Last month I traveled back to Missouri for a wedding of two young adults I had in Children’s Ministry many years ago. The young man was even the ring bearer in our wedding! While I was in St. Joe I stopped in to surprise a dear friend and Bible Study teacher I had while I worked at the church there. I knocked on her door and when she opened the door she was indeed surprised.
She said,”I didn’t think I would see you till we were dead!” Her way with words has always made me smile! As I walked into her room at the assisted living facility, I saw her table filled with her Bible, and many other books and commentaries. I knew she had been studying to teach a Bible Study class. She typically spends around six hours to prepare. This amazing 93 year old woman is still in the trenches studying God’s Word to share with others. Her heart for the Word and for people being discipled is incredible. The class that she was preparing to teach was on prayer. This saint is also a prayer warrior. She told me that recently she has started journaling her prayers and then going back to see how God has answered them.
She was saddened by the fact that she would no longer be able to financially support us, which she has been faithful to do since we became missionaries. I reminded her that her prayers were most critical in the ministry we have been called to do. I also told her that a church had made a one time gift that covered her gifts and that God had already provided.
Talking with her was water to my soul. It reminded me that God can and will always use us if we are willing to be obedient regardless of how old or young we are. I am blessed to have been able to learn from her and call her friend.
