My name is Bernice Webster.  I live in Nashville, Tennessee.  I am in my eighties, but life is very good for me.  I consider myself blessed, very blessed.

I usually live in my modest house on Perkins Avenue, here in Nashville; however, due to my recent fall/hip surgery, I have been staying at a convalescent home until I fully recover.  Because of my age, it is taking longer than expected, but I am headed in the right direction.

I am married to a wonderful man (Garfield); he and I have been married for over fifty happy years.  Garfield gave me four beautifiul children (two sons, two daughters), and my four beautiful children have given me ten adorable grandchildren, who are the "lights" of my life.

I am thankful that Gar and my kids visit me at the home; however, I am scared I will never get out or end up dying in a nursing home.  That is one of my biggest fears:  you see, my mother died in a nursing home as the result of abuse; I still can't talk about it without crying.  It was a horrible thing for me to have to witness, and I am sure it was much worse on my mother, as she suffered greatly.

I moved to Tennessee ten years ago from Louisiana; Louisiana was where I was born.  I left Louisiana because the heat was getting to me, and besides, the pastor at the church I had attended moved to Tennessee to start a new church.  I miss Louisiana; however, I don't miss the bugs, and I especially don't miss the heat/humidity!!

My pastor at my church is very good; he is one of the best ones we've had.  He knows his Bible, inside out and backwards; when he preaches, he knows how to draw a congregation in with his message:  they are powerful and relevent for today's world.  He's been pastoring for over ten years, and we just love him so much!!

The church I had attended in Louisiana was small at first; then we grew.  Now with our church here, we have grown to over 2,000 regular attendees, and as the congregation grew, so did our building.  We now have a very nice church home, and we have gained many families and young people; it is nice to see younger people on fire for the Lord!!

Our church is very busy reaching out to the community.  We have concerts on a regular basis (usually southern gospel, but we have had people like Kirk Franklin, Dallas Holm, and the Gaither Vocal Band entertain audiences; we even have rock concerts for the younger kids, so they don't feel left out), and every spring and winter (Christmas season), we have our Cantatas, which draw in even more people.  Add to that, our Fall Festival, Cleansing Stream, and "Heaven's Gates and Hell's Flames", which reach even more people in our community, in the hopes that they hear the gospel.

I have seen so many people come to the Lord, and I have also seen families healed of past hurts, people delivered of addictions, sickness, or relationship issues; it's very moving to experience, as I know the Lord is heavily at work in their lives.

Well, I will write more later.  I'd do so now, but I have therapy.  *sigh* Seems that my life is nothing but one long, unending therapy session; it's no wonder I am so stiff and tired by the time the torturers are through!  *groan!*  Until then, this is Bernice Webster saying so long, and may God bless you always!

~Love, your new friend in Tennessee, Bernice Webster.  :)

*To be continued.*