 Louann and Justin van der Meid craft yarn dolls during the June 14th picnic held unexpectedly in the Fellowship Hall. Board of Christian Education and bicentennial committee member Roberta Miller planned the old fashioned activities.
 Leanna (Emily's dear friend & caregiver) posed as Emily, in one of Emily's African dresses, and read her missionary letters home. The Mother’s Day presentation of Mama Emile celebrated a lady who was never a "mother in the true sense," but became "Mama Emile" to the many she taught and worked with in the Congo as a missionary from West Henrietta Baptist Church. Eighteen readers told the story of Emily's life as she wrote it in poems and letters across six decades. The Readers’ Theater presented the story of Emily Keyes’ life in the years before and during her service as a missionary in Africa. Two soloists and organist, Edo Frenkel participated, and the Program Narrator was Dan Scurlock. Guest readers Martha Keyes and Susan Deer are the nieces of the late Emily Keyes and Rev. and Mrs. Donald Deer, who served together in Vanga, Congo, in 1960. A book compiled by our Historian was condensed to construct the program. Emily, the poet was presented in her 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, and 60's. Round-robin letters to and from her dear friends, Nan & Nellie were read from each of the decades. When Emily returned to Henrietta upon retirement, she devoted many, many hours to serving others in our community through the FISH/RHAFT organization as a driver and dispatcher. Order Emily: A missionary's life or view the Mama Emile video
Join us on Sunday, May 10 to experience this missionary's life through her own words. Emily was a humble, quiet, dedicated, intelligent lady who heard the call to the mission field in her teens. This service will acquaint the congregation with an Emily few of us really knew--a real inspiration! She was evacuated in 1960 from the Congo for her safety. Come hear more......  |
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