 6:10

Lind & Margie