Teacup Women’s Ministry

On Valentine’s Day I was laying in a hospital bed reviewing the whirlwind of activities
that had just taken place in my life. I had been sick with a fever and cough. I got up on Saturday
morning, checked my blood pressure and could not seem to get one reading other than “error”.
Because of my Addison’s disease, I knew this was not a good sign of things to come. So, my daughter-in-
law took me to the urgent care. Finding it hard to stand in line, my sweet Aliyah stood in the long line
to get me checked in. I knew it was imperative to get my blood pressure checked right away. The
nurses first few attempts at a blood pressure reading were unsuccessful. Finally, after many tries, she
got a top number of “74.”Maybe that’s why I was dizzy and found it hard to stand and walk. The next
thing I knew I was immediately taken to a room, hooked up to an IV with saline solution and sent off in
Kaiser’s special limousine—the ambulance to Southwest Medical Center.
After some time in the emergency room, I was taken upstairs to a nice, quiet room. I had IV’s,
needle pokes, high steroid shots, insulin shots (because of the high dosage of steroids), shots in the
stomach to ward off blood clots, antibiotics, ulcer medication, sleeping pills along with several blood
tests and three x-rays.
I was just settling into my new room when nurses flooded around me with gowns, gloves, and
masks (that looked more or less like duck beaks).They hastily placed a mask over my face and whisked
me away into another room. There, they performed a tuberculosis test which meant ISOLATION---and a
recommendation to have “no visitors.” I was in a very small room that was isolated from all the other
patients. A big taped “X” was put on my door to warn people to not enter, and I was not to leave (not
that I felt like leaving…). From then on all nurses, doctors, x-ray technicians, and my family had to go
through an adjacent room first, put on the duck masks, gloves, and gowns before they entered my
room.
As I was reviewing all that had taken place in the last three days, I heard a noise outside my
hospital window. I saw ropes dangling in front of my window with a little wooden seat connected to the
ropes. The swing looked something like one of the crude wooden “swings” I used to sit on as a little
girl. All of a sudden a tall man sat down on the wooden seat and proceeded to meticulously clean my
window. I thought “I’m sure glad I’m in this room of isolation—getting all those shots and being treated
like a “leper” and not out there four floors up, sitting on a little wooden plank, washing windows. I
wouldn’t trade places with him for anything.” He smiled and waved at me and I returned the gesture.
I’m sure he wouldn’t want to trade places with me either. It’s all a matter of perspective.
Sometimes we find ourselves in odd situations and places. We wonder how we arrived at those
perplexing destinations. Sometimes we wonder if we will survive. Paul and Silas were wonderful
examples of men who had God’s responses, perspectives, and attitudes. They had been stripped,
beaten, and thrown into jail. What did they do in this dark time of their lives? In their desperate
circumstances they prayed and sang praises to God! Perhaps they were singing “I’ll Praise You in the
Storm” or “The Anchor Holds.” “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God,
and the other prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25). And the results? “Suddenly there was
such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors
flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose” (Acts 16:26). The greatest results were that the jailer
and his whole household were saved.
What do you do when the unexpected storm comes? I pray that God will let me use the storms
in my life for his glory. I know that what happens “inside” me is far more important that what happens
“to” me. I ask God what He wants to teach me in those situations. I ask Him to help me see everything
that happens to me as an opportunity to serve Him.
Wow! What a wild few days. Now, don’t panic… I do not have tuberculosis. I just had an
Addison’s crisis, ulcers, early pneumonia, acute bronchitis and thrush. No reason for isolation. And, I
have one regret--on my last day in the hospital, Shanna Pritchett was going to come by to see me. I left
before she came. I would have loved to have taken a picture of her with the amazing gown and duck
beak. Shanna, it’s too bad you missed such a wonderful fashion moment!

Praising Him, Pastor Frieda Goode

 Saturday March 26 8:30 am -12:30 pm at Ridgefield Nazarene

Ladies,
Two years ago while in Guatemala, I held a little girl age six. She was the same age as two of my
grandchildren; however, she was like an infant. She was so small and malnourished that she could barely
move her arms, legs and hands. After holding her for a long time and feeding her a bottle, she finally
inched her precious little hand up to touch my neck. Last year I saw her once again. Because of the
extent of her malnourishment, she will never be normal but she was much better—able to respond with
a big smile, moving those little legs and arms all over. She had received love and care from Hope of Life
and World Help made that possible. Last year I was drawn to another baby I heard crying-- a little boy.
When I picked him up and held him in my arms he stopped crying. When I put him down, he started
crying once again. It was hard to let go of him—his response to the touch of love was so strong. The
nurses told me that the Guatemalan police found this precious little baby discarded—thrown away. He
was not wanted or valued. The police picked him up and delivered him to the baby rescue center at Hope
of Life. Needless to say, my heart was broken as I thought about all the children in the rescue center—
each one with their own story. Everybody needs to be loved. Hope of Life and World Help makes an
amazing difference in the lives of the people of Guatemala. Life is so precious. It is hard for me to
imagine my grandchildren in such a state. However, there are so many children in the same state as
these babies.

Tour of Hope is part of World Help-- the organization I traveled with two times to Guatemala.
My family and I dedicated two wells in memory of Michael along with a third one sponsored by you in
memory of my husband and Pastor Bernie. Lorena Colby dedicated an additional well in memory of
Pastor Bernie. Why? Because we believe God wanted us to help bring the “water of life” to the
precious people of Guatemala and we believe in the work of World Help. I have met some the leaders of
this organization. They hold to the highest standards. I have great respect for them and the work
they are doing for God.

Why am I telling you my experience? Ladies, we have a rare and awesome opportunity
coming for women of all ages. We are privileged to have Tour of Hope in our church on Saturday,
March 26, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. “Tour of Hope is a movement created to educate, empower, and equip
women who desire to change the world. Why? The effects of Global Poverty, the World Water Crisis,
Human Trafficking, and HIV/AIDS are too urgent to ignore.” You will be inspired and blessed. Don’t
miss this amazing morning of blessing! Make it a priority in your life—mark it on your calendar.

Blessings,

Frieda Goode