TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

“Be joyful always, pray continually and give thanks in every circumstance for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

How thankful we are for the blessings of family and friends who supported us during these past months and recent weeks since Paul’s decline, hospitalization and death; and then at the internment and two Memorial services. The first one was held at Paul’s family’s home church, The Reformed Presbyterian Church, in Winchester, Kansas, where he grew up in the foundation of his faith. The second one was at our current church, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, just this Thursday, here in California. At MPPC and through Bible Study Fellowship, both of us grew in our knowledge and understanding of what and whom we believe. This was through the teachings and study of God’s Word so faithfully preached by our many pastors and teaching leaders.

Paul’s brother, Rev. David Hensleigh, gave the message in Winchester, which focused on “For I know in Whom I believe”. Rev. Rick Langeloh and Rev.,John Ortberg conducted the second service, which focused on 1 Corinthians chapter 15, passages of which were read by Vip Patel earlier. Son Drew and 3 friends and colleagues spoke next. (Dr. Ted Fainstat, Dr. Suellen Miller who brought a message from Dr. Dosu Ojengbede, of Nigeria, and Dr. Hudd Targgart.) They reflected on their many years of seeing Paul’s love and service to his friend, Jesus Christ, and how he was called to serve both here in the Stanford area, as well as in so many worldwide places because of his faith.

Our entire family have been uplifted by tremendous gifts of love, calls, visits, cards, e-mails and food, which helped us walk through this process. It’s hard to believe Paul is gone; with his many trips overseas on missions, it seems like he should soon be returning, but there isn’t a call reminding me to go to the airport to meet him. Drew and family, as well as Michelle and her family, have been here helping with all the multitude of details, arrangements and direction of things next to do. Michelle and Drew also put together the obituaries, the program and the multimedia show of pictures of Paul with family, friends and events over his 68 years.

Invaluable also was Paul’s sister, Joye Huston, who was here visiting when Paul collapsed. After his death, we made arrangements to take his ashes to be interred in the home family cemetery plot by the church. Joye then returned home to begin all the details for make arrangements for the return of all six out of town siblings/ families and extended relatives who came home to say farewell to Paul and support us. Brother Robb and wife Peg had the family farmhouse ready to host two days of dinners and company, so they made for a very special family reunion out of such a sad situation.

If you would like a copy of the beautiful program and obituary, with pictures of Paul, please e-mail me at paulhens@stanford.edu and I will send one in due time. With Drew back in Elk Grove now, and Michelle and family returning to London Sunday, it will be a new era for me. The joy is that I also have Jesus as my friend and the Lord has given me so many friends here to walk with me in these next days. We know prayer has sustained all of us and we do give thanks that Paul is released from his pain and is with our Abba Father in heaven. To God be the glory! In His Peace and Joy, Bonnie

Memorial Services

We are so thankful for all the support we have received since Paul's death Tuesday. His obituary will be published Sunday in the San Jose Mercury News and in the Kansas City Star. I am thankful Michelle, Bo and Grey got in yesterday from London and Ralf today from Dubai. Michelle got to view her father yesterday before arrangements were made. We plan to fly out Saturday for a service in Winchester, Kansas at the Reformed Presbyterian Church on Monday, November 12th at 11 a.m. with the ashes interned in the adjoining church cemetery. We are hoping all of Paul's siblings and many family and friends will be able to get in and we ask prayer for travel mercies and all arrangements to be guided by our Lord. We hope to return Tuesday evening.

A memorial service for friends and family will be held in California on Thursday, November 15th at 2:00 PM at the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. Our church is located at 950 Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025.

In lieu of flowers, we are asking that any Memorial donations be sent to the Albanian Health Fund, P.O.Box 63, Saratoga, CA 95071-0063 ( www.albanianhealthfund.org ).

Thank you again for your love and support to Paul during these past months.
In Christ's love, Bonnie.

Answered prayers

Our prayers have been answered, Paul went to be with his Father this evening at 7:45 p.m. We will be making arrangements tomorrow and update you with a later blog. "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh, blessed be the name of our Lord."

Bonnie

Urgent Prayer

November 5, 2007

Paul had a bad episode today with diaphoresis, low blood pressure, & thready pulse. He had to be transported by ambulance to the ER. Right now he is in the intensive care unit at El Camino Hospital, since the Stanford ER was closed to incoming ambulances. He will be getting three units of blood transfused overnight as he had a hemoglobin of 5 Gm, down from 9.7 on Thursday.

Paul and I started the morning with a good visit with sisters Jane and Joye. Shortly after Jane left, it was decided to call the paramedics. Thankfully, sister Joye was here to assist us and stayed with me through the evening. Drew was able to make it to the hospital just before Paul needed to rest for the night.

The plan is for an endoscopy in the morning to figure out the source of internal bleeding and determine further intervention. Please pray for wisdom of the GI doctor tomorrow morning at 7:30 AM. Also, please pray for God's healing and guidance for the next steps to take. Pray that Paul will have peace & rest tonight.

I have been comforted by scripture this morning in Psalm 139 "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

Bonnie