Note of Appreciation and Thanks

[Pastor Don]

Just wanted to take a moment and acknowledge the many expressions of prayer and support. I wish that I could convey to you the estranged relationship that my brother and sister and I have, but it would not make anything better and it would serve no purpose since you don't know them. So I will just say that when I am in a room with them I have never felt so alone.
On the other hand there is my family here and although I have not been in a room with most of you in almost two years and some of you never, I have never felt more like I was with my friends nor such compassion than when I read your words of encouragement.
I know that I am no one special, you guys treat everybody the same and that is what makes it so awsome to me. I may be just one of the little brothers or in some cases the big brother, but I feel so "special".

So thank you for your prayers and kind words, Sandra and I feast on them and they fill us well. We will retire this evening satisfied, greiving, but satisfied in that our family has lifted us in our time of weakness.

Tomorrow at 11am I will face the second most hardest task of my life. I will stand to preach my Mother's funeral but I am confident that I will not stand there alone. I will have the thoughts and prayers of some of the finest people in the world and that will give me all the encouragement that I will need to face the task at hand.

I pray God's blessings for and upon you all. Thank you for giving me the family that I have longed to have. Sandra and I will cherish these notes, they will be put in the folder with the ones we recieved two years ago when you were here for me with my nephew and Dad. Once a month or so, we take them out and read them and pray spicificly for the health of those who prayed for and contacted us.

We love you and we will forever be greatful to God for giving us such a wonderful family.

Love and Prayers

[Linda]

Pastor Don,

Your Jude2 family will continue to hold you and Sandra up in our prayers. May God's comfort, joy and peace surround you both during this difficult time. The best part, is that one day you will get to see your mom again! Oh, what a day that will be when we get to see our loved ones again.

Thank you for being part of our J2 family, you are a real blessing to us.

[Jennifer Smith]

Pastor Don,

I pray that Jesus will fill the void that is left when you think of your Mother, and that you will be comforted by knowing that she is in the presence of the Lord in glory. I know that it is a great loss and and great void, but God is near.

Blessings, Jennifer Smith