Quieter Times and Remembrances

We are experiencing Quieter Times with the ending of the Christmas and New Years seasons.  There is a year round need and we do still have requests for food they just are not as fast and furious as they were at the end of the year.  Now is the time for us to rebuild and restock to prepare for the next big run we have.  This new year has brought sadness to many of us as several of our Christian friends have gone home.  One of the biggest losses to me was that of our faithful friend, mentor, and christian brother, Joe Harbert.  Joe was always available when something needed doing (I can still see him back in the pantry building shelves with Waymon Wren when we first started the pantry).  Joe was such an encouragement to me in building the pantry work and in writing this blog.  He faithfully read and commented to me on it recommending to me to keep on working.  Every time I walk into the church building or sit down to write on this blog I think of Joe and praise God for his guidance.  His loss was unexpected to all of us but we are thankful he went quickly without suffering and know there must have been great rejoicing in heaven for his life.
Good things have been happening with the addition of one of our pantry beneficiaries placing her membership with us.  She was baptized into Christ for the remission of her sins when she was 17 years old, and we are thrilled for her to renew herself to Christ.  If you remember back in an earlier post I mentioned that a lady we had helped had passed away with cancer and the grandmother wanted the children but for health reasons was unable to care for them.  Therefore, this special lady who had been a friend of the mother and the children took them in and applied to the state for protective custody of the children.  Her name is Rosie.  Well Rosie is the lady who placed her membership with us.  Last week she was granted the custody of the children by the Juvenile Court.  We have been helping Rosie to get on her feet with the children and are pleased that she is part of us along with the children now.  She needs many things yet and most desperately she needs a vehicle so she can get to work and church easier and have room for the kids.  Pray that the necessities come thru for her and please continue to pray for all of us.  I need your prayers.