place your bets!
Okay, you know those boxes used in pools for getting the score right in football games? Well, we are doing one for guessing Chase's vitals. So without a box, guess his weight and length. Closest guess wins.
April 18, 2006
April 16, 2006
psalm 116:15
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
I sit here Easter morning with mixed emotions. Remembering today and what we celebrate, the resurrection of Jesus, but I am deeply saddened. Yesterday my Grandmother and dear friend Irene passed away. Incredibly she is sharing in Easter morning in a more powerful and personal way than any of us ever has for she has been resurrected with Jesus. She has never felt better and been happier I know. But I miss her so bad already.
Granny I will always count my blessings. My memories of you are some of my favorite. Thank you for loving me like a grandson.
Your grandson,
Jared
A Tribute to Irene Gurganus (1918-2006)
Erica Kim - Denver, Colorado
April 20, 2006
Editor's Note: Numerous people around the world were brought closer to God through the lives of George and Irene Gurganus. A memorial service will be held in honor of Irene's life from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 6 at the Bahia Hotel 998 West Mission Bay Drive, San Diego, CA 92109. (858) 539-7720
"Count your many blessings."
This phrase was the expression that Irene Gurganus would repeat over and over again to those she loved and had need of encouragement. Throughout her lifetime as a committed disciple, Irene not only articulated these words but was able to inspire disciples around the world through living out this mind-set each and everyday of her life. Anyone who knew her was acquainted with her loving heart and warm demeanor that made so many brothers and sisters feel at ease as they sat with her. No one who left her home would go away without having been influenced by her powerful love and trust in her Lord.
Her remarkable devotion to God was rewarded on Saturday, April 15, 2006, as Irene left this world to be with her Lord. She died peacefully in her home while sitting on her chair. Having been born on October 31, 1918 to Ralph and Winnie Davis Routt as the bells rang out in Cooksville, Tennessee announcing the end of World War I; Irene was able to make a grand entrance into this world at birth. Appropriately, Irene left this world in a splendid fashion during the same weekend commemorating the Lord's resurrection: Easter. How appropriate that her life began on a day of peace and ended on the resurrection day for the Prince of Peace!
Irene became a Christian during her freshman year in college at the age of 19. During that time, she enrolled in a class called "What Would Jesus Do?" As a result of the lectures, she was inspired to become a missionary to Africa. Needless to say, God had other plans for her life. After graduating from college, she met the man of her dreams, George Gurganus. They were married and had two children: Janetkay and Lynette.
In 1949, God fulfilled their dream to work in the mission field and sent them to Tokyo, Japan. They set out by boat with their two daughters Janet Kay, then, 5 years old and Lynette, then, 2 years old. They arrived on Thanksgiving Day ready to preach to a war torn country shortly after World War II. Irene's enthusiasm for her faith carried her from Chicago to Syracuse to Boston to Tokyo to San Diego then, finally, to Austin, Texas. She and her husband served as evangelist and women's ministry leaders in a countless number of congregations as well as an elder and elder's wife in their later years.
In addition to her deep love for God, Irene was an extremely devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She and her husband, George, were able to celebrate 50 years of marriage shortly before her husband's death in 1992. During the final months of her life, she moved to be near her daughter, Janetkay as well as to her granddaughter, Jinanne, and her family. Her dedication to her family was outstanding and called people around her to have a higher commitment to their loved ones as well.
Irene will always be remembered for her contagious humor and her amazing reliance on God. Her life was truly an inspiration from beginning to end as she kept the faith through many difficulties and challenges. For this reason, she always knew the right words to encourage those who were hurting as she had endured much suffering herself. She was always quick to use God's Word to pull people's faith back to God, and she always smiled at the days to come.
We will miss her deeply as a true heroine of faith.
For further inspiration, see page 6 of the April 1997 issue of LA Story.
Those desiring to send gifts to honor Irene are requested to send them to:
The Irene Gurganus Memorial Fund
HOPE worldwide
353 West Lancaster Avenue, Suite 200
Wayne, PA 19087 USA
Online gifts can also be made at: www.hopeworldwide.org
Click on "Contribute" in the upper right hand corner.
April 08, 2006
welcome...
...to the new online home of Jared and Shelly Enyart! Chase will be joining us soon and we will use this to share some of the great stories and pictures along the way.
Stay tuned!