What a woman!

http://itecusa.org/newsmarj.htm

Several years ago while Robert was flying to a pastors conference he started a conversation with a gentleman next to him on the plane.He talked with him about one of his missions trips.The man was not wanting to talk about God or missions trips but the sweet older lady on the other side of him leaned forward and asked Robert about his missions trips.Soon the man got up and moved and this sweet older woman said "My name is Marj Saint Vanderpuy" and asked Robert if he had ever heard of her former husband Nate Saint.Well when Robert recovered from his shock and delight at her question he told her of his knowledge of their life story.He explained to her how as a little girl I sat by our very large console record player and listened to the story recording of the five missionaries over and over again and how their story had impacted me to want to be in full time ministry.They talked for hours on that plane and found out we didn't live far from them and she and her husband Abe wanted to come and tell their story at our church.I was beside myself when Robert told me about the plane trip and how they were going to be coming to church.The night she was coming I was so looking forward to it.When they arrived and Robert introduced me she handed me an Ecuadorian woven table runner that she wanted me to have.I thought I would faint.Here is this tiny lady that had so inspired me to love Jesus and God was giving me the opportunity to meet her and have a treasure in my hand...A real piece of the thing God used to draw me closer to Him.It really wasn't about them, just like it isn't about us, it is about Him.They also gave the children a signed book called "The Little Yellow Woodby" which was about Nate Saint.We so loved having them there and were thankful to have a few phone conversations with them and visit them in the hospital.Abe went home to be with the Lord and their granddaughter died suddenly at the age of 18 or 19.
I took Melissa and some of her friends to go and visit Marj just a few months before her death.We had no idea she was sick.She was so open to telling them her story and inspiring them to pursue Christ above all things.She was such an unassuming person that didn't come across as the icon that I had created but was humble and basically just retold her story as if it could be you or me or one of the teenagers telling their story.While we visited with her she gave Melissa her granddaughters pictures to create into a portrait painting.One was of her when she was a small child and one was when she was about 18.
We lost contact and had no idea it was because she had gone home to be with the Lord and Abe and Nate just 3 months after our visit.I didn't learn of her death until today. I am so glad I listened to Gods nudging me that day 3&1/2 years ago to go and take my children to spend an afternoon with Marj Saint Vanderpuy.I so want my children to be inspired by such people.I hope that we never forget as a Christian community how we are so closely tied to our rich Christian heritage.

below is a link to the words of her son upon her death

http://itecusa.org/newsmarj.htm