A friend goes home

My heart is heavy tonight as we say good bye to a dear friend. Lenni went home today. She has suffered from a rare cancer for several months. The last week has been difficult and she was on her way to her earthly home today with hospice called in, and instead went to her heavenly home to be with her beloved savior.

My heart rejoices with her as she told me several times that if the treatment did not work she would just beat the rest of us to be with Jesus. She is in love with him and has an amazing faith! She has been one of our faithful prayer warriors. I will miss seeing her face each Sunday morning as she served the rest of us coffee in the back of the sanctuary. I will miss hearing her amazing wisdom as she would share in our Sunday School class. I will miss hearing her poems, and beautifully written words.

When Lenni learned that she had cancer she shared that she had been praying that God would use her as a vessel for Him; she believed that through the cancer, He was answering her prayer. She also added, "when you pray in that way, you have to stay in The Word."

Lenni loved Zac, Cai too. But with Zac, she said that she wanted to write an article about all the lessons that she learned from Zac. I don't know if she ever wrote it. I hope so. When he was an infant we never took him to nursery for fear of illness, so she always played with him in the back while she attended the coffee shop (at church). One of the other reasons that she connected with Zac was that she announced that she would be a grandma for the first time the same Sunday we announced that we were expecting a baby (Zac). Her grandson is about 1 month older than Zac. She also watched our boys one time, so James and I could have a date.

I was honored just 2 Sundays ago to experience another act of her generosity. Lenni found out that it was my birthday, and wanted to surprise me with a party in SS class. Even as she was not feeling well, she was still thinking of others! I was extremely humbled, and honored. I was looking forward to this Saturday though, as it is Lenni's Birthday, and her dear friend had planned a surprise birthday party for her. I thought what a great thing that her act will be returned to her in a wonderful way. I think that this Saturday, we will be celebrating her life in a different way, but celebrating just the same.

It is amazing to see God work through our earthly trials, and to know that He is in control. I believe that God has answered my good friend Lenni's prayer to be a vessel, you see last night both her son, and daughter came to know Jesus as their own savior!

Lenni, I rejoice with you as you are with Jesus, and without pain. Thank you for all of these things, you will be missed! I will be praying for your family, especially your son and daughter who are so new to this faith.


Lenni wrote this to us the last time Zac's surgery was canceled.

What Can I Say?

Dear Snider Family

Our flesh and bone gets so tired of waiting,

We look, we long, days spent anticipating,

Jesus loves me this I know,

Why do answers seem so slow?

Blessed are those that suffer,

How many more blessing needed to make us tougher?

In this fallen world we are helpless,

Thank you for your grace we are not hopeless.

Your journey seems so long,

Consider those that walked in a circle, in a desert, 40 years but not a

strap wore on a sandal thong.

Last thing you want to hear,

Is another hang in there.

We hurt with love for your family,

And pray for a breakthrough openly.

May God bless you with answers to all of our prayers for your family,

With Much Love,

Lenni