Autumn,
2014
Dear
Friends,
Well,
Summer just seemed to slip by us with hardly a notice. Temps never
reached the highs we would expect and now the mornings are really
cool and it won't be long before.....well, you know (we don't like to
talk about what's coming, probably by the end of October!). But
despite whether we are comfortable or not, the need to take the Good
News of Jesus Christ into the nursing home continues. In fact, we
have just added another home to our schedule. We've started services
at Juniper Village, an up-scale assisted-living facility in
Meadville, PA. The activity director, who is a Christian, had
previously worked at another nursing-rehabilitation center and when
she changed jobs she told the administration in the new place about
us and they invited us in! The Lord has His people in the right place
at the right time to accomplish His will. Our first service was
encouraging, with three people responding to the gospel invitation
for salvation!
By
the time you read this letter I will have done a series of interviews
on WGOJ, a Christian FM radio station in Ohio that reaches northeast
Ohio, northwest Pennsylvania, and southern Ontario, Canada. The
pastor of the church that owns the station has become a good friend
over the years and strongly believes in our ministry. He invited me
to come on the air and talk about what we are doing and the great
need there is to reach into the nursing homes now while there is
still time. Please pray with us that God will open some new doors to
present our work in churches whose pastors listen to the program. We
are specifically looking for opportunities to recruit others to begin
multiple nursing home ministries like ours in other cities/states throughout America (and
Canada would be good, too!).
We
are asking for your prayers concerning Priscilla's sight. She had
experienced some blurring in her right eye on occasion, but it always
cleared up. Recently she had a episode where there was no clearing.
She visited her optometrist who ran some tests and immediately got
her in to see the top retinal surgeons in this part of PA. They
performed a lot of high-tech tests and determined that she has a
“hemi-central venous retinal occlusion”, which basically is
bleeding behind the eye. She has begun treatment that includes two
laser treatments, followed by two needle injections through the eye.
These treatments will NOT cure the problem, but hopefully will
prevent it from getting worse. He emphasized that her vision will NOT
improve, and she could lose her sight and even lose her eye, but at
least they will have done what is medically possible to try to halt
the advance of the problem. We covet your prayers and know that God
could, by His own hand as the Great Physician, return full sight to
her eye.
There
is a praise in conjunction with this. I have medicare but my wife will
not until December, so she is in a gap right now with no insurance.
We had to pay $100 up front before the doctors would see her. After
the initial tests, the bill was nearly $700. My wife called and asked
if we could be put on a payment plan. We received a newly revised
bill. The doctor had written-off all but $53. PRAISE THE LORD! But it
gets better. When the doctor told us about the laser and injections I
told him we would make payments no matter how long it took. He said,
“Let's do this right. Let's do all the treatments and don't worry
about the money”. He said, “I love what I do”, and then told us
if we can pay, that's great, but if we cannot, he's not worried about
it! I told my wife that within a multi-doctor office, God put us with
just the right doctor! God continues to take care of our needs as we
serve Him.
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| Music portion of our service at Fairview Manor, near Erie, PA. |
Through
all the trips back and forth to the doctor in Erie, we are trying to
maintain our nursing home schedule, as well as take care of the
church where I have been serving as their “interim” until they
find a new pastor. Frankly, I'm concerned that the “double-ministry”
is beginning to take it's toll, so please pray that God would supply
the right man to eventually take the helm of Open Door Baptist
Church. We have a busy schedule for the Fall and two missions
conferences coming up. We have seen many respond to the gospel for
salvation this year, and our work in the homes continues to be so
rewarding. As were leaving a facility that caters to folks with
various developmental handicaps, one lady came up to me from the back
of the room as I was leaving and said, “Thank you for being here”.
That makes it all worthwhile.
We
are thankful for all of you who faithfully lift us up in prayer. It is our privilege to be your
representatives to the nursing homes of Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Norm
Aabye
Norm
& Priscilla Aabye