Let Us Consider
A Texas sized thank you goes from PCM to a special lady in East Texas!
Lynn Ramey is a godly woman who daily serves the Lord through her dance studio, Dance N Drill in Tyler. When I think of Lynn, I always think of her growing up in Humble, Tx. (pronounced “umble”) which is just up the road from where I grew up in North Houston.
Lynn’s place of origin fits her heart desire- to humbly serve her King all her days. Our own two girls had the pleasure of attending her dance studio for years and many other children and young ladies have had the honor of learning dance in all it’s splendid forms from her and her great teachers throughout the years.
She serves the community of East Texas in many capacities: As a mother of two, a business owner, coordinator for the Tyler Rose Festival, Tyler Golden Girls and Grace Community School’s drill team the Cougarettes.
Well, this fall the Lord put it on Ashley Ferguson’s heart to approach Lynn to see if she would consider praying about supporting PCM through her dance studio. Ashley’s timing was perfect as she ended up asking Lynn just a couple of days before Lynn would spend time in prayer deciding on just the right mission project for her students to be involved in. She quickly felt a nudge to support PCM and with hugs said “I can’t wait to help out!”
Here are some of Lynn’s own words to explain what her desire has been for her studio’s involvement in reaching out to others: “ Our Christmas project began around 12 years ago when I began to think of ways D-N-D could help teach the real meaning of Christmas “in action” by doing for others. I also challenged the students to think of “these people” that they helped first on Christmas morning instead of themselves and what they would be receiving that day. The focus was to be on what they would be giving as a birthday present for Jesus, one that would make him smile! This is a list of what we have been involved in since:
St. Marcus Compassion House
Miss Choy and the orphanage in China
The Moses Project
Full Circle Ministry
Missionaries from Grace Church
The Samaritan’s Purse
Mercy Ships
Various other ministries
The parents and students really love to help! Dancers go home and spread the word at the dinner table at night and with their friends at school. We even sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus as we circle the jar of money we have collected before we turn it in. Certainly a wonderful memory and gift to all.”
Lynn happily accepted the offer to have “show and tell for Jesus” and what He is doing through PCM. They decided to help Pastor Emmy have a very Merry Christmas and raise money to help fund the work truck that would supply fresh foods to the orphan children and PCM school, carry construction supplies to help build the school and dorms and also to evangelize areas that are remote and have no access to the Good News of God’s love for them.
From right after Thanksgiving up until Christmas the teachers gave the opportunity for the students to hear about this unique work in Uganda and to give spare change towards the work truck. We had a fun time with an old Golden Crown Book called “The Happy Man and His Dump Truck!” A Parallel story to Pastor Emmy’s desire to have a fun time helping his friends!
Mrs. Jeannie Hines read the book to the younger classes as they attentively listened and then she passed around a jar to allow them to add their sweet little coins. Their sparkling eyes said it all really - children know how to give wholeheartedly to Jesus!
Mrs. Lynn was so excited to give of her time to tell PCM’s story and this precious little studio ended up raising over $3,500! The most they have ever raised for a ministry. Wow!!! As Ashley says, “How Awesome is that!”
How awesome is our God indeed!!!
Our friend Justin Hayes sent over a scripture to encourage us recently and I think it really sums up what the LORD was working in all of this….
Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.
Hebrews 10:24
That’s the bottom line and that is what God wonderfully worked out in all who were a part of this story.
LOTS OF LOVE AND LOTS OF GOOD DEEDS!
Blessings to Mrs. Lynn, Mrs. Jeannie and all of Dance N Drill’s students for considering Jesus’ call to care for His Ugandan friends!