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93 Is Apparently The New 40

09 February

We are getting many calls this week following the recent rains in this area. One woman called to say her roof leaked so badly that her kitchen ceiling has fallen in destroying her stove. She went on to explain that her roof was 45 years old and had been showing “some signs of wear”. She said she has crawled up to patch it herself several times but recently her children have forbidden her to even try. She was rather incensed that they would tell her what to do; after all, she IS the mother! She is 93 years of age and the last time she patched the roof was LAST SPRING! I am sure we will be doing something to help Betty but I just wanted you to know that 93 is apparently the new 40! Have a blessed day!

-From an earlier e-blast (Sign up for our e-blasts at the bottom of our website.)

Just Listen & Choose Joy

10 January

Anna Jean needs a handrail on her porch as she is disabled and doesn’t have adequate balance. I asked her for some information as is my interview custom. She laughed and said,”Oh I’m sorry I’m not very prepared today. I am getting ready for my only grandchild’s first birthday party. My mind is scattered. It’s just that she brings out the joy in me!” We chatted about being grandmothers and the deep love it forms in us. She said,”I have had 22 back operations in less than 20 years.”

She matter-of-factly said,”Depression sort of set in when my husband left following the death of two of our children.” She explained that her 26 year old son went to bed one night and never woke up. To their utter surprise, the medical report indicated he died of a heart attack in his sleep from undiagnosed heart disease. Five years and three days later, one of her daughters was having a picnic in the back yard with friends. Anna Jean was inside and heard sirens. She went outside to find her daughter dead on the ground with a gunshot wound to the face. Her husband could not handle another tragedy and left her with her other two children; one now married with a little girl and the other living at home.

I was nearly speechless with sorrow for her. I conveyed my deepest condolences while silently praying for the right words to say. As I listened nothing was coming to my mind. I did ask if she finds comfort in knowing they are together now. She said,”Oh honey it gets me through the days when I wake up and wish I could die! They were VERY close and I am so comforted to know they are together again. I have no regrets. I told my children individually every day that I loved them.

I may never be happy again but I do find joy even in the darkest of moments. Like, I can barely walk today and I’m in pain, BUT I get to put a party together for my angel grand daughter! Then you called me and you said I can get a handrail but you gave me even more! You let me talk about my lost babies. Most people don’t want to hear it because it makes them uncomfortable. Thanks for letting me talk. I choose joy today!”

Lessons I learned from Anna Jean:

  1. Sometimes the right words are no words….just listen.
  2. Happiness is a feeling that comes from outside of you…sadness too…stuff happens. But you can choose joy…from within. When you have those dark days, sad times, lonely times, joy may be hard to find. Look within. It is there.

To all who support this mission, thank you for helping Anna Jean find her joy.

-From an earlier e-blast (Sign up for the e-blasts on the bottom of our website.)

Good Job With Great Compassion

09 January

I just got a call from a gentleman who lives in California. He got a call from his 94 year old mother who is a widow and lives alone. She informed him her hot water tank is leaking badly and she doesn’t know what to do. I explained our process and following a brief conversation informed him we can have a new hot water tank installed at no cost to her as he reported her annual income at below 10,000.

He said,” I didn’t mean for her to get it for free but I didn’t know who to trust. I called a Pittsburgh hotline and they told me if I want to rest easy knowing she is getting what she needs AND is cared for, I should call you folks. They said you are the best at doing a good job with great compassion.”

As always, I pass along the compliment to all of you compassionate people that support this mission, in some cases for 27 years, enabling us to assist sons and daughters to rest easy knowing their loved ones are well cared for with dignity and the love of Christ.

-From an earlier e-blast (Sign up for our e-blasts at the bottom of our website.)

Suzanne’s Tangled Mess No More

19 September

Last week I got a call from Suzanne. She and her two children, all wheelchair bound, needed our assistance with a ramp and other repairs last year so they could get outside for the first time in years.

She said, “I hated calling you! You already did so much for us! I tried other agencies and even my church. I finally called United Way and they told me to call you! I keep trying to maneuver onto my side on the ground to pull weeds but they are getting ahead of me. They are four feet tall in some places and I can’t mow the lawn.”

Becky immediately mobilized a group of willing volunteers to the home and transformed her lawn into a safe and beautiful yard she and her grown children can enjoy. Suzanne was relieved that the neighbors will not have to look at the tangled mess it was before.

THANK YOU to all of the volunteers who labored that day to make a difference!

-From an e-blast earlier this year (Sign up for our e-blasts at the bottom of our site!)

Lighthearted Dolly

11 May

A fax we received at the office:

 

Dear Amy,

I wanted to send you a thank you card but I do not have your address.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you! You have no idea what this means to me.

I sleep peacefully now, no longer cold and frightened of the situation I was in before this beautiful furnace.

Worrying about this cancer and not missing work was enough of a strain. I never asked anyone for anything before. I never had anyone who could help me with something as big as this.

I believe the stress that is gone helps me cope better with cancer.

People see a difference in me.  I feel a little more lighthearted.

You did all of this, and I will never be able to thank you enough!

Love,
Dolly

 

Our deepest appreciation to those who support the mission of Hosanna Industries. We thank you for helping to keep Dolly warm and for making her more”lighthearted” during a very difficult time in her life.

-From an earlier e-blast.  (Sign up for our e-blasts on the bottom of our website.)

Thanks a buzz-illion

30 January

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The greeting included with this surprise I received earlier this week read:

Hi Amy,

A token of gratefulness for my new furnace that warms my home and will warm my heart forever. With much love. God Bless.

This dear homeowner is an elderly widow living on about 11,000.00 per year. She has no family left in this world and she said she had no where else to turn for help as the only number she was given was Hosanna’s. I assured her we could and would help her and within a few days her furnace was replaced at no cost to her. Her heartfelt expression of appreciation moved me to tears. Please know that your support and donations to Hosanna Industries help to keep people like Rose warm as the bitter winter approaches.

-From an earlier e-blast. (Sign up for our e-blasts at the bottom of our website.)

Sandra’s story

21 December

I’d like to think that after answering the telephone here for 26 years I would be used to the sad and tragic stories I hear every day. But I got a call from Sandra that just hit me hard.

It began with a request for home repairs because water pours out of outlets when it rains and the walls are spongy and crumbling in the kitchen from a chronically leaking roof and clogged gutters.

As I began asking questions I soon realized that Sandra is one of those amazing people with a loyal heart and a strong back and spirit. She has been married for 35 years. 34 years ago her husband of 1 year had a massive brain hemorrhage and has needed 24/7 care ever since. She became pregnant in that first year of marriage and has a 35 year old daughter who recently dropped her two year old son off at Sandra’s and said, “I can’t raise this child. You take him,” and promptly walked away and out of their lives.

Sandra worked for years hiring people to care for her husband during the day, but had to quit because she could not afford the cost of the daily care and now has to care for both her husband and grandchild too.

Her voice sounded exhausted but not bitter or angry. She said, “I never asked why me? I figured why not, but I just don’t know what to do now. I have bounced so many checks trying to keep up!” I told her we will help her. She said,”Well, forgive me if I believe it when I see it, but I’ve called so many places and some don’t call me back and the rest that do say they can’t help me. I’m feeling a little hopeless. I’m not pitying myself, but I’ve always counted on myself to get things done and I’m running out of steam.”

I said, “I aim to restore your hope. It is what Hosanna Industries is all about.” She broke down and sobbed. Through her tears she said,”How do you do this…and why?”

How? Through divine guidance and generous support.
Why? Because God’s work is everybody’s business.
On behalf of Sandra and those like her, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

-From an earlier e-blast. (Sign up at the bottom of our website to receive weekly e-blasts.)