May I Tell You a Story?

Denise’s Leftovers

“May I Tell You a Story?”

B Y DICK DUERKSEN

Denise and her family attend a small church that has big dreams. And bigger prayers. Each year the congregation asks God to lead them to a place in which they can “make a diff erence” for Him. Sometimes God sends them to a place nearby, but often the call is to a needy community in a neighboring country. Usually Mexico. “When we’re planning a mission trip the fi rst thing we do is pray for God’s leading,” Denise explains. “Once we know where we’re going to work, we send someone to visit and listen to the folk, to see what they might like us to do. Then we start raising money for the construction, travel, food, and a hundred other expenses.”

* * * This time God led Denise’s church to a small congregation, Iglesia El Buen Pastor, in Juárez, Mexico. They sent a member to see exactly what the congregation needed. The report was grim. The Juárez church building needed to be painted inside and out. The roof was leaking and would have to be rebuilt. They also needed new chairs, lots of materials for the children’s programs,

some plants around the church, and tons of Spanish Bibles. “Mission trips like this are the best thing our church does,” Denise explains. “They bring us together in service. Sure, they take a lot of work, but because we’re doing the work together, and because we have to pray our way through all of the challenges, these adventures in faith make our congregation stronger. “Our mission team worked hard right along with the members of the church in Juárez. The weather was hot, and we all quickly sweated through our clothes. The men rebuilt the roof and worked on a dozen other maintenance projects. All of us painted the church—inside and outside—till it shone like new.” When Denise’s team was done with everything on the list, they decided to hold a celebration party, a huge party, for all the local church members. “We thought that maybe 40 or 50 people might come to the party. So I went to the store and bought 40 packages of cookies, crackers, and doughnuts, along with 25 gallons of juice,” Denise says. “At fi rst about 20 people came, then 30, then 45, then 70. Finally more than 150 people crowded into the small church.

As the people began coming, I knew for sure that we wouldn’t have anywhere near enough of anything.

Every chair was filled, and people were standing like sardines against the wall.” The pastor led the evening’s worship service, and the entire congregation sang, prayed, and celebrated God’s love. At the end of the service 35 people wiggled through the crowd to the platform and gave their lives to Jesus Christ. You should have heard the celebration! These were 35 people who had never even set foot in a church before that night. * * * It was a wonderful evening, but now it was obvious that Denise hadn’t gotten enough food and juice for everyone. It was too late to go back into town and buy more, so Denise slipped over to the pastor and told him the terrible truth. “We don’t have enough food and juice for the crowd. We were told to expect 20, so we planned for 50. But there are 150 people!” “No, Denise,” the pastor said, “there are more than 150 people. You didn’t count the ones standing outside hoping to get in. But it’s OK. Let’s just pray and give out what we have.” Denise and the pastor prayed over the food and asked everyone to line up and come past the tables that had been set up in the back room of the church. “We put out some cookies, crackers, and doughnuts, and one of the women poured cups of juice,” says Denise. “As the people began coming, I knew for sure that we wouldn’t have anywhere near enough of anything, but we kept on pouring the juice and setting out the cookies, the crackers, and the doughnuts anyway. When the crackers or cookies ran out, I reached into the big cardboard box and pulled out another bag. When we needed more doughnuts, I just pulled out a box of a dozen more. When the juice had all been poured, I reached into the refrigerator and pulled out another gallon. We had been able to squeeze only 25 gallons of juice into the refrigerator, and I didn’t even think to count how many I pulled out. I just kept pulling and pouring and smiling and celebrating with the crowd.” Somehow, through God’s powers of multiplication, and a lot of work from the angels from “supply,” there was enough for everyone to have firsts, seconds, and even thirds. People were really hungry! After the crowd left, Denise opened the refrigerator, which should have been empty, and saw that it still held seven gallons of juice. Surprised and overwhelmed she then went to the trash bins and began counting the empties. “I counted more than 80 empty plastic juice jugs and far more than 100 empty boxes of cookies, crackers, and doughnuts in the trash bins,” Denise remembers. “I had bought only 25 gallons of juice and 40 boxes of snacks! Even crazier, the big cardboard box was full. It had 12 untouched boxes of crackers, 12 unused boxes of cookies, and 12 brand new boxes of doughnuts!” Remember the story about Jesus feeding 5,000 people on a hill beside the Sea of Galilee? He started with one little boy’s lunch and had 12 baskets of food left over. Later, when He fed the 4,000, there were seven baskets of food left over! Just like Denise’s cookies and juice! “Where did all the cookies come from, and how did the juice get into the refrigerator? I don’t know. It just came from God,” Denise says. “Whenever I reached in for more, God gave me what we needed. It just appeared! I have seen the blessing of food as God made an abundance come from the little bit we had. He even multiplied the doughnuts!”

Dick Duerksen, a pastor and storyteller, lives in Portland, Oregon, United States.

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Vol. 16, No. 2

O’BRIEN. A very big thank you from Elaine O’Brien and Cliff to all who helped in so many different ways following the fire which destroyed our home of 53 years in Daveron Park, SA in October. This help is greatly appreciated.

Wedding

SANA– SALEU. Pastor Wilington Sana (Bougainville) and Monica Saleu (Manus) both widowed, were united in marriage on 11.12.19 at Sonoma Adventist College chapel (Kokopo, Papua New Guinea). Pastor Wilington is the male students’ dean and Monica is a midwife.

Taitarae Sevau Obituary

HARDERS, June Winifred (nee Brown), born 25.5.1931 in Perth, WA; died 18.10.19 in Perth. On 27.3.1951 she married Gordon. who predeceased her. June was survived by her daughters Jan Bolst (Woongarrah, NSW), Karen Brooks (Perth, WA), Deb Miller (Perth), Haydee Cowper (Busselton) and Roni Pozoga (Wongan Hills); 10 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. She will be greatly missed but forever loved by her family and friends. Bob Bolst

HARNELL, Lucy Joyce (nee Morrison), born 6.12.1921 in Blayney, NSW; died 29.11.19 in Ipswich, Qld. On 28.10.1942 she married Morrie Harnell, who predeceased her in 1999. She was also predeceased by her granddaughter, Yasmin, who died tragically in 2017. Lucy is survived by her children, Lynndon and Diane, and Glynn; grandchildren Caleb and Rebecca, Lachlan, and Melodie Garrad and Sam. Lucy’s parents were medical missionaries and she maintained an unshakeable Adventist faith throughout her life. Lucy was formerly in charge of an SES mobile kitchen, and involved in St John Ambulance and Dorcas. Barry Harker

KING, Margaret Priscilla (nee Large), born 27.3.1930 in Launceston, Tas; died 9.11.19 in Knox Private Hospital, Wantirna, Vic. On 21.1.1953 she married Romney. Margaret was predeceased by her brother, Graham Large in 2002. She is survived by her husband (Melbourne); children, Vaughan and Rosemary (Scottsdale, Tas), Julie and David Gibson (Beenleigh, Qld), Glenice and Malcolm Reid (Melbourne, Vic), and Hilton and Jullienne (Jakarta, Indonesia); eight grandchildren; one great-grandson; and brother Alan and Elaine Large (Melbourne, Vic). In 1947-1952 she worked in the office of the SHF wholesale depot at Windsor, Vic, and became secretary to the manager. Margaret was a loving and much-loved wife and mother, a well-organised homemaker and a sincere Christian whose faith was centred on the soon return of Jesus.

Peter McGowan

NASH, Lena (Isabel) (nee Waters), born 22.2.1926 in Hay, NSW; died 3.11.19 in Tamworth. On 10.5.1946 she married George who predeceased her on 10.2.19. She was also predeceased by her sons-in-law Lindsay Kerby (2008), Bill Fermor (2016) and Keith Mackender (2017). Isabel is survived by her children, Beryl Fermor (Melbourne, Vic), Joan Mackender (Tamworth, NSW), Carol and Roger Millist (Perth, WA), Diane Kerby (Sydney, NSW), Jon and Kylee (Tamworth) and Mark and Sonya (Lismore NSW); 17 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and one great-greatgrandchild. Besides bringing up her own children she was also mother to several of her younger siblings and a number of foster children. As a teenager Isabel attended church and determined to live by Christian values.

Roger Millist

REID, Afton Andrew, born 9.8.1930 in Little Hampton, Tas; died 24.12.19 in Launceston. On 11.6.1957 he married Helen Hyland who predeceased him in 2008. Afton is survived by his children, Andrew and Heather (Devonport), Kaylene and Eric De Groot (Evandale), Lyle and Sallyanne (Perth) and Paul and Michelle (Devon Hills); grandchildren; great-grandchild; and sister, Hazel and Ray Stanton (Blackmans Bay). Afton was a faithful Christian gentleman, a life-long Adventist and long-time deacon at Launceston church. He was the major builder of the Launceston and Deloraine churches. He was a practical, organised, reliable man of wisdom and integrity. He was also a dedicated, caring family man .

Bruce Grosse

Force. He received a police salute at his graveside service. Following his police service, Rod became a much-loved staff member at the Cooranbong Adventist Retirement Village. A talented sportsman, musician and a meticulous craftsman, Rod was totally devoted to his family. Rod and Mel had big plans to create a ‘Community Angel’ service to unassumingly provide support people in need. This was not to be.

John Hammond

SCOTT, Frances Rita (Fay) (nee Wood), born 7.1.1927; died 8.10.19 in Busselton, WA. On 10.1.1951 she married John. Fay is survived by her children, Adrian Scott (Leeming), Delys Leslie (Lesurdie), Gweneth Trigwell (Busselton), Jennifer Grant (Hammond Park) and Phillip Scott (Busselton); sisters, Pat (Dianella) and Gwen (Yokine); and brother Bob.

Clark Riggins

TASKER, Sharlene Maree, born 9.3.1966 in Auckland, NZ; died 20.12.19 at Gosford NSW. She was predeceased by her daughter, Maddison. Sharlene is survived by her children, Nikkita, Kallin, Denni, Breana; and three grandchildren, Koby, Maya and Beau. She was the daughter of Barry and Lyn Tasker and the eldest sibling of Eugene, Clinton, Natasha, Kylie, Chantelle, Melantha, Serita and Shenee. Sharlene was an avid pianist and loved to relax with her music and a favourite book. Her life was celebrated at the Palmdale Crematorium, Gosford. The service reflected on God’s great promises and assurance that graves will not hold their captives, Jesus is in control and promises to return and gather his own.

Ray Eaton

TINWORTH, Rodney Dean, born 28.8.1972 in Kyogle, NSW; died suddenly on 9.11.19 at Toronto, NSW. On 28.10.06 he married Melissa Martin. He is survived by his wife; daughters Mali and Jasmine; father, Allan and stepmother, June; and siblings, Graham and Karen. Rod trained as a fitter and turner before serving 20 years as a decorated officer within the NSW Police

WRANKMORE, Henry (Harry), born 7.8.1930 in Beverley, WA; died 6.12.19 in Perth. On 7.8.1954 he married Daphne Noonan. He was predeceased by his brother, Cyril. Harry is survived by his wife (Rossmoyne, WA); children, Lynette Snyder (Perth, WA), Marie Alford (Sunshine Coast, Qld), Helen Dyson (Perth, WA), Peter (Gosford, NSW), Alan (Bunbury, WA) and Trevor (Boston, USA); 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and sister, Judith Wells (Sydney, NSW). Harry trained with the CMF (Army Reserves) during WW2 and after becoming a Christian put his training to good use as a Pathfinder leader, director and Conference District Director for many years. At work he overheard two colleagues debating religion. This caused him to read and study his Bible more closely and resulted in the family becoming committed Christians and members of the church in 1958.

Roger Millist

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