Today, I want to share a story that stands out from the usual topics I cover in my blogs. It's the story of an extraordinary 85-year-old woman who left a tremendous mark on my heart. I met her in the fall of 2015, when I traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico, to help an orphanage for four months. Among the many faces I encountered, hers shone brightly. Despite not speaking Spanish, she had recently moved to the orphanage to serve and love the children for Jesus Christ.
Her story begins in a world vastly different from the one I knew at the orphanage. For decades, she enjoyed a happily married life. She and her husband built fulfilling careers together, created a comfortable life, and faithfully attended church. Their Christianity was involved in church functions and seeking to live a righteous life.
After her husband passed away, she was alone in her eighties in their beautiful Vermont home. One afternoon, she was enjoying the peaceful day on the front porch, sitting and reflecting on her life. She felt deep gratitude for the time she had shared with her husband, treasuring each moment they spent together. Yet, for the first time, she was struck by a profound realization: she, too, would soon leave this world and stand before God.
Although she was confident in her salvation through Christ's blood sacrifice on the cross and resurrection, she was deeply troubled by the realization that much of her life had been spent pursuing personal comforts and ambitions rather than serving her Savior. Despite a life filled with blessings—family, travel, a beautiful home, and cherished memories—she felt a profound sadness. She realized she had not done anything particularly significant for the Lord and feared that she would have no crowns to offer Jesus Christ on Judgment Day.
It greatly saddened her that she had enjoyed the blessings of life but had done so little for Jesus Christ, who had given so much for her. As she sat on the porch alone, she began to pray, asking the Lord to give her a way to serve Him in her remaining years. She told God she didn't want to show up on Judgement Day without a crown to give Christ.
Some months later, she traveled to Australia to visit friends. During her vacation, she attended a Baptist church service. That day, American missionaries Robert and Joy Murrillo were presenting their work in Mexico to the Australian congregation. They shared pictures of their orphanage and the ministry God had entrusted them to care for many children in the love of Christ. Their presentation deeply moved Mrs. Sherman. After the service, she approached the missionaries and inquired about the possibility of traveling to Guadalajara to volunteer at the orphanage for a week. The Murrillos were delighted by her offer and welcomed her help.
After her trip to Australia, she returned to her beautiful home in Vermont. She didn't forget about the missionaries and their orphanage in Mexico. A few months later, she boarded a plane destined for Guadalajara, eager to visit the orphanage and explore her growing sense of purpose. During her short stay, she sensed God was inviting her to become more involved in the work in Mexico. She spent time in prayer and reflection, considering how she might do more.
Eventually, she approached the missionaries with a significant question: Could she return to the orphanage and move there permanently to serve? Although she didn't speak Spanish, she expressed her willingness to offer the children love as a grandma figure and use her professional skills as a violinist to teach them to play string instruments. The missionaries were thrilled with the idea, as they had been praying for a music program for the children and saw Mrs. Sherman as a possible answer to their prayers.
Upon her return to the United States, Mrs. Sherman made a decision that she had never imagined in all her years. In her mid-eighties, she sold her beautiful home, packed her bags, and made the courageous move to Mexico. Despite having no support from churches, she was confident that her savings and monthly pension would enable her to live comfortably and contribute to the ministry.
When I arrived at the orphanage in September 2015 to support their school for four months, I had the privilege of meeting Mrs. Sherman during my first week. At 85 years old, she had a warm, radiant smile and was brimming with energy. Her hair was a striking snow white, and her mind remained sharp. Although I'm not sure how many months she had been at the orphanage by then, I was impressed by her dedication. Despite not speaking the language, she had memorized the four points of a gospel tract in Spanish and learned musical terms like "strings" and "notes." What amazed me even more was how the children had embraced her as a grandma figure, affectionately calling her "Mrs. Sherman."
Observing Mrs. Sherman teach the children how to play the violin was a truly remarkable experience. Despite her limited Spanish, she patiently guided them in reading music and playing songs. The children, in turn, patiently interacted to learn from her. Some of the teenagers even learned to play hymns and Christmas carols. Mrs. Sherman's influence, through her love, patience, and kindness, was more impactful than her ability to convey information in Spanish. Her dedication inspired the youngsters to practice diligently and explore playing instruments on their own. It was an extraordinary sight.
During my second week in Guadalajara, I shared a memorable experience with Mrs. Sherman that I'll never forget. Like me, she had a sense of adventure and disliked sitting idle when she wasn't working. Accustomed to staying busy, she found it challenging to do nothing, especially with the language barrier. It made her feel alone sometimes.
One day, we decided to explore the BIG city of Guadalajara together. We hopped on a bus to the center of the town and had a fantastic time walking around, visiting stores, and eating. However, we realized we were lost when it was time to head back. We wandered through countless streets, trying to find the bus stop to take us back to our side of town. It was quite amusing—I couldn't believe I was lost with an ambitious 85-year-old with the energy of a 40-year-old. Eventually, we gave up and ended up paying for a taxi to take us home.
I am deeply grateful for Mrs. Sherman and the impact she had on my life. Although I lost contact with her after leaving Mexico, I am comforted that we share the bond of family in Christ Jesus. I truly look forward to spending eternity with her, serving and praising our Lord Jesus Christ together. What new wonderful memories we shall make!
Mrs. Sherman's testimony offers a profound lesson: there is always time to dedicate one's life to serving the Lord Jesus Christ. As long as you have breath, God has a purpose and a calling for you. Her story proves that even after years of focusing on personal pursuits, one can still turn to God and seek to fulfill His will. God's mercy is boundless, and He eagerly welcomes those who wish to serve Him the pleasure of serving Him. This doesn't necessarily mean you need to uproot your life and move to a different country; ministry can be just as impactful within your own community. Engaging in local ministry and reaching out to those around you can be equally fulfilling and important. The key is to respond to God's call, wherever He leads, with a willing heart and a desire to exalt Jesus Christ in the lives of others.
RETURN TO ALL BLOGS
Her story begins in a world vastly different from the one I knew at the orphanage. For decades, she enjoyed a happily married life. She and her husband built fulfilling careers together, created a comfortable life, and faithfully attended church. Their Christianity was involved in church functions and seeking to live a righteous life.
After her husband passed away, she was alone in her eighties in their beautiful Vermont home. One afternoon, she was enjoying the peaceful day on the front porch, sitting and reflecting on her life. She felt deep gratitude for the time she had shared with her husband, treasuring each moment they spent together. Yet, for the first time, she was struck by a profound realization: she, too, would soon leave this world and stand before God.
Although she was confident in her salvation through Christ's blood sacrifice on the cross and resurrection, she was deeply troubled by the realization that much of her life had been spent pursuing personal comforts and ambitions rather than serving her Savior. Despite a life filled with blessings—family, travel, a beautiful home, and cherished memories—she felt a profound sadness. She realized she had not done anything particularly significant for the Lord and feared that she would have no crowns to offer Jesus Christ on Judgment Day.
It greatly saddened her that she had enjoyed the blessings of life but had done so little for Jesus Christ, who had given so much for her. As she sat on the porch alone, she began to pray, asking the Lord to give her a way to serve Him in her remaining years. She told God she didn't want to show up on Judgement Day without a crown to give Christ.
Some months later, she traveled to Australia to visit friends. During her vacation, she attended a Baptist church service. That day, American missionaries Robert and Joy Murrillo were presenting their work in Mexico to the Australian congregation. They shared pictures of their orphanage and the ministry God had entrusted them to care for many children in the love of Christ. Their presentation deeply moved Mrs. Sherman. After the service, she approached the missionaries and inquired about the possibility of traveling to Guadalajara to volunteer at the orphanage for a week. The Murrillos were delighted by her offer and welcomed her help.
After her trip to Australia, she returned to her beautiful home in Vermont. She didn't forget about the missionaries and their orphanage in Mexico. A few months later, she boarded a plane destined for Guadalajara, eager to visit the orphanage and explore her growing sense of purpose. During her short stay, she sensed God was inviting her to become more involved in the work in Mexico. She spent time in prayer and reflection, considering how she might do more.
Eventually, she approached the missionaries with a significant question: Could she return to the orphanage and move there permanently to serve? Although she didn't speak Spanish, she expressed her willingness to offer the children love as a grandma figure and use her professional skills as a violinist to teach them to play string instruments. The missionaries were thrilled with the idea, as they had been praying for a music program for the children and saw Mrs. Sherman as a possible answer to their prayers.
Upon her return to the United States, Mrs. Sherman made a decision that she had never imagined in all her years. In her mid-eighties, she sold her beautiful home, packed her bags, and made the courageous move to Mexico. Despite having no support from churches, she was confident that her savings and monthly pension would enable her to live comfortably and contribute to the ministry.
When I arrived at the orphanage in September 2015 to support their school for four months, I had the privilege of meeting Mrs. Sherman during my first week. At 85 years old, she had a warm, radiant smile and was brimming with energy. Her hair was a striking snow white, and her mind remained sharp. Although I'm not sure how many months she had been at the orphanage by then, I was impressed by her dedication. Despite not speaking the language, she had memorized the four points of a gospel tract in Spanish and learned musical terms like "strings" and "notes." What amazed me even more was how the children had embraced her as a grandma figure, affectionately calling her "Mrs. Sherman."
Observing Mrs. Sherman teach the children how to play the violin was a truly remarkable experience. Despite her limited Spanish, she patiently guided them in reading music and playing songs. The children, in turn, patiently interacted to learn from her. Some of the teenagers even learned to play hymns and Christmas carols. Mrs. Sherman's influence, through her love, patience, and kindness, was more impactful than her ability to convey information in Spanish. Her dedication inspired the youngsters to practice diligently and explore playing instruments on their own. It was an extraordinary sight.
During my second week in Guadalajara, I shared a memorable experience with Mrs. Sherman that I'll never forget. Like me, she had a sense of adventure and disliked sitting idle when she wasn't working. Accustomed to staying busy, she found it challenging to do nothing, especially with the language barrier. It made her feel alone sometimes.
One day, we decided to explore the BIG city of Guadalajara together. We hopped on a bus to the center of the town and had a fantastic time walking around, visiting stores, and eating. However, we realized we were lost when it was time to head back. We wandered through countless streets, trying to find the bus stop to take us back to our side of town. It was quite amusing—I couldn't believe I was lost with an ambitious 85-year-old with the energy of a 40-year-old. Eventually, we gave up and ended up paying for a taxi to take us home.
I am deeply grateful for Mrs. Sherman and the impact she had on my life. Although I lost contact with her after leaving Mexico, I am comforted that we share the bond of family in Christ Jesus. I truly look forward to spending eternity with her, serving and praising our Lord Jesus Christ together. What new wonderful memories we shall make!
Mrs. Sherman's testimony offers a profound lesson: there is always time to dedicate one's life to serving the Lord Jesus Christ. As long as you have breath, God has a purpose and a calling for you. Her story proves that even after years of focusing on personal pursuits, one can still turn to God and seek to fulfill His will. God's mercy is boundless, and He eagerly welcomes those who wish to serve Him the pleasure of serving Him. This doesn't necessarily mean you need to uproot your life and move to a different country; ministry can be just as impactful within your own community. Engaging in local ministry and reaching out to those around you can be equally fulfilling and important. The key is to respond to God's call, wherever He leads, with a willing heart and a desire to exalt Jesus Christ in the lives of others.
RETURN TO ALL BLOGS
