A friend, prayer partner, mentor, parishoner and teacher to my children graduated from here to her heavenly home this morning. Valera was a part of the original core team at Indian Creek. Valera and her mother Margaret were a part of the first twenty-seven brave persons who trusted this young pastor as we launched a new church. We had no idea what we were doing but this saintly lady who was in her fifties decided to jump on board. Maybe she knew I needed the prayer!
We built the church on prayer. We met every Sunday night for years and then when I dropped out of that group to give attention to starting small groups Valera continued praying on Sunday nights until recently when her health slowed her down. Our family will never know the effect of her daily prayers for us but I'm sure that what she gave us was priceless! My theory about prayer is that she will still be praying for us daily in heaven. Jesus is, so the prayer choir of Indian Creekers in heaven is one person larger!
Valera taught each of our children in Sunday School classes. She was a wonderful teacher. She had a way of making every child feel important. Maybe it helped that she could look them in the eye :) Valera would do funny little things for me every so often to brighten my day. For example, she would call my phone at the church and leave me a message, only her message was usually something funny she saw or heard. She would tell a joke, sing me a hymn (because she thought I'd forgotten them), tell me the virtues of cats (because I definitely have forgotten them) or advise me on something that was going on at church. She was always gentle to remind me that she loved me as her pastor and that she knew it was a hard job.
Belinda and I feel like we had a cheerleader, mom, confidant, friend and mother all rolled into one. We will miss her tremendously. Who else would say the day before she died, now you go to Hawaii and celebrate your anniversary. If I die before you get back I want everyone to wait so you can do the funeral. It is not about me anyway I'm going to my new home in heaven. Isn't that just like Valera? Valera, I'm happy for you but we will surely miss you.
Gary Kendall
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