Greetings from Shanon's House,
The months of February, March and April
have been very busy. There have been very few nights where the house
was empty. We have had guests from Guntersville, Elkmont, Ardmore,Muscle Shoals, Town Creek, Russelville,
Killen, Scottsboro, Sheffield, Tuscumbia, and Hartsell, Alabama.
One of our guests received the honor of
staying with us the longest. Their baby was 1 lb 6oz when she was
born. This couple really did become like family. Each night when
they came in the father would say “Mom and Dad we're home now.”
They became friends with the other couple who were here. It's always
encouraging to us when families will share their life stories with
us. Most of of the time this happens at the end of the day. After
more than 80 days in the hospital their baby got to go home. The
first place they stopped by was Shanon's House. This always touches
my heart.
Every new mother and father are excited
when they have a new baby. We witnessed a different kind of
excitement recently. We received a call about a couple adopting a
baby. When the adoptive mother called about staying here she said
with excitement in her voice “Mrs. Christy we have a baby!!!”
This couple had waited 10 years for a child and they were overjoyed.
She told me how she had several babies waiting for her in heaven and
how the call from the agency had come unexpectedly. She told me
how they wanted to raise this child to give back to the community and
she told me that this child would be dedicated to the Lord. Her story
reminded me of the beautiful Bible story of Hannah and Samuel. This
couple endeared themselves to us from the first time we met them.
When they left they came by to show us their little one. We were all
teary eyed. Johnny and I are happy when guests get to take their
babies home but we do miss them when they leave.
Every year Huntsville Hospital has a NICU reunion for the parents and babies who were preemies. For several years it has been held at Mayfair. This year they invited us to the reunion. We enjoyed seeing several of our former guests and their babies. The speaker thanked Mayfair for Shanon's House and thanked all those involved in this ministry.
Here's a note we received from the
parents of triplets that stayed with us.
“We could never thank you enough for
the hospitality that you provided to us while our three little
blessings were in the Neonatal Unit. We also want to thank the
Mayfair Church of Christ, Shanon's family and everyone involved in
providing this house of compassion through ministry. It was truly an
honor and blessing from God to place us in such a caring “home away
from home” while the triplets were receiving the care they needed.
Although we could not be with the babies all the time, we found
comfort in knowing that we were within minutes of the hospital and
could be actively involved in taking care of them. Shanon's story is
very inspirational and teaches us to always reach out to others and
touch their lives in a positive way as the Lord would have us to do.
As we sit here tonight writing this while hearing the sweet little
whimpers and cries of our babies, we know that it is truly a miracle
and gift from God that they are healthy and progressing as they
should. We will keep you updated through photos and letters as we
look forward to telling them about the House of Compassion that was
provided to their Mom and Dad during their stay at Huntsville
Hospital as well as sharing Shanon's story with them to teach them to
always reach out to others.”
The quilters made special quilts for
this family. I often think about down the road when the babies are
grown and their parents tell them about Shanon's House. When they
show them the quilt that was made for them by the “Tree of Life
Quilters” with the tag that says “Made with love, Mayfair Church
of Christ.” Our prayer is that Shanon's House will be like the
pebble thrown in the pond, the ripple effect will go on and on years
later in the lives of those who hear the story of a group of people
at Mayfair that showed compassion to their loved one.
It always brings a smile to my face
when I see the guests all sitting around the table talking and
laughing with each other. One guest brought his guitar and would sit
out in the swing and play and sing. We know our guests feel at home
when they will use the other rooms in the house and enjoy the garden.
One of the many blessing we see at
Shanon's House is how God is so faithful. We see His hand at work not
only in the lives of our guests but in our lives also.
Very seldom do we get discouraged at
Shanon's House and even rarer do Johnny and I get discouraged at the
same time. Several weeks ago we were both a little discouraged. We
talked about it and considered that maybe God was telling us that it
was time to consider another way to serve. I decided to spend some
extra time in the Word and in prayer. My reading that day was in the
first chapter of Deuteroronomy. Verse 31 spoke very loudly to me
“You saw how the Lord your God cared for you all along the way as
you traveled through the wilderness just as a father cares for his
child. Now He has brought you to this place but even after all He
did for you, you refuse to trust the Lord your God.” When I came
to this verse I realized that's what I needed to remember. We would
trust God to lead us. I wrote down in my prayer journal “Lord
please guide us and show us if this is where you want us to be.”
Later that afternoon a car drives up
that I don't recognize. A lady comes to the door and when I open up
the door she says “Hi, do you remember me?” I panicked because I
didn't remember her, but I said “Lynn?” She said Yes! You do
remember me!!” She said “I had to stop by and see my friends.
I was hoping you had not turned this over to someone else, because
you know this is where God wants you to be!” She had stayed with
us in 2010. She was from Knoxville, TN. She stayed and visited with
us for about an hour. She said “I don't know what I would have
done without Shanon's House. I was scared, and tired and alone. I
will never forget what this house and ministry meant to me.”
This encounter still amazes us every
time we think about it. God answered had answered or prayer! Our
spirits were lifted. The problems we were having with guests improved
and our energy was renewed. God is so good! When we need
encouragement we will receive a card in the mail or a visit or phone
call. When we need rest He provides for the house to be empty for a
few days. Thank you to all of you who keep this ministry in your
prayers. Thank you for all who support this ministry financially and
thank you for the encouragement that you give to us. Shanon's House
is very dear to our hearts and all of you are dear to us. We are
blessed to be able to work along side all of you in this ministry.
In Him,
Johnny and Christy Johnson
