Lonna Grabenstein, PMA - American Lutheran Church, Gothenburg

One Sunday, our Pastor, Richard "Dick" Magnuson, St Paul's Lutheran, Grand Island, asked my mother if it would be alright, if he took me along for his Sunday aftemoon visits to the local care homes. He said, "I could sure use Lonna's help in singing the hymns." Now in 1965, care homes looked much differently. They were large houses and the beds of the residents were crowded in, side by side. The elderly and the severely handicapped were placed in the same rooms. There was a lot of commotion, people were tied in beds, and it was smelly. It was frightening to me and I stood close to Pastor. When Pastor Dick read the gospel and told stories about the hymns we would be singing, the patients did not quiet down. When we began to sing they listened. I remember singing, Fanny Crosby's, Blessed Assurance, "This is my story this is my song praising my Savior, all the day long. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long."

As I sang, I began to look at the faces of the residents. They weren't so scary, they were God's children too. Pastor Dick and I made a good team as we continued to do that ministry. He was good teacher as I watched him talk to and gently bless each person. He took our whole Confirmation class, on a Sunday afternoon to Bethphage Mission in Axtell to sing and do Gospel dramas. That was an experience we talked about for a long time.

Now, a part of my ministry is visiting and leading worship in the care centers in Lexington. I think back to when I was 12, and I thank God that Pastor Dick first saw in me a gift and then encouraged me to use that gift. By that encouragement, he helped me to understand how God calls us all in many different ways to share the love of Jesus.

Lonna Grabenstein, PMA
Grace Lutheran Church, Lexington