Good morning,

I have been working on the testimonial on why I give to Trinity Lutheran Church for the better part of this year. It is not that I have been procrastinating, it is just I have so much to be grateful for in the family of Trinity.

I moved from the Bronx up to Carmel in August of 1975. Pastor Hank Mertens was residing pastor at that time. The moment Pastor Mertens opened the door, I felt very welcomed. My daughter Joy was just 18 months old, and my son Eric was just a thought at this time. I knew in my heart that I wanted to raise my family in this community of faith. I joined the church after taking the new member classes. I became part of the folk choir with Dave Kane, Ruth-Ann Mertens, Carolyn Cesare, and Eydie (I can’t remember Eydie’s last name). I learned to play guitar. I felt so blessed to be part of this group. I was also a Sunday school teacher and eventually served as superintendent of Sunday school for six years. I enjoyed every minute of it.

During my religious journey, I also attended the Diakonia Classes in Dobbs Ferry. It was an exceptional experience that I will never forget. I believe this class brought me closer to my faith, which was to be tested in the near future.

On the morning of September 14, 1982, I was working at the church as an assisting secretary helping Carol Straub. My son Eric was in first grade, and my daughter, Joy, was in fourth grade. After finishing up at the church I headed home. As I arrived, I saw a New Rochelle police car in the parking lot at Vista on the Lake. Dennis, who was our friend and a fellow police officer, was at my door. Eric was working at this time and when I saw Dennis my heart just sank and I couldn’t move. I remember saying to Dennis, “Is he dead.” He would not answer me. I called my best friend and asked her if she could pick up Joy and Eric and bring them to her house. Both she and her husband did not hesitate, and they also took my little puppy.

I got into the police car and was driven to New Rochelle Hospital. At this point I had no idea how Eric was. I tried not to think of the worst. As I sat in the back of the police car, I started praying, I pulled a little card out of my wallet that had the poem Footprints in the Sand. As I recited this poem for the third time, I felt a presence, it felt like there was a hand on my right shoulder. All of a sudden I felt a calmness that was beyond explanation. As I got out of the car, I heard one of the police officers say, “Oh my God, she is in shock.” I knew at that moment that whatever was going to happen, Jesus was there to pull me through.

Eric pulled through despite his many injuries. I was so thankful to God that he was still here with me. Trinity Lutheran Church and the congregation played an indelible role in supporting my family in this time of need. This church and the wonderful family of Christ-like people were also a help to me when Joy was in Honduras during Hurricane Mitch. They prayed and were able to donate a truck load of supplies to help Honduras. Waldbaums, where CVS is located now in Carmel, spearheaded the donations and supplied the truck to get those supplies to Honduras. The truck was overflowing. There are truly angels in our mist. The miracle of love thy neighbor was truly present that day.

There are so many other times where this congregation has lifted me and my family up. There are no words. I am truly grateful and blessed to be part of this Trinity family. l will always strive to be the best that I can and to be a true and faithful servant of Christ and this church.

God’s blessings to all.

Joanne Halbekath