June 2022
HOPE
Recently I drove to the Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers in Colorado Springs and Pueblo to meet with the social workers at both locations. I had previously met with the social worker in “The Springs”, so I basically dropped off some encouragement bags with her, we chatted for a brief moment, and I was on my way to Pueblo. When I arrived there, I was asked to be seated and wait a couple of minutes. When the social worker emerged from the back area and saw me, her eyes immediately lit up and I could see that she was giving me a huge smile behind her mask. She introduced herself and said, “I am a hugger, so I have to give you a hug!” She then proceeded to thank me immensely for coming to see her and for bringing the encouragement bags to give to patients. We spent a couple more minutes chatting and then I prepared to leave. She then gave me another hug and placed a couple things in my hand; the first was her business card, and the second one was a small rock. I didn’t immediately look at it, but she said, “Put this in a place where you can see it often and be reminded of the hope that you are giving to our patients and so many people.” As a few tears filled my eyes, I allowed myself a glance down at that small rock and saw the word hope.
Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines hope as: “A desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable. Hope differs from wish and desire in this, that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired, or the possibility of possessing it. Hope therefore always gives pleasure or joy; whereas wish and desire may produce or be accompanied with pain and anxiety.”
Yes, there is pain and anxiety associated with cancer, but there is also hope. Thank you for coming alongside us in giving hope and being a blessing to so many people going through cancer.
“I just received your sweet gift today! I am overwhelmed with gratitude for your kindness to me. Thank you isn’t adequate to express what is in my heart. You were the Lord’s hand extended to me today.”
DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS
Colorado: In the last newsletter I mentioned we were beginning to work with these two cancer centers they were trying to determine how to best distribute bags. When I recently drove there, I dropped off 20 bags (15 female, five male) at both locations. I also reported that we were working with our church to determine the best way to utilize Be Still and Know as a resource to the church and community; a process is now in place for handing out our bags to those who need encouragement.
California: A church there will be taking one or two offerings to help defray the cost of bags being sent to the hospital and non-profit who hand out the bags. It was nice to recently receive pictures of a breast cancer support group whose members received the bags.
Michigan: Details are being worked on for the best way to distribute bags at a Grand Rapids hospital, using the money collected from offerings at our former church.
Wyoming: A dear friend will be looking into Casper’s cancer center (where her husband was treated) and whether they are open to working with us to start giving bags to their patients. Also, another friend is now selling the bags in her florist shop located in Casper!
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF BAGS DISTRIBUTED TO DATE:
356 If you know of someone who has been diagnosed with cancer and you would like to send a bag, go to our website to place an order.