P O Box 2847
Waianae
HI 96792-2847
GREETINGS from Waianae, Oahu, Hawaii in His name who created and sustains this beautiful island chain, and with your support and prayers allows me to serve Him here. Thank you!
Island Family Christian Church (IFCC) continues to have frequent baptismal services in the chapel or at the Sand Island Beach Park, and now at a new site — the OCC Men’s prison. Rick described an improvised tank where recently ten men were baptized. While they cannot worship with us, they are a part of our ohana (family) and we want to surround them with our love and prayers, and to support them as they return to society. The ministry team started with four members who have visited weekly for several months.
Our women’s morning Bible study was recessed during the school vacation, but Amy conducted a Bible Boot Camp for families. Their goal was to construct a time-line of Old Testament History for each family. Amy taught the historical periods and produced hand-outs to add to their scrolls. Several of the ladies who wanted to attend were on vacation, but the ones who attended were enthusiastic. Now the weekly class has resumed. Amy taught the first week, and I did the second.
I was unable to participate in the summer sessions. My niece, Martha Behle, with whom my sister lived, wrote that Bertha was sick and not responding to treatment — didn’t seem to want to work at getting better. She asked if I could come for a visit and to celebrate several family events, among them Bertha’s 89th birthday.
I went and visited for three weeks, returning on July 2nd. I spent hours visiting, playing games, and working crossword puzzles with her in the hospital. She was alert and happy for the most part, but frail and did not tolerate IV’s well. She had swollen legs and infection. She came home for a few days, but when the antibiotics failed to stop the infection she was taken back to the hospital. Her condition continued to deteriorate. Shortly after I left, she wanted to get out of the hospital and go to her heavenly home. They sent her home under hospice care, and she died on July 17th.
The last day I was with Bertha, we enjoyed watching a Cardinals baseball game. Of course, the TV was high on the wall, so Bertha could see it from her bed. I sat beside her, so my neck got really sore from looking up. When Martha took me back to their house, I was so dizzy I couldn’t stand alone or walk. Martha helped me to the bathroom where I vomited. In the morning I was still dizzy, so she took me to the emergency room, where they said I had vertigo, but okayed me to fly.
I stayed overnight with my granddaughter in Los Angeles and visited another hospital emergency room. With lots of help I made it home, but am still dizzy, but not so bad. I get around in the house but use a walker elsewhere. I have seen a chiropractor and neurologist and continue the exercises. People are praying, so I trust I will get better. I continue my encouraging ministries, by passing on the many publications I receive — Christian Standard, One Body, Horizons, plus many mission newsletters — IDES, Good News Productions, etc.
My monthly Encourager is a clearing house for many items of interest to our churches here and elsewhere. Our churches need preachers and workers. A small group on Kauai asked me to publish their need for a missionary minister, Sunset Beach Christian Church and Central Oahu Christian need one. Island Family Christian Church needs a Youth Minister. Please pray that the Lord will raise up workers for the harvest.
We at IFCC have had a temporary children’s director, but her heart is in Africa where she wants to serve as a missionary. The church has hired one of our own, Denise Matsumoto, to replace her. Denise came to Oahu to work at our Palolo Valley preschool, married our member Mitchell, has served on our State Board of Education for years and has taught preschool during this time. She has been involved in the children’s ministries at IFCC for years. Our missions committee has been really busy this summer, and has organized, raised funds, recruited workers and sent over 30 persons on short-term mission trips to Mexico, Samoa, and Show Low, AZ.
My friend, Zola Brown, is finally home after spending about three weeks in the hospital with a variety of serious health problems. She gets around with a walker and continues her medications. She lives in an elderly housing complex and has many friends nearby who watch over and help each other.
I find joy in serving and I pray you also do.
CONTRIBUTORS: May–August
• Churches-Groups: • Osage Hills, Tulsa, OK; Macedonia, Kokomo, IN; Faith-Burlington, IN; Judson Rd. Kokomo, IN; New Point— Oregon, MO
• Individuals-Couples • Debbie Holt, Joyce Vance, H J Durham, Louise Hahn, Jean Simpson, Gloria Mock, Jessica Floyd.
Yours in His Service
Henrietta
