My friend Bonnie

Bonnie is another close friend of mine who I met on the Alzheimer's message board. Those on the board knew her as Mama's Friend. We literally walked through the valley of the shadow of death together as my dear Daddy died Nov. 6, 2006 and her sweet Mama died Dec. 8, 2006. We walked the valley together, keeping close company with Jesus as He comforted and guided us through those painful days.

We finally got to meet April of 2008 in San Antonio, where she lives, and spent a fabulous evening on the Riverwalk. We couldn't stop talking and all of it was centered on the joy our faith brings us no matter what is going on in our lives.

Bonnie grew up in Mexico, with parents who were full-time missionaries. Bob and Beverly Teachout, came to Mexico as newlyweds in 1955. Bonnie says, "Mom used to stand under a mango tree ( the shadiest trees in the tropics) and play "Jesus Loves Me" on an accordian, and many other songs until children gathered. Once she had a crowd, she would tell them who Jesus was with flannel graph stories. She and Daddy would go back again and again- the mothers and children would be waiting in anticipation under the tree the next week! Then Dad would announce a movie after the stories the next week- and the whole family would come. That's how the churches got started. At the end I believe there were 23 with 3-4 missions each. But it was never about counting people. It was about these sweet people finding Christ."

At the age of 17, Bonnie was called to be a missionary but resisted that call in favor of marriage and children but it was always in the background of everything she did. Fast forward to November of 2008. Bonnie was working in the banking industry and at this particular job for over 10 years. She received the news that because of job cuts, she would be "let go." After the shock wore off, she realized she had indeed been "let go" alright, she had been given the freedom to reconsider her calling as a teenager.

So, after much prayer and many discussions with her spiritual mentors, Bonnie leaves the end of May for the mission field in the mountains of Chiapas, Mexico, the southern most state of Mexico- http://www.travelchiapas.com/map/map-2.php. Her passion is in women's ministry but she goes expectantly, knowing God will use her in many ways.

She will be living in an apartment (not to be confused with our version of an apt.) that is bare bones and she is taking only a very few of personal needs, having sold everything else to raise the money for her support in Mexico. She leaves behind her children and grandchildren and as a Nana too, I can't imagine the pain of that separation. Yet she goes obidiently, having no idea what lies ahead but trusting in her Lord who called her and who will equip her and provide for her daily.

Please join me in praying for Bonnie as she starts her new life. And, if you feel so led, she has joined a missions sending organization called Abundant Hope International as the method where people can contribute to her daily living needs. (email: financials@abundanthopeinternational.org)

She'll be sending me updates, which I will post here. Our prayers go with you Bonnie, a good and faithful servant.