Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 112, Number 12, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 23 March 1994 — Page 5

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Register now The Presbyterian Nursery School, Main Street and Heritage Parkway, is now accepting registrations for the 1994-95 school year. Enrollment forms may be found in this week s edition of the Nappanee Advance-News (see this page). They will also be available in the church office, from 9a.m.-noon daily. Classes are offered for children ages 3-5, Monday through Friday from 9-11a.m., or 1-3p.m. A sls registration fee is required, in order to enroll. Tommy Kurtz and Grant McClung are pictured playing at the nursery school. Please call the director, 773-7556, if you need further information.

The Last Word...

by Laurie Lechlitner The letter came in the spring of the year. The return address was scrawled in large child-like letters on the lefthand comer of the envelope, so I'd be sure not to miss it. I opened the letter with skepticism. I was not familiar with the writer. If my heart would have been warm and pliable, it would have broken when I read the short message: “Dear Laurie-I am mentally retarded. My family hates me. God hates me. I hate myself. I wish I was dead. I love you. Do you !o”C me? Yes or No. Will you be my friend. Your best Friend, Nancy/ However, since my heart was hardened, I simply sighed and set the letter aside. I had worked with the mentally handicapped for years before I burned myself out. This girl was a couple of hundred miles away, but still I wasn’t taking any chances. I didn’t want to be boxed in by one who would drain me of my energy-being incapable of offering me anything in return. I’d been down that road before, and decided it was a dead end. My friend Elaine called that same week. “I hope you don’t mind. I gave your address to a friend our church ladies have adopted. She read your book and loved it. She just had to meet the author.” It,was,a rare treat for my book to come up in conversation. I wrote “Love 15...” in 1988. Needless to say, it was never a best seller. Although my mother did read it twice. “Oh, yes. I hope she writes me.” My eager mind was imagining this woman as a librarian, congresswoman, college professor... You can imagine my chagrin when Elaine exclaimed. “You should have already received Nancy’s letter! She is so excited! You are going to write back, aren’t you?” I didn’t want to look like a heel in front of the Women’s Guild, so I scribbled the following note back: “Dear Nancy-I didn’t know you knew Elaine. Please tell her and the other ladies from your church that I wrote to you. You should never say that God hates you. And you should not hate yourself. Write me back when you have some positive things to tell me about yourself. Sincerely, Laurie S. Lechlitner.” I figured that would slump her, and I wouldn’t hear from her again. I was wrong. “Dear Laurie—l am 38 years old. Here is my picture. I do not have any teeth, so I am not smiling. Am I ugly? I am real tall. I have been in the mental hospital. I love you, Nancy. XXOO.” She certainly was a big woman. Her brown hair hung in strings to her shoulders. Her eyes had a frustrated, pleading dimension to them. She scared me. I suppose often we think that mental retardation is catching, and are fearful to come too close, lest we are never the same. Elaine called me again. “Did you get Nancy’s picture? We tried to get her to wear a dress, but she’s six feet tall and weighs 260 pounds.” “Look, E-Elaine,” I stammered, “I just don’t want to get involved. I live too far away. This girl needs more help than I car give her.” Elaine paused and there was an uncomfortable silence. Finally she said, “I understand, Laurie. I’ll tell Nancy you’re real busy. Since you cannot be her special friend, perhaps I will do.” In turning away from Nancy, I felt like I had shot a poor, injured animal that couldn’t defend itself. I knew I had disappointed Elaine. Yet, I had been battered in the past by my dealings with the mentally handicapped. Many leant at an early age how to manipulate and maneuver. They can hardly expect to get through life with charm and charisma. They often scheme to survive in a cruel, hostile world. Yet, sometimes they bite the very hand that feeds them. I had learned that the hard way, by dealing with institutionalized people. I had since constructed a wall of defense against those like Nancy. But dear Elaine had none of my inhibitions. She was better than her word. “I took Nancy shopping,” she

bubbled. “We bought her a church, dress. I told her Jesus had been hurt by people, too. He understands when she hurts.” Elaine called me around Thanksgiving. “You know what I’m most thankful for?” she chimed. “Nancy’s getting baptized. She said if I could be her friend, she knew Jesus could, too.” I was happy for Elaine and Nancy. But I was going through some hard limes of my own. So my joy was not wholehearted. One afternoon, a few months later, as I watched the winter snow fall in large flakes from the sky, I felt isolated and cut off from the world. I wasn’t where I wanted to be careerwise. I finally realized I most likely wouldn’t be written up in the history books as making a significant dent in the world. My husband and I didn’t even have any kids because Of a medical problem I have. I was depressed. : ‘God help me,” I mumbled. As if in answer to my prayer-, my husband, Brian, came through the door with a box decorated with bright slickers and smiley faces. Why, it was a sunshine box in the dead of winter. It did not have a return address at the top, but I recognized the large letters under the postage stamps that said: ‘To Laurie. From Nancy.” There were a dozen packages in the shoe box. They were all wrapped in festive paper, tied with bright ribbons. I knew I was supposed to open one a day. But I decided I could break the rules just this once. I opened them all. Each item was a message of encouragement. Nancy bought me three contemporary cassette tapes, three plaques, some book markers, a book of quotations, two yearly planners and two magnets to stick on my refrigerator. “A friend loves at all times,” proclaims the caption between two bear cubs that are now stuck to the front of my refrigerator. Nancy did not ask me to write back. She did not ask me to be her friend in return. “She must have spent a fortune on all of this,” I mused. “Perhaps we were wrong about Nancy?” said Brian. “What do you mean?” I asked, feeling he was very generous to include himself in my folly. Perhaps I was wrong, he should nave said. “Well, we judged Nancy as one who is incapable of giving because she was bom with a handicap. Do you think we are prejudiced because we met a few people who fit that category? It’s wrong to lump all handicapped people into one large group, isn’t it?” My prayer for God’s help was answered completely that day. God did help me. I saw myself in my own ignorance, yet I didn’t feel like a loser. Who could feel like a loser with a friend like Nancy? Laurie Lechlitner, Elkhart, is a minister and writer in the Church of the Brethren. Those having questions or comments may direct them to her at the Nappanee Advance-News.

Presbyterian Nursery school Pre-enrollment Form Child's Name Birthdate Street Address - City State Zip Telephone Parents' Names Have you had a child previously enrolled in the the Presbyterian Nursery School? . If Yes, please give name(s) and years attended. _ , NOTE: Children must be enrolled In the age-appropriate class. 3-4 year-old class (Must be 3 years old by 6-1-94. Class meets on Tuesdays & Thursdays) TIME PREFERRED (Circle One Choice for Morning and One Choice for Afternoon) Ist Choice 2nd Choice Cannot Attend MORNING CLASS (9:00 to 11:00 A.M.) Ist Choice 2nd Choice Cannot Attend AFTERNOON CLASS (1:00 to 3:00 P.M.) MAIL form with sls registration fee to: Presbyterian Nursery School. POB 104, Nappanee. IN 46550 , NOTE: Payment MUST accompany form or form will be returned. All forms will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis only.

Present Easter drama at Brethren In Christ

What kind of people might you have met at a crucifixion? Who would have stood among the crowd to watch condemned men die a slow and painful death? Answers to those questions will be presented in the drama, “Eyes Upon the Cross,” Sunday and Monday, March 27-28,7p.m„ at the Nappanee Brethren In Christ Church. In the words of the play’s author, Don A. Mueller, “It’s strange what paths cross during the grim, black hours when the Romans crucify.” Seen through the eyes of a satisfied priest, a curious murderer, a weeping mother, or a confused disciple, the cross of Jesus Christ is a vivid picture of God’s unending love. The drama is published by

Counseling seminar sponsored April 7

The Nappanee Missionary Church will host a prc-marital counseling seminar, Thursday, April 7,6:30-9:30p.m., for any couple that is preparing for their wedding ceremony. Sandy Jackson, director for Heart to Heart Counseling Center, Argos, will be the presenter. In preparing for the seminar. Pastor Dave Engbrccht commented, “It’s still true. An ounce of preven-

Sets Easter services

The Nappanee Missionary Church has announced special times for Easter worship. Easter will be conveniently celebrated in three special worship services, at 7:30a.m., 9:00a.m., and 10:30a.m. on April 3. The services will feature congregational singing, accompanied by a 20-piece wind ensemble; a variety of special music presentations, including full choir, plus a solo, duet and trio by congregation members, and a timely Easter message by Senior Pastor Dave EngbrechL

Pianist special guest

G. Richard Deal, concert pianist and recording artist, will present a piano concert of sacred music, Sunday, March 27, 7p.m., at Bourbon Bible Church. Mr. Deal is from the Chicago area, and has presented sacred and classical piano concerts in Europe, Asia, North and South America, including numerous solo concerts in the United States. He has also performed with symphony orchestras, including an appearance at Chicago’s historic Orchestra Hall. He is a graduate of the American Conservatory of Music, the Moody Bible Institute, and the Sherwood Conservatory, all of Chicago. Mr. Deal has been awarded several scholarships, and has won several piano competitions. He has been a participant in international piano competitions, including the prestigious Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow, Russia. He has also performed in over 800 concerts, with his most recent tours in Hawaii and

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G. RICHARD DEAL

Bakcr’s Plays, Boston, Massachusetts, and is directed by Rev. Richard Sludchakcr, interim pastor at the church. The cast includes Tcri Moore as Mary Magdalene; Bruce Jane, Barabbas; Ed Meyer, Nicodcmus; Jon Stepp, Pilate, and Angie Martz, Pilate’s wife. Other characters arc portrayed by Rachel Hoover, Roy Espinoza, Jr., Inez Hclmuth, Diane Thomas, Jacob Moore, Ruth Freed, Dorothy Hoover, David Roscntratcr, Heather Martz, Esther Roscntratcr, Lcßoy Hclmuth and Ncuic Meyer. The church is located at 1601 N. Main St, just south of the NorthWood High School parking lot. The public is invited to bolh performances, with no charge for admission. Nursery care will be provided for small children.

tion is worth a pound of cure. In a day and age that is witnessing the break-up of the family, the least a couple looking to marriage can do is to seek competent premarital counseling.” There is no cost for the seminar, but pre-registration is required, by calling the church office, 773-7773. The Nappanee Missionary Church is located two miles north of Nappanee on SR 19, at CRSO.

There will be no School of the Bible, or evening worship service, as congregation members are encouraged to continue the tradition of spending time with family and friends. This is a change for Easter only. The church will return to regular worship times of 8:15am., 9:30a.m., 10:45a.m., and 7:00p.m., Sunday, April 10. The Nappanee Missionary Church is located two miles north of Nappanee, on SR 19, at CRSO. The public is invited to join the Easter celebration.

the Far Easf! ' He arranges his own music, and has released five professional recordings, with the most recent, released in October, titled “Piano Favorites,” a collection of favorite classical selections. Bourbon Bible Church is located at 2002 E. 12th Rd. Admission is free. Musical group sings in Goshen The Manipur Singers will share K music of India at the OMS/ Banquet, Tuesday, April 5, 6:30p.m., at the Dutch Cooker, Goshen. The cost for the banquet and program is $12.25 per person, with further information available from Wally Yoder, 219-534-0139; Marion Garber, 219-831-3740, or Phil Neff, 219-831-4979. Highly acclaimed, the group transports its audiences into the glory of the greatest church-growth movement among Hindus, with over 750 churches planted in the last several years. They will be accompanied by Dr. Ezra Sargunam, internationally known for his leadership of the Evangelical Church'of India (OMS). His writings, speaking, and vision have inspired mission strategists in many nations, and his work is included in Mission Perspectives. You are invited to come hear how God is bringing hope to India.

Nuppanee Advance News Wednesday, March 23. IVV4

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Wins Savings Bond

Three-year-old Brock Schmucker has been declared the winner of a SSOO U.S. Savings Bond from Chiphone Federal Credit Uniorn The credit union held a kids’ membership drive in Januaryr February, offering kids free movie tickets and popcorn, and the chance at the savings bond. Over 140 kids took advantage of the offer, including Brock s mom, Edith Schmucker, 8749 N 425 W, Milford. Opening an account for Brock proved to be lucky. Pictured with Brock and his mother is Chiphone Nappanee Branch Manage* Carole Fendt, who presented the bond. Chiphone serves ovsr 20,000 members in and around Elkhart County, with offices in' Elkhart, Middlebury and Nappanee. (AN photo by Barb Keiser)

NAPPANEE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 301 E. Market St. (219) 773-4183 Sunday 9:3OAM - Morning Worship Sunday 10:40AM - Sunday School Rainbow Kids - Wednesday Afternoon, after school to S:OOPM Grades 2-5

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Nappanee Missionary Church Sanctuary Choir | presents god! WITH US *"\*r A Worship Experience for All Seasons Friday & Sunday March 25 & 27, 7:00 p.m. Nappanee Missionary Church State Road 19 & County Road 50

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