Penrhy's Newsletter 5
January 11, 2005

“God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

Hello again. I can’t believe that it is already past Christmas and New Years and on into a new year. This is a longer e-mail but I thought I would walk through a typical week with you so that you could get to know some residents and a better picture of what goes on here. Every day is different and I encounter different things but each day holds its own blessings from God. I want to thank you all for such a wonderful time at home. You all are so special to me!

The beginning of the week is on Sundays for us. We begin the day with a worship service at 9:30 in the morning. Only a few people come and attend but I don’t doubt that they love the Lord. Of course we are all at different steps in our faith walk but that’s what makes is so interesting. I have learned so much from them through God. The first person that always comes is Paul Harrison. He is one in his own and makes life at the church interesting. He wants to serve. He is always doing something for the church no matter how he is feeling or how much he has to do. It probably isn’t easy for him since he doesn’t have a job and is having a hard time finding one. I also have learned a lot from him about patience. The children and adults pick on him so much. He never yells back at them or makes fun of them he takes it. Jesus was persecuted for who he was so many times and it is great to see that quality in Paul of how he reacts to people with Love. I pray that God will constantly guide and strengthen his faith as he comes to know the Lord better.

Then there is Reta. Oh Reta. She is a sweet lady who is so faithful always coming up on the days we have worship. She doesn’t talk much but is has always been kind to me during my time here in Penrhy’s. She has gone through a lot in life yet still wants to know the Lord in her life and grow. And there is Rena and Hugh. They come every once in awhile. But I remember the first day I was in Penrhy’s and I just cried my eyes out at the question of who was in my family. They came over and comforted me and told me that they would buy me a ticket home if I needed to get home. They show such kindness towards others. And there is Liz. I have grown close to Liz. She is a unique one as well. She has struggled with feeling unwanted in her life and has many reasons to feel that way. Oh how I pray that she can feel that God loves her so much and want her to fill joy in her life. I remember the day we took her out to the movies and then dinner afterwards. She said she had never felt so normal in her life before. She has her ups and downs every week and sometimes it gets hard to stay upbeat around her because I just want her to believe that God loves her. But I know that God has put her in my life for a reason and it is important for me to be friends with her. Her son Gavin is also an amazing boy. He came to Christ a couple of months ago and it was amazing to witness. I know that Gavin has a lot of pressures of being a teenager and hasn’t always had the easiest life but I pray that God will just continue to direct him. I know that Gavin has a good heart and desires to follow God.

And after the morning service we have school for the children and following that a second service. This is always a challenge and can sometimes try your patience but the Lord is always good and uses everything for his glory. The kids amaze me sometimes with what they say. There is this one girl that comes and her name is Caitlin. She is so cute and encourages me every time I see her. She definitely has a special heart. During the second service Sybil always comes and sometimes Gladys. They are two cute women. Sybil is 70 years old and loves the Lord. Gladys is a wonderful lady and always makes me smile when I see her. Her granddaughter Chelsea is a handful but I see a good heart underneath all of the acts that she puts on. She just needs someone to pay attention to her and to guide her. So that’s Sunday. It has taken me awhile to get used to the services. I miss so much my church at home and the worship. I know that you can’t change something just because you want to. You need to bring it to the Lord and ask for his guidance. God has taught me a lot about how worship is about the heart and not about the music or service. If the gospel is preached that is all that matters. God has given me strength to play the piano even though I constantly mess up or I feel as I do. He keeps my fingers moving in the cold.

On Mondays we have another service and the little children from the school come then. It is so great to see their faces and to listen to what they have to say. The other week 40 kids showed up and it was wonderful. On Mondays we also clean the café and clean and put new clothes in the Boutique. Margaret comes to help us. She is a great lady and always has something kind to say. I know that it is hard for her to come to church because of her granddaughter that died a few years ago. On Monday I also have my piano lessons, which is good. The kids don’t always show up but they try their best and always seem to amaze me with what they learn. Kirsten and Kelly are two girls that come first. They are at the age that they are tempted by so many things. One day Kelly and I got to have a good chat and I really enjoyed spending time with her and talking about what she enjoyed to do and what was bothering her. I pray that I might listen to her more and be a role model in her life. Another girl that comes on Mondays is Stacy. She has a low attention span but she just needs a boost in her confidence. She really is trying and she always remembers to come to lessons.

On Tuesdays I have the day off. Sometimes Orsi, my roommate, and I go to Tescos on a free bus. Some of the Ladies from Penrhy’s have come with us. It’s always nice to talk to them. We are building up friendships with the older people that join in from neighboring areas as well. It’s always nice to see their smiling faces. The other day I had a great talk with this lady named Dawn. She talked about how she wants to come to church but she has never been religious. Oh lord nudge her to come, She looks like she needs a rest in her soul. Her two children are always fun to be around. Emily is well mannered and always listens and then there is Jarred. He is a character but well behaved most of the time.

On Wednesdays I go to the school after the worship service. I work with a reading group. Its fun to listen to them read and watch them improve. It’s great because I am building a different aspect to our relationships. On Wednesdays I also have piano lessons. Natalie and Tanya are two girls that come and they are exceptional. They always try their best and have learned so much. I pray that they might start come to church and to know the Lord as their personal savior. Leah also comes on Wednesdays and she just brightens my day. Her smile and her willingness to learn has amazed me. She has such a good heart. Then we have compline and bible study. Rob comes on Wednesdays. Its great to have someone come who always brings good things to the table about the bible. He has been so nice to us.

On Thursdays I am in the café. Now that is a challenge because I am not a big fan of smoking and its like I am in a big cigarette because there is no ventilation. But it’s a good time to talk with the residents there. Sometimes I don’t feel that they like me but I know that I have to continue to show them love no matter what and sooner or later a trust and friendships will build. There are some characters that come. There is Loni, Theresa, Margaret, Denny, Merrill, Debbie, Haley, Kay, Kath, Barbara and many others who come in and out. They always have such interesting conversations that make you sometimes want to scream because of their negativity. But then I am reminded that I am not here to judge and to tell who is right and who is wrong but rather to love and show how to Love.

On Fridays we have worship again in the morning and I again go to the school. But at the school on Fridays I am working with a math group. It is just as fun as the reading group and has helped refresh me on my math skills that I have always enjoyed doing J well not really enjoyed. On Friday evenings we have café for the children and a disco for them as well. This is always fun and enjoyable but also lots of work. At café we play games with the children and I love getting to play uno or the memory game with the smaller ones. It is a time and place were we can be goofy with the kids and get to know them. And disco is always fun because we get to run around with the kids and they can let off steam. The little ones like to bounce around and I just love to bounce around with them. It makes you feel like a kid again. There is one little girl named Alex that has befriended me at café. She sticks to me like glue but I am so glad she does because it brings joy to my heart. She is a bright little girl and loves to do puzzles or read and eat fruit instead of candy. Now that is a rare thing at Café.

And then there is Saturdays. We have them off except every other Saturday we have café for the kids in the evening. It is the same as Friday but without a disco.

So there you have it, a week in Penrhy’s. I hope that you were able to get a better idea of Penrhy’s by this newsletter and enjoyed getting to know some of the residents.

I hope that you all had a wonderful Holiday.

In Christ’s Love,

Kari

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