Pastor's Blog

Caroline Ford was taken to the hospital during the early morning hours due to a loss of blood.  She is receiving blood this morning.  Pray that the doctors can find the source of the problem and correct it. 

Barbara Kelley’s dad, Mr. Fore, took another fall yesterday and is in an ICU in a local hospital too.  Pray for him also. 

Bill Unrue was discharged from the hospital – praise the Lord.

I didn’t do a very good job of managing my time yesterday so I did not get to visit with Jayne English.  Therefore, I don’t have a update.  (Nanette Fontenot is always looking for a reason to call me so you would think this would be her chance!)  Keep praying for Jayne.

I went to visit Bill Unrue in the hospital and bounded up to the 9th floor only to be told that he had been discharged.  I complained to the nurse about driving from GB, climbing the stairs, et cetera and she just gave me that “calf looking at a new locked gate” look.  Turns out, Bill was, and is, still in the hospital.  I’m confused!  Pray for Bill.

I did get to visit with Miss Joyce Bosarge.  She is not sure when she will go home as she was to have a full body scan today.  Pray for Miss Joyce.

Docia Thompson’s sister is doing much better and has been discharged from the hospital.  Praise the Lord! 

As far as I know, the team in Guatemala has had a good week and they head back to Michigan today.  Pray for them as they travel.

I have had several folks ask about the recycling of the greeting cards.  Contact Janice Moreland for the details. 

We are still looking for folks to join “Lottie’s Legion @ Friendship” as we strive to reach $40,000 between 2/1 and 11/30. 

Thank you to those who have submitted a “Who Did You Miss” card over the past two Sundays.  Miss Camp sent several letters yesterday to let folks know they were missed.  Let’s close the back door! 

I pray that you will have a great weekend.  Go to church!

We had a good Wednesday in our respective services.  It was good to be joined by Pastor Jeff Switzer in last night’s service.  Jeff is Joey’s brother and he pastors 1st Methodist in Senatobia, MS.  How can they be brothers?  LOL!

Carla Kyser received a very favorable report from the doctor yesterday – praise the Lord!  She did receive another round of chemotherapy too.

Bill Unrue remains hospitalized.  He bumped the lower part of his left leg and it had become infected.  They did surgery and he is now in the recovery process as they try to fight off the infection. 

Miss Joyce Bosarge has sore spots on both of her legs.  She too remains hospitalized.  It appears she is improving but doesn’t know when she will be released from the hospital. 

Nanette Fontenot e-mailed yesterday to say that Jayne English is showing signs of waking.  She has briefly opened her eyes and is responding to some verbal commands.

Miss Kathleen Richards is at home.  Pray for her as she is not eating/drinking properly.  Pray for Chuck & Beth too. 

Eddie & Sue got delayed for about 28 hours in Chicago on their return to China.  I am assuming they left yesterday afternoon around 4:00PM. 

Janice Moreland is in charge of collecting “used” greeting cards to be used by a branch of St. Jude’s hospital.  You can bring them to any service and she plans on having a box in the foyer of the auditorium where they can be placed.  We have three weeks to get this done. 

Root canal Tuesday, meet with CPA early this morning.  Give me the root canal – at least the doctor gives you a shot to ease the pain!  Also figured I would go up to the Clark Cemetery to pick out a plot! 

I pray that you will have a great Thursday with Jesus.

We three Genzinks of Michigan afar – are here!  Yesterday afternoon, Kelli Lanee, Riley John & Clayton John made their appearance into this world.  I don’t know all of the details but do know they all three weighed around 2.5 pounds each and are doing good as are Rochelle & Ryan.  Grandpa Ross & Grandma Kathy are doing well too.  Pray for these babies (especially pray that they will favor their mother!) and Rochelle.  Congratulations Ryan & Rochelle! 

Carla Kyser is receiving another round of chemotherapy today so please keep her in your prayers.  Her daughter, Larsyn, has been sick which just adds to Carla’s stress so pray for Larsyn’s healing too! 

The funeral service for Miss Melva Huff (Hilda/Joey) will take place today at 1:00PM at the Safe Harbor Methodist Church in Mississippi.  The graveside service for Miss Doris Waltman (Martha Pierre) will take place today at 2:00PM in the Pine Crest Cemetery.  Pray for these two families.

Miss Kathleen Richards came home from the hospital yesterday afternoon.  She is not well but the family is trying this to see if they can care for her at home instead of putting her into a medical facility.  Pray for Miss Kathleen.  Again, she is our oldest church member as she is 97 years old. 

Jayne English and  Miss Joyce Bosarge remain hospitalized.  Bill Unrue was hospitalized but I don’t know if he still is in.  As far as I know, Docia Thompson’s sister also continues to be hospitalized.  Pray for these folks!

The burial service for Miss Vivian went well.  Again, thanks to those who brought food and those who helped served.  You did great! 

Mr. President, there are more pressing needs in our country than calling the UK basketball team.  Plus, they got knocked from their #1 perch last night by the Roosters of USC.  You think he will call back today? 

Odd request (from an odd guy) – if you have used greeting cards i.e. Christmas, birthday, anniversary, et cetera, we need them for ministry.  Friendship family members can bring them to the services today/tonight.  Friends from out of town can send them to the church at P.O. Box 756 Grand Bay, AL 36541 to the attention of Janice Moreland. 

Several have asked about the root canal.  I have always been blessed and never miss a beat b/c of a root canal but then again I am a man and men can take some pain! 

My brother, Eddie, and his wife, Sue, (who also happens to be my former girlfriend back in the day) went back to China yesterday.  He is doing well.

Regular Wednesday at Friendship.  I pray that you will have a great day with Jesus!

The celebration of life for Miss Vivian Ladnier last night was a time of worship.  The house was full and many folks expressed how the service ministered to them.  Bro. Greg Morrison, Bro. Robbie Howard, the choir, and the men from the Mission of Hope all did a wonderful job of sharing in word and/or song.  Thanks to those who helped with the food, the sound, the slideshow, et cetera. 

This morning we will meet at 10:00AM for a time of visitation with the family and we will then make our way to the Grand Bay Cemetery for the burial at 11:00AM. 

Again, folks bringing food are asked to have it at the church by 10:30AM this morning.  Thank you for helping to minister to this family. 

Miss Kathleen Richards is not doing so well.  The family is going to have to make some decisions about her continuing care.  Pray for Chuck & Beth as they sort out the details of providing the best care for Miss Kathleen.  Folks, Miss Kathleen is one of the sweetest ladies you will ever meet! 

Miss Joyce Bosarge remains hospitalized.  She is having a problem with her legs due to the chemotherapy.  Pray for Miss Joyce.

Jodie Crawley was discharged from the hospital Sunday afternoon.  They will do some more testing at a later date. 

Jayne English (I have been misspelling her first name in past posts) is better but remains on the ventilator.  The doctors have changed her medicines and want to give it a little more time before taking her off the ventilator.

Pastor Bob Harvey’s mother will be buried today.  That service is taking place in Missouri.  Pray for Pastor Bob & his family. 

I will update our Haiti offering total and “Lottie’s Legion @ Friendship” in tomorrow’s post.  I just didn’t focus on those matters yesterday with hospital visits and the funeral preparations. 

A team from the Friendship CRC in Byron Center, MI arrived in Guatemala this past Friday, 1/22, and are using the L.G. Camp, Jr. mission house as their base.  You can follow them at www.friendshipcrc.org and then click on the missions/outreach tab.  Pray for them as they minister. 

Gotta go get a root canal done early so I can be back to meet with Miss Vivian’s family. 

I pray that you will have a great Tuesday with Jesus.

The funeral arrangements for Miss Doris Waltman, Martha Pierre’s mother, are as follows:  visitation with the family on Wednesday, 1/27/10, from 1:00 – 2:00PM at the Pine Crest Funeral Home.  A graveside service will take place at 2:00PM in the Pine Crest Cemetery.  Pray for this family.

The visitation with the Melva Huff family will take place on Wednesday, 1/27, from 11:00AM until the 1:00PM service time at the Safe Harbor Methodist Church.  The church is located on Highway 63 north (Exit 69 off I-10) about 5 1/2 miles above the interstate.

What a weekend!  Miss Vivian Ladnier, Melva Huff (Hilda Gunter’s sister & Joey Switzer’s aunt), Martha Pierre’s mother, Pastor Bob Harvey’s mother, and Jennifer Brown’s (works with Lisa & Julie at State Farm) grandfather all passed from this life.  (Pastor Bob’s mother lived in Missouri and Jennifer’s grandfather lived in the Starkville, MS area)  Pray for these families.

Miss Kathleen Richards, Miss Joyce Bosarge, Janie English, & Jodie Crawley are in the hospital.  Pray for them and their respective situations.  Keep praying for Carla Kyser, Miss Merle Phillips, & Pelham McGehee in their battles against cancer.  Keep praying for Docia Thompson’s sister in Lucedale, MS. 

The arrangements for Miss Vivian are a visitation with the family this afternoon in the church auditorium from 4:00 – 7:00PM.  The service will take place tonight beginning at 7:00PM.  (All adult choir members are asked to participate in the service) 

There will be another time of visitation tomorrow morning, 1/26, beginning at 10:00AM with the burial service taking place at 11:00AM in the Grand Bay Cemetery. 

Folks bringing food need to have it at the church by 10:30AM on Tuesday morning.  Questions about the food should be directed to Miss Vinnie Brewer. 

We had a good day in our three services.  No public decisions but a number of decisions at the altar.  You gave over $3,000 to the Haiti relief offering and that will be sent to the Brooklyn Tabernacle today. 

The Saints are going to the Super Bowl!  Can you believe it?  I knew they had it when Drew Brees aka Bro. Robbie Howard walked into our evening service!  JD, I tried to tell you!  I will be rooting for the Saints but think the Colts will win it all. 

I pray that you will have a great Monday with Jesus.

Melva Huff, Hilda Gunter’s sister, passed away around 3:00PM today.  The funeral arrangements are incomplete.  Pray for Hilda and family.

Pastor Bob Harvey’s mother passed away this morning.  She has been battling cancer.  Pray for Pastor Bob as he travels to Missouri and then goes through the funeral service.  I do not know the arrangments on this service either.

This afternoon shortly before 12:30PM, Miss Vivian Ladnier departed her earthly body and entered into the presence of the Lord!  She passed very peacefully surrounded by her family. 

The visitation with the Ladnier family will take place in the church auditorium tomorrow afternoon, 1/25, from 4:00 until 7:00PM.  The celebration of life worship service will take place at 7:00PM from the church auditorium. 

There will be another time of visitation with the family on Tuesday morning, 1/26, beginning at 10:00AM until the committal time at 11:00AM.  Miss Vivian will be buried in the Grand Bay Cemetery.