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ABOUT US
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EDITOR:
Hello. My name is Pat Gates. Welcome to Our Hope, a publication for women who are undergoing various trials in life. Here's
a little about myself: I'm 53 years old, the mother of two boys (one married), and grandmother of Dacey. One
of my sons was born with severe congenital heart disease and I understand all the heartache of raising a child with physical
infirmity, as well as all the blessings and joys, which are many! I worship with the church of Christ in Trilacoochee,
Florida, with my husband, Chuck, who is one of the elders. I have lived with chronic illness since 1992; the medical terminology
being "Pathological attentional and intentional gating of sensory information" and "Pathologic preparation
for movement." In other words, something is wrong with what controls the input and output of sensory information
and "preparation for movement" systems so that my brain misinterprets sensory information and the
signals that give my body needed energy for movement are disrupted. This results in weakness, fatigue and various neurological
symptoms. I am also a caregiver for my mother, Jennie Flowers, who lives with us, and suffers from
Parkinsons.
CO-EDITOR: Hi.
I'm Cindy Granke. My husband, Arnie, preaches for the Woodland church of Christ in Sumter, S.C. (and in recent
years has also worked with the American Red Cross). We were married in 1967 and have been blessed with three
children, (one of whom was killed in an automobile accident in 2000); and eleven grandchildren, (one of
whom died at birth). I'm 62 years young. (~_~) About 12 years ago I was diagnosed
with Fibromyalgia, after living with debilitating symptoms for several years before finding a doctor who recognized the
illness. More recently I was diagnosed with diabetes. Over the past few years
my ability to have folks over to my home, or to visit has become limited. Learning to use the computer opened up
a whole new world of opportunity for teaching, and encouraging others, as well as myself. During the months after
my daughter died I prayed that God would give me the strength, and opportunity to help others who suffer through that terrible
emptiness. When Pat asked me to help her with Our Hope, I knew my prayer had been answered. STAFF WRITERS:
JOANNE BECKLEY: I am the daughter of a preacher with a wonderful heritage of the gospel of Jesus Christ from four generations
who lived before I came along. I grew up wanting to marry my own "preacher-man" and we would go to far-away places
to share the light of the gospel I had been so privileged to grow up within. Today, my preacher-man and I live in South Africa
where he travels between Zimbabwe and South Africa carrying that same light. We reared our three sons in this country and
they now live in the States and have provided us with five grandchildren and a sixth one soon to be adopted. I'm just an ordinary woman who loves
the sunshine. Even though I often have to play the "Glad Game" (taken from the book "Pollyanna") when
I am faced with problems this world hands out to all of us, I do love to share smiles with all I meet. It is when I receive
in return what I call "lost smiles" that I realize yet again that we are not alone with our pain, our fears,
our loneliness. Our Hope was designed to help each other through the hope that Jesus offers each one of us. May my participation
be of help in some small way.
My hobby, when I’m not working in the resource room at church or writing
children’s Bible lessons, is quilting. I love to cut up fabric and sew it back together again! Our Hope has been a source of encouragement to me, so now, perhaps I can also be
of encouragement to you.
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