En hyldest til Minnie - A tribute to Minnie

Mens vi var på børnelejr, fik vi besked om, at Minnie Eskelund var gået hjem til Jesus. Minnie startede Evangelisk Børnemission i Danmark for tres år siden. De sidste mange måneder var Minnie syg, og Henry passede hende trofast.

Jeg har mange dejlige minder om Minnie!
Det første går helt tilbage til en solskinsdag i 1976. Vi sidder i haven, og Minnie serverer Fanta med vanilieis i under stor glæde, mens hun underholder alle ved bordet.

Et andet stærkt minde er fra kort efter, at jeg startede på fuld tid i EB. Vi var på en konference, og Minnie skulle undervise om bøn. At se og lytte til denne bønnekæmpe var en meget stærk oplevelse, jeg nok aldrig glemmer. Der var så stor vægt og autoritet i hendes ord.

Jeg husker også en gang i børneklub, hvor jeg var igang med at fortælle vores missionshistorie om Minnies liv. Da jeg fortalte om, hvordan Minnie som barn tog imod Jesus i sit liv, stoppede en af pigerne med at lytte til mig og tog på stedet imod Jesus.

Mit sidste minde er fra ugen før Minnies død. Jeg besøgte hende på hospitalet. Der lå et skrøbeligt legeme men stadig en stærk ånd og sjæl. Minnie stillede spørgsmål, der vidnede om, at hun stadig fulgte med i mit liv. Hun fortalte om den bog, hun havde ligget og læst i samme morgen. Jeg måtte endnu engang forbløffes over, at man kan være syg med så stor værdighed!
Minnie blev 92 år.

Tak Gud, fordi du sendte Minnie til os!


While we were at camp we got the sad news that Minnie Eskelund had been taken home to be with the Lord. Minnie was the founder of CEF in Denmark 60 years ago. The past months, Minnie was really ill and her husband Henry took faithfully care of her.

I have many fond memories of Minnie.

The first one is dated back to 1976. We were sitting in her garden and she was joyfully serving us Fanta with vanilla ice cream in it (try it - it's good!) while entertaining everyone at the table.

My next memory is after I joined CEF as a full time worker. We were at a conference and Minnie was speaking about prayer. And to watch this old prayer warrior talk had an impressive impact on me. She had so much power and authority behind her words.

Another memory is from one time in my Good News Club where I was telling the mission story of Minnie's life to the children. After sharing about Minnie's conversion as a child one of the children stopped listening to me and asked Jesus into her life.

My last memory is from the week before Minnie left us to be with the Lord. I visited her at the hospital and her body was so weak and fragile yet her spirit and personality was as strong as ever. She asked me questions that showed me how she was still keeping herself updated on my life. She shared we me about the book she had been reading that morning. (We both love novels.) And once again I was surprised to see the way she was carrying her illness with so much dignity.

Minnie became 92 years old.

Thank you, God, for sending Minnie to us!