"Jesse's Girls" Run/Walk for ALS, June 14

I will be participating in the Run/Walk for ALS this Sunday in Calgary, in honor of my friend and pastor Jesse Morales. I'll be walking with friends from my church, The Pathway Church, as we seek to raise $30,000 for this cause and the "Jesse's Girls" team!



Jesse was diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease in May 2008. (You can read about his family's journey at www.jessemoralesjourney.blogspot.com or clicking on the "Jesse's ALS journey" from this page.) I was in shock when I heard the news. "Not Jesse, Lord? Not another person I know with this terrible disease?"

I guess I've known Jesse and his family since I moved to Canada in 2001. When I heard the news, I immediately thought of him and his wife, Kathy, and their 4 daughters (Angela, Christina, Stephanie, and Emily) and how this will change their lives forever. I also thought of the 3 individuals from Mississippi that the Lord called Home from this disease. For such a rare disease, not another one I know...

When I was in grade 12, Mrs. Donzie Winningham, our pastor's wife, battled the disease. She kept her smile to the end...just like Jesse is continuing to! Dr. Larry Kennedy, a former interim pastor, battled it after he was with us. I think he died shortly after Hurricane Katrina hit. He was a great man of God...just like Jesse! Bro. Freddie Womble, our former pastor, had to leave the mission field after 20+ years in Paraguay. God called him Home around Christmas, I think. He had such a sense of humor...just like Jesse!

It's often in these times, one asks "why?", yet God is teaching me that He uses so many things--the good and the bad--to show Himself and to bring others to His Son, Jesus. Jesse is an evangelist and doesn't miss out on an opportunity to share...even if he can't talk anymore! Caretakers and a cleaning lady have been saved! Nurses and doctors have heard about the one Jesse takes joy in! It's in these things that we can see the purpose in the difficult things of life.

Jesse remains faithful to come to church each Sunday, even if he's not really up to it. I am blessed to know he and his family.



Would you be able to support "Jesse's Girls" in this cause and help to find a cure and give assistance to patients and families? If so, you can donate online at www.als.ca/events/mysite.aspx?fid=2588. If you would like to make a pledge, let me know!

Please keep Jesse and the family in your prayers at this time.

On another note, June 14 would have been my Granny Cone's 98th birthday. She went to be with Jesus on January 25, 2008. I think I'll walk in Granny's honor, too. Though she didn't battle ALS, she wasn't able to walk for the last few years of her life due to the nerve endings "dieing" in her legs. How thankful I am that she is now walking with Jesus!!

Rosalyn's Soccer Game

I was able to be at Rosalyn's last soccer game while I was home. It's so funny to watch preschoolers play soccer. She's quite the little player! Their team won and I was able to get a shot of a point she scored! It was a warm Mississippi "winter" day. The last 2 pictures are Katie's attempt at taking pictures. Not too bad for a 3 year old. She loves taking pictures!

Aunt Ellen's Castle

My 3 year old niece, Katie, thinks I live in a castle in Canada! I bought this castle from Ikea a few years ago and used it with the kids at my former church. When I moved to PEI, I left it at my parents' place for the girls to play in. It's one of those play things that takes up a lot of room, so it's not kept out all the time...But when I am home, the girls get to play in it and have such fun. On most of my trips since Jan 07, I have put it together at my sister's place. I take it apart before I leave and it goes back to Pops and Nana's place. Because the girls only play in it when I am there, Katie has this idea that I live in a castle! It must have been my fall visit that caused her to think this because after I left, she was telling my sister about Aunt Ellen's castle. Isn't that just the cutest? I love the imaginations and thoughts of preschoolers! It was a lot of fun during this last trip to watch Knox play in it. You'll see the box in the picture that we used for a tunnel!

My Valentine's Flowers

Here is the beautiful arrangement my family sent me!

Another Grandmother is now with Jesus

Geneva Mae Estep Gosnell Guess is now walking, talking, smiling, and singing with Jesus! She was so ready to go Home and went this morning. "Murie" hasn't spoken, smiled much, or even walked much in at least 2 years, so knowing that she is now able to do that brings a smile to my face! It is bittersweet, though, when one loses a grandmother, even if she is with her Heavenly Father. You may recall the post I wrote in early '08 about Granny Cone and the heritage she left. Murie has left one as well. Though I was close to both my grandmothers, I feel this one will be filled with more emotions, as my mom is an only child so my sister and I were Murie's only grandchildren. We spent so much time together with her, especially after Grandaddy died in '86 and she moved to Mt. Olive to be near us. She remarried in '94 to a wonderful man, Gene. Please keep him in your prayers. He was Murie's caregiver for a time, until it just became too much for him and Murie went to the nursing home. She suffered from Alzheimer's. Though it was sad to lose Grandaddy so suddenly, our family has been so blessed with Gene. There is so much more I want to write, but I must finish packing. I'll be flying tomorrow. It will be a long week for us as Murie's funeral will be in Mississippi, while her burial is in Tennessee, where she and Grandaddy were from and he is buried. I covet your prayers on behalf of our family. Thanks for praying for my grandmother and our family these past couple of weeks and days, as she had gotten worse. It means so much to know folks are praying!

News from the Rockies (Part 2)

(For whatever reason, getting the whole newsletter on here was causing me issues, so to read the beginning of the newsletter, read part 1 first...)

January was a travel month for me as I got to attend the national Woman’s Missionary Union meeting in Alabama and the North American Mission Board Missions Education Roundtable meeting at Southwestern Seminary. It was great to connect with others who have the same heart as me in educating folks about missions.
2008 was a year like none other with God calling some dear folks home to Heaven. Not counting my Granny Cone, another dear soul who God called home was “Mom” Karen Harris in Vancouver, who had a short battle with cancer. I’ve known the Harris family for over ten years now and Mom Karen had a way of making me feel so very special. It was her daughter Becky who traveled across the country with me. God knew that Becky needed that vacation because when she arrived back home, Mom Karen told her of her illness. She was gone in less than 2 months. Thankfully, I was able to go for the Celebration Service of her life. Please remember the Harris family in your prayers. My home church in Mississippi has experienced great loss just this past month. Zack Sanford was called home suddenly at the age of 48, leaving his wife, Sheila, a 14 year old son Sam, and twin 10 year olds, Robert and Katie, as well as his parents and extended family. His grandmother Katie was called home a month after his death. Zack and “Mamaw” Katie were wonderful people and both have left a legacy that will forever be in our hearts. Please keep the family in your prayers.

I am realizing more and more how short and fragile life is and that we don’t need to take anything for granted.

Thanks so much for your prayers in my life! It means so much to me to know that folks care and pray. Please continue to remember me as I seek God’s wisdom in all areas of my life, as I re-adjust to the Calgary area and a drier climate, and as I help to educate the CNBC churches about missions.

Here’s my new contact information:
109 Tusslewood Terrace NW
Calgary, AB, T3L 2W4
CANADA
Cell (403) 671-1046
ellen_cone@yahoo.com (same)

Canadian National Baptist Convention
100 Convention Way
Cochrane, AB, T4C 2G2
CANADA
(403) 932-5688
Within Canada: 1-888-442-2272
econe@cnbc.ca


May you experience God’s love in a special way this week and see Him at work around you!

Blessings in Christ,
Ellen

News from the Rockies (Part 1)

February Newsletter

Greetings from the Rocky Mountains! Yes, it’s true…I am back in the heart of the Rockies! Since the last time I wrote, I believe it was August while I was in Mississippi, awaiting my immigration papers that allow me to work in Canada. Life has been a whirlwind for awhile, but I am settling in my new home nicely. I did not realize how much the Calgary area had become home until I left…now, God has me back here for this time of my life!


Long story short, I accepted a position with our Canadian National Baptist Convention (formerly Canadian Convention of Southern Baptists) as missions ministry leader and administrative assistant for the SEND team. The SEND team covers missions, partnerships and volunteers, and collegiate ministry. I got my start in missions while in college, so I feel like I have come full circle. Only God could have orchestrated this part of my life. Though I’m not in children’s ministry full-time, this is a wonderful job for me and I’m making it into my ministry. I get to work with some incredible men and women and get to serve our churches across Canada. The magnitude of the position hits me at times. I am humbled that God would choose me in helping to educate our people about missions, be the contact for our international missionaries, and watch people get on board with what God is doing.
While in Mississippi, I felt like my whole world had been turned upside down. It was such a strange time for me, yet I knew God was in control and I did my best to trust Him. He knew that I was not physically, mentally, and emotionally ready to learn the ropes of a new job. I think it took the immigration issues for God to get me to rest! The paperwork came through quicker than expected and at the end of September, I flew back to Calgary and began my job. I enjoyed my time with family and basically not doing too much. I ended up being able to take a beach trip with my sister and her family and was even able to be at my niece Rosalyn’s 5th birthday party!


I can’t believe my little man Knox will be a year old on the 21st! Rosalyn, Katie, and Knox are such joys and I miss them!


I am living back in Calgary, but am on the outskirts of the city, about 20 minutes from Cochrane, where our office is. I rent the basement suite in the home of a couple I work with and the commute is not that bad, unless it’s icy and snowy! Since the sun is now up when I drive to work, I get to see the Rockies each morning and throughout my day, as our offices have a perfect view! The convention office is on the same property as the seminary, so I feel like I’m home again! It’s great to be back with old friends and to be making new ones.
I have found a new church home, The Pathway Church, and have already been helping out with the children’s Sunday School. I’m looking forward to even more opportunities to serve there. I wasn’t sure what type of church I was looking for, as I have experienced different types while being in Canada. This church reminds me of my former church here, so it’s a good feeling. Some of you may be wondering about Mountain View. It has recently merged with another church. Thanks to many of you who gave of your time, resources, and prayers to MVCF over the years!
I do miss Prince Edward Island and my friends there. I did not realize what wonderful friends I really had until I started missing them! I’m so blessed that God allowed me to have the opportunity to serve in Atlantic Canada. It helped prepare me for the denominational work that I am now in and I have more of a taste of our work across the country.
I miss the smell of the ocean and walks along the Charlottetown boardwalk, but I now have the Rocky Mountains, again!