Hi Carol glad you are able to come back.  I have been blessed with a church that excepts disabled people here in Lansing Mi.  Kendon Dr church of the Nazarene.  I know what you mean though. Every other church I attended they treated us nice but no go when we wanted to help out in anyway.  Well this church allows us to clean, I am on the praise team.  help with the meals.  In fact I was really surpised when the Pastor his wife and her sister who is in charge of monthly potlucks let me be incharge of the potluck and than I took the notes at the missionary meeting for the pastor's wife.  There are days when I wake up and  pinch myself.  I have always wanted to serve God in anyway I can and now I am able to do so.  I praise him everyday.  Maybe you can find a Nazarene church over there.  When my sister and I were younger we were saved in a Nazarene church we are both visually impaired and they too would exept us in everyway.  One time they went on a hiking trip.  Sharon and I did not sign up because we thought we would be in the way and to much of a problem.  The day of the trip they stopped at the house told my Dad they wanted us to go no matter what.  I explained to the pastor but he would not here it  and so we ended up going.  I know God does not see denominations but the Churches of the Nazarene sure do love others no matter what.  

--
Can you imagine what a scarcity of news there would be If everybody obeyed
> the Ten Commandments?

I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and die to find out there isn't, than live my life as if there isn't, and die to find out there is

IN GOD WE TRUST
Karen Carter  '74
-KC- Ministries


 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Carol Pearson <[log in to unmask]>
> Hi there to everyone!  <Smiles>
> 
> Nobody was more surprised than I was when I took the plunge to 
> return to ECHURCH-USA.  I started to feel a real longing in my 
> heart to share fellowship with you all again (friends old and 
> new) and then, a couple of months back,  dear Charles sent me a 
> day's worth of reading from the list!  (That caught me up a 
> little with some things and made me feel even more "homesick" and 
> want to return and I've finally got round to it.)
> 
> The thing is, I've been ill now for months, have very little 
> energy, have considerable restrictions even on reading too much 
> email and even more on writing, currently only using a 
> BrailleNote and having much pain and little arm movement, so God 
> has to be in this one!
> 
> First, for those who don't yet know me, I'm Carol from the UK.  I 
> spent several years on the USA list and have been back once or 
> twice since then.  We also now have a UK list running, but I dare 
> to say that most of my deeper sharing and encouragement comes 
> from across the Atlantic!
> 
> I'm married to the most wonderful husband there is called Mike.  
> He works full time, then comes home and does many of the things 
> that I cannot!  Our story of when we first met and then later as 
> he became a Christian is worth the reading, if only I could get 
> round to writing it!
> 
> I have a retired guide dog called Fabian who is now almost 12 and 
> getting pretty arthritic.  He's also deaf, usually by choice and 
> has learned, in his retirement, what all good dogs learn and that 
> is how to say "I want and if you don't mind I'll have it now!"
> 
> Because of my physical limitations, Mike and I have been allowed 
> to share working his guide, Roxy.  She's a real character and we 
> love her, despite the fact she is very active and always wants 
> the last word!  She's doing very well for us both and I just take 
> her once or twice a week for the very short routes, but she loves 
> it and knows without being told when I'm going to be taking her!
> 
> Our church life is much better than many blind people have.  At 
> least we do have some very good teaching, a fairly minimum amount 
> of help and we have good friends.  However, like so many 
> churches, many are afraid of disability, some feel they don't 
> want to make the necessary effort to include us and some refuse 
> to change their ways, so I still feel like tearing my hair out 
> from time to time as I'm refused yet another offer of a service I 
> may be able to give!  Well, I know this, God wants our 
> willingness and whether or not we do the job does not count 
> against that initial "Yes, I'm willing", but so often I long to 
> share in the more active tasks as "workers together with HIM"!
> 
> I've been a Christian now for over 40 years and feel I've been 
> much like those Israelites wandering around in the desert, 
> falling away, losing sight of Him etc, but He has just always 
> been wonderfully faithful and has seen me through some really 
> tough times!  (You'll find just one or two insights into what He 
> has done for me on Phil's SAFEPLACE web site.)  There are many 
> more unwritten at this stage and I long to have the energy to 
> write a book!
> 
> To those of you who I know so well, "Hello" and big hugs and 
> lovings are extended!  Please, any of you, catch me up with your 
> news personally if more appropriate.
> 
> Vicki, naughty girl for being so sneaky.  You knew I was around!  
> <Haw>
> 
> Pat, I was sorry to learn of your mum and you know I'll pray on.  
> Have you the latest news on Charles?  I am going to try to call 
> him.
> 
> Kathy, I still pray regularly for Chris and would like more up to 
> date news if you can write me.
> 
> Sharon I thought your Easter egg idea was great but don't have 
> time or energy to do it myself.  If you haven't got enough 
> Scriptures or want to share with me what you have so far and need 
> more, contact me off list.
> 
> Peggy, it's been good to see you around on the BN list, along 
> with others here that I don't yet know so well.
> 
> Rhonda I've always appreciated your messages, even when I haven't 
> been able to respond.
> 
> Dave and Rachchel, it's good to have you here also.  (You'll find 
> yourselves speaking American nonsensical English before long if 
> you listen to that Philip too much!)  <More smiles>
> 
> I'm in danger of leaving some out, though I haven't yet looked at 
> a full list to see who's there, so speak up, please, as I have 
> and let's party together!
> 
> Love in Jesus Christ our Lord:
> 
> CAROL
> [log in to unmask]