Hello from Shanon's House of Compassion,
May has been a very busy month here at Shanon's House. We've had guests from, Tn, Georgia, Ohio, Kentucky, Russellville, Decatur and Florence, Al.
Some of our guests have had newborns in the NICU and we also have had several guests with loved ones in the main hospital. We had one guest whose wife is terminally ill. It's hard to know what to say to help in cases like these. Most of what we do is listen. This guest was so appreciative of a place to stay. Most of the day he spent with his wife and we would only see him when he came in at night. We would try to stay up and visit with him each night. He brought his mom and dad over to show them the house. He commented to us that he prays that his wife will get well but if God decides to take her, he would want to do a house like Shanon's house in her memory. Please keep this family in your prayers.
One of the sweet memories we had this month was with a Aunt and Uncle of the family whose daughter was injured in the wreck coming back from Florida on their way home to Kentucky. We had many friends and family stay with us and this Aunt and Uncle were some of our favorites. We enjoyed sitting down with them and having breakfast one Saturday. It was like we had been friends for a long time. They sent a very kind thank you note. Johnny and I often comment that we really receive more than we give. The people we meet, that we would never meet otherwise, really enrich our lives.
People ask us what is the hardest part of this work. One of the hardest things is saying good-bye. When we have shared a small part of peoples lives in praying with them, visiting and sharing meals with them, it's hard to say good bye. One guest, an older gentleman, brought back memories of my Dad. He had a quick wit about him and I found myself remembering how much I miss my Dad. When we said good bye all of us had tears in our eyes. He called a few weeks ago to tell us how he was doing and promised to come back to see us soon. We enjoyed one young couple so much we asked them if we could adopt them. It will be hard to say good bye to them also.
One week we didn't have any guests, so we invited some friends over for supper. That evening we got a call from NICU about a couple with a newborn baby boy. The baby was born at 27 weeks and weighed about 2 pounds. The couple arrived just as we were about to eat so we invited them to join us. The couple we had invited brought their 5 year old with them. She had been born at 27 weeks and weighed less than 2 pounds. The couple with the newborn could see this healthy 5 year old and it gave them hope. We thanked God for sending encouragement to this young couple in the form of a active 5 year old. God is good!
The hospital security provides rides back and forth to Shanon's House. This is a great help for our guests. To say thank you we had a cook out for them. We had about 30 come over eat hamburgers with us. Several wanted to see the house. They also wanted to learn how it came about. Some thought that it was owned by the hospital, so this gave us the chance to share with them how Shanon's House came to be and how this is a ministry of the Mayfair church of Christ.
We have received several pictures of the newborn babies whose parents have stayed at Shanon's House. I keep them on the refrigerator. One of the pictures is of the first family who stayed with us. They had triplets. The triplets have all gone home now and are doing good. Many times parents will make a stop by Shanon's house on their way home to show us their baby. One couple stopped by and said "we will never forget how you helped us."
We are amazed every day how God is working in this ministry. God is so good to send us people and also to give us a few days rest between guests. Next month it will be six months here at Shanon's House. Sometimes Johnny and I think back on how God has worked and all the prayers that have been answered and are continually being answered. We thank Him for all the good people He has put in our lives through Shanon's House. Thank you for your prayers and your help in this work. Thank you also for the encouragement that so many of you give us. Please come by and see us. Remember, when the door is open there's a pot of coffee on.
In Him,
Johnny and Christy
Hello from Shanon's House,
It’s been a very busy month at Shanon’s House. We had a slow start to the month but after a few days of rest we’ve had a full house for most of the month of April. We had guests from Kentucky, Ohio, Georgia, Mt. Hope & Athens Alabama. We have met a wide variety of guests that included a pediatrician, a Vanderbilt basketball player, nurses, football coach and a Harvard first year medical student. Every guest comes with a story and every one touches our hearts.
In the middle of April a tragic accident involving a group of teenagers heading back to Kentucky brought family and friends to the city of Huntsville. The parents of two of the girls found themselves in an unfamiliar city with their hearts breaking. Cindi Bradley told them about Shanon’s house. Johnny and I were out of town so Jeff and Juanita Stewart graciously volunteered to come over and two of the brothers came over and stayed. They left a note written in Crayon saying “thank you for the hospitality, everyone has been so nice.” We have had many friends of these families and relatives stay with us this month. Many of you have reached out to these families. One of the aunts came in one night upset after a really hard day. She told us how some of you stayed with them that day and she didn’t know how they would have made it without you.
The ICU waiting room is filled with hurting people. One of these had a visit from one of our ministers at Mayfair. This guest (Jason) was a member of the Lord’s Church. He was a very personable man. His father was in critical condition. One night he came in and told us the story of a man he had met as he was coming down on the elevator. Jason asked the man how his loved one was doing. The man replied “not good.” Jason told him he would pray for this man’s family. The man replied, “ I don’t believe in prayer.” Jason responded, “My dad would have passed away ten days ago if it hadn’t been for all those praying for him.” The man replied “I don’t go to church, so I can’t pray.” Jason told him “You don’t have to go to church to pray. You do need to read your Bible and learn what God wants you to do, but you can pray now and God will help you.” Then Jason handed him a card with Mayfair’s name and phone number and said, “If you want to know more about God and how to pray, call these people and they will help you.” As the elevator came to the floor and the doors opened, the man turned to Jason and asked “will you keep my family in your prayers?” When Jason told us this story we had tears in our eyes. We were reminded that God is working not only with Shanon’s house but even with our guests who are members of the Lord’s church in other areas. The ministry at Shanon’s House is an opportunity to show the world what Christianity is really like.
So many of you continue to come along side us and help. One day a guest was walking over to the hospital. The lawn company was here working and one of the Latino workers who is a member at Mayfair stopped the man and asked him the name of his loved one. He told him that every morning before they start to work they pray and they would pray for his loved one. This incident made such an impact on our guest. His comment to us was “Everyone in your church is so nice.” This made us smile. What a great blessing to work with a congregation where people are striving to follow the example of Jesus in everyday ordinary circumstances.
Please continue to keep the family from Kentucky in your prayers. They are really touched by all the acts of kindness that have been shown to them. Johnny and I are reminded on a daily basis that it takes all of us working together and we appreciate so much all of your prayers, encouragement and help. Thank you to everyone who helps make Shanon’s House, as one guest wrote, “a place to rest and gather our thoughts“.
In Him,
Johnny and Christy
It’s been a very busy month at Shanon’s House. We had a slow start to the month but after a few days of rest we’ve had a full house for most of the month of April. We had guests from Kentucky, Ohio, Georgia, Mt. Hope & Athens Alabama. We have met a wide variety of guests that included a pediatrician, a Vanderbilt basketball player, nurses, football coach and a Harvard first year medical student. Every guest comes with a story and every one touches our hearts.
In the middle of April a tragic accident involving a group of teenagers heading back to Kentucky brought family and friends to the city of Huntsville. The parents of two of the girls found themselves in an unfamiliar city with their hearts breaking. Cindi Bradley told them about Shanon’s house. Johnny and I were out of town so Jeff and Juanita Stewart graciously volunteered to come over and two of the brothers came over and stayed. They left a note written in Crayon saying “thank you for the hospitality, everyone has been so nice.” We have had many friends of these families and relatives stay with us this month. Many of you have reached out to these families. One of the aunts came in one night upset after a really hard day. She told us how some of you stayed with them that day and she didn’t know how they would have made it without you.
The ICU waiting room is filled with hurting people. One of these had a visit from one of our ministers at Mayfair. This guest (Jason) was a member of the Lord’s Church. He was a very personable man. His father was in critical condition. One night he came in and told us the story of a man he had met as he was coming down on the elevator. Jason asked the man how his loved one was doing. The man replied “not good.” Jason told him he would pray for this man’s family. The man replied, “ I don’t believe in prayer.” Jason responded, “My dad would have passed away ten days ago if it hadn’t been for all those praying for him.” The man replied “I don’t go to church, so I can’t pray.” Jason told him “You don’t have to go to church to pray. You do need to read your Bible and learn what God wants you to do, but you can pray now and God will help you.” Then Jason handed him a card with Mayfair’s name and phone number and said, “If you want to know more about God and how to pray, call these people and they will help you.” As the elevator came to the floor and the doors opened, the man turned to Jason and asked “will you keep my family in your prayers?” When Jason told us this story we had tears in our eyes. We were reminded that God is working not only with Shanon’s house but even with our guests who are members of the Lord’s church in other areas. The ministry at Shanon’s House is an opportunity to show the world what Christianity is really like.
So many of you continue to come along side us and help. One day a guest was walking over to the hospital. The lawn company was here working and one of the Latino workers who is a member at Mayfair stopped the man and asked him the name of his loved one. He told him that every morning before they start to work they pray and they would pray for his loved one. This incident made such an impact on our guest. His comment to us was “Everyone in your church is so nice.” This made us smile. What a great blessing to work with a congregation where people are striving to follow the example of Jesus in everyday ordinary circumstances.
Please continue to keep the family from Kentucky in your prayers. They are really touched by all the acts of kindness that have been shown to them. Johnny and I are reminded on a daily basis that it takes all of us working together and we appreciate so much all of your prayers, encouragement and help. Thank you to everyone who helps make Shanon’s House, as one guest wrote, “a place to rest and gather our thoughts“.
In Him,
Johnny and Christy
Greetings from Shanon’s House,
This month we have had 14 guests from Madison, Rogersville, Boaz, Ft. Payne, Albertville, Al., North Carolina and Illinois.
When one of our guests arrived at the house she walked in, looked around and said “thank you Jesus, this is such a blessing.” This mother had just been discharged from the hospital and had planned to sleep at the hospital because she didn’t want to leave her baby. This young mother had been through a difficult delivery where her life was in jeopardy and also the life of her baby. She was tired and very emotional. We sat and talked one afternoon and she made the comment that she could tell Mayfair was a very outreaching church. She was so grateful for everything. She commented that Shanon’s house felt like a home away from home. While talking to her she said “I wish I had a good book to read.” We told her about the books that had been donated for guests to read and take with them if they wanted. She said “Your church has thought of everything. God provided even before I knew I needed it.”
During the guests’ stay we try to have dinner with them at least once. This is a time where we really get to know them. Guests will tell us about their lives and struggles. The guests with newborns are all about the age of our children so we can tell them about how God has worked in our lives and brought us through some of the same issues they are dealing with. There have been several times when the guests will come in at night upset and Johnny will ask if they would like to pray before going to bed. They always have said yes. This is such a special time for them and us.
This month we had our first guest who was from out of state. An older couple was traveling from Florida back home to Illinois when they had a wreck. The lady was injured and her friend found himself in a strange town with no family. Cindy Bradley told him about Shanon’s House. This guest has been such a pleasure.
When we pray each day we ask God to send us guests, so each guest that comes to stay here is an answered prayer. We are learning that even though they may look different and come from different back grounds, everyone is touched when kindness is shown to them. We heard a statement once that said “the ministry of Jesus was the person standing in front of Him.” We try to remember this for every guest we have. There have been challenges with this ministry, but with every challenge is a chance to grow and learn. We see God molding us and helping us look at every person as a child that our heavenly Fathers loves.
Johnny and I have come to realize that this ministry is a picture of the parable of the sower. The Mayfair family is helping to preparing the soil for others to come along and plant and water. The words of one of our guests best describes how we feel about the work at Shanon’s house, Thank you Jesus, this is such a blessing!
In Him,
Johnny & Christy
This month we have had 14 guests from Madison, Rogersville, Boaz, Ft. Payne, Albertville, Al., North Carolina and Illinois.
When one of our guests arrived at the house she walked in, looked around and said “thank you Jesus, this is such a blessing.” This mother had just been discharged from the hospital and had planned to sleep at the hospital because she didn’t want to leave her baby. This young mother had been through a difficult delivery where her life was in jeopardy and also the life of her baby. She was tired and very emotional. We sat and talked one afternoon and she made the comment that she could tell Mayfair was a very outreaching church. She was so grateful for everything. She commented that Shanon’s house felt like a home away from home. While talking to her she said “I wish I had a good book to read.” We told her about the books that had been donated for guests to read and take with them if they wanted. She said “Your church has thought of everything. God provided even before I knew I needed it.”
During the guests’ stay we try to have dinner with them at least once. This is a time where we really get to know them. Guests will tell us about their lives and struggles. The guests with newborns are all about the age of our children so we can tell them about how God has worked in our lives and brought us through some of the same issues they are dealing with. There have been several times when the guests will come in at night upset and Johnny will ask if they would like to pray before going to bed. They always have said yes. This is such a special time for them and us.
This month we had our first guest who was from out of state. An older couple was traveling from Florida back home to Illinois when they had a wreck. The lady was injured and her friend found himself in a strange town with no family. Cindy Bradley told him about Shanon’s House. This guest has been such a pleasure.
When we pray each day we ask God to send us guests, so each guest that comes to stay here is an answered prayer. We are learning that even though they may look different and come from different back grounds, everyone is touched when kindness is shown to them. We heard a statement once that said “the ministry of Jesus was the person standing in front of Him.” We try to remember this for every guest we have. There have been challenges with this ministry, but with every challenge is a chance to grow and learn. We see God molding us and helping us look at every person as a child that our heavenly Fathers loves.
Johnny and I have come to realize that this ministry is a picture of the parable of the sower. The Mayfair family is helping to preparing the soil for others to come along and plant and water. The words of one of our guests best describes how we feel about the work at Shanon’s house, Thank you Jesus, this is such a blessing!
In Him,
Johnny & Christy
Hello From Shanon's House of Compassion,
It's been a short month but Shanon's house has been busy. We have had 4 families stay with us this month. We had families from, Anderson, Al, Killen Al, Ft. Payne, Al and Russellville, AL. One family was here with the birth of their second set of twins. We enjoyed visiting with them and the grandmother also. The triplet's parents are regular visitors on the weekends. Their babies are all doing good and gaining weight. They hope to be able to take at least one home in the next couple of weeks.
The guest who stayed with us from Russelville was originally from Guatemala. This young mother really touched our hearts. We got a call from the NICU last week about a young mother who did not speak any English. She had a baby girl who was in critical condition. The language barrier was difficult. We felt so sorry for this young mother. Johnny found a computer program to help with his Spanish and could communicate a little. Every night he would tell her in Spanish “we are praying for your baby.” She would smile and say “gracias”. We invited Benjamin and Patti Colunga and their family over to visit with her. Benjamin lead a prayer and prayed for her baby and he and Patti talked with her and encouraged her. Johnny and I could understand how lost she felt because we couldn't understand anything that was said during their conversation.
On Monday night around 9:30 we received a call from the NICU. They told the young mother to come to the hospital immediately. Johnny and I had been talking the week before about how we knew that not every guest would leave Shanon's house with a happy ending. We didn't know how and what we would say to them. We prayed that God would give us the words to say when that time came. The young mother went to the hospital, but her baby died before she could get there. She never got to hold her baby until the little girl had passed away. When the mother came back, we didn't need words, all we could do was hug her and let her cry and cry with her. God answered our prayer. We learned that hugs, tears and smiles are the universal language. When she left, she hugged us and told us through an interpreter, “Thank you for the food and everything you did for me.” This is a guest we will never forget. During the first part of her stay we were a little discouraged. We felt like there would not be a way to reach her and comfort her. Looking back we see things differently. She had a beautiful, comfortable and safe place to stay, plenty of food and she knew that people cared about her. We pray that some time in her life she will look back on this time and remember the prayer that was prayed and the care she was shown and want to know more about our Lord and His church.
Through this ministry we are learning that it does take a church family to keep this work going and all of the family at Mayfair is helping that happen. The 4th and 5th grade classes provided gift bags and notes for each of the families. The young married life group provided books. The Tree of Life quilters have made quilts for all the newborns. Ladies have brought food for the freezer,and many have contributed supplies. Those who come by and encourage us and those who keep this work in your prayers are all a part of this ministry. Johnny and I are thankful for those who had the dream of this work, those who contribute financially and all of you who come and work along side us as we all strive to be Ambassadors for our Savior.
In Him,
Johnny and Christy Johnson
It's been a short month but Shanon's house has been busy. We have had 4 families stay with us this month. We had families from, Anderson, Al, Killen Al, Ft. Payne, Al and Russellville, AL. One family was here with the birth of their second set of twins. We enjoyed visiting with them and the grandmother also. The triplet's parents are regular visitors on the weekends. Their babies are all doing good and gaining weight. They hope to be able to take at least one home in the next couple of weeks.
The guest who stayed with us from Russelville was originally from Guatemala. This young mother really touched our hearts. We got a call from the NICU last week about a young mother who did not speak any English. She had a baby girl who was in critical condition. The language barrier was difficult. We felt so sorry for this young mother. Johnny found a computer program to help with his Spanish and could communicate a little. Every night he would tell her in Spanish “we are praying for your baby.” She would smile and say “gracias”. We invited Benjamin and Patti Colunga and their family over to visit with her. Benjamin lead a prayer and prayed for her baby and he and Patti talked with her and encouraged her. Johnny and I could understand how lost she felt because we couldn't understand anything that was said during their conversation.
On Monday night around 9:30 we received a call from the NICU. They told the young mother to come to the hospital immediately. Johnny and I had been talking the week before about how we knew that not every guest would leave Shanon's house with a happy ending. We didn't know how and what we would say to them. We prayed that God would give us the words to say when that time came. The young mother went to the hospital, but her baby died before she could get there. She never got to hold her baby until the little girl had passed away. When the mother came back, we didn't need words, all we could do was hug her and let her cry and cry with her. God answered our prayer. We learned that hugs, tears and smiles are the universal language. When she left, she hugged us and told us through an interpreter, “Thank you for the food and everything you did for me.” This is a guest we will never forget. During the first part of her stay we were a little discouraged. We felt like there would not be a way to reach her and comfort her. Looking back we see things differently. She had a beautiful, comfortable and safe place to stay, plenty of food and she knew that people cared about her. We pray that some time in her life she will look back on this time and remember the prayer that was prayed and the care she was shown and want to know more about our Lord and His church.
Through this ministry we are learning that it does take a church family to keep this work going and all of the family at Mayfair is helping that happen. The 4th and 5th grade classes provided gift bags and notes for each of the families. The young married life group provided books. The Tree of Life quilters have made quilts for all the newborns. Ladies have brought food for the freezer,and many have contributed supplies. Those who come by and encourage us and those who keep this work in your prayers are all a part of this ministry. Johnny and I are thankful for those who had the dream of this work, those who contribute financially and all of you who come and work along side us as we all strive to be Ambassadors for our Savior.
In Him,
Johnny and Christy Johnson
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