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."