News!
Marva Petrus of Belleville, Illinois
texted
me with a slide she had seen at National Deaf Culture Fellowship at
Springfield, Missouri on Friday morning of June 24, 2016, "They honor Tony
at NF!" The slide shows "Rev. Anthony "Tony" Callies 40
years of ministry." That was really neat and thank you Marva!
Tony was 30 years old when we got
married and began our Evangelistic Ministry in 1967 and he became semi-retired
at age 70. That was when we moved back to Bloomington, Illinois in June 2007
once again to do other silent ministry.
Tony has a health issue that does
not allow both of us to travel such a great distance miles at this times. His
heart Doctor is ordering several tests on Tony regarding his heart. Last Jan. 2016
he had an 'Echo' test. I asked why is he taking 'Echo' test again in July. They
said that the 'Echo' test show the low functioning of his heart condition that
he needs to take Pradaxa two times daily instead of one daily in spite of
effecting his memory.
In spite of his memory problem, he
still does things independently. He still drives and knows where the routine
places we go to. He and his wife still works at Taco Bell three times a week, 3
hours in the morning. It is part of his exercise. Tony reads newspaper
every morning. Later on, if I asked him what he had read, he doesn't
remember at all.
If I give him a direction where to
go along the driving destination that is new, he asked me a few times where are
we going. Sometimes he asked, "Why are we here?" When something
new sometimes confused him, I help with reminding him in gentle way.
When Tony asked a friend during
lunch time, several times how she was doing, her replied was that "I told
you four times." I became horrified with the rude language that should
'never' say, "I told you!" Be gentle to those who don't remember.
During our weekly Bible Study at our
home, Tony would sign out the study notes, the Spirit of God was upon Tony so
beautiful and it was an awesome sight to see. It was as if he knows the
Scriptures so well. I am often amazed at the presence of God being with
us and even when Tony doesn't remember certain things. I could feel the
"tenderhearted of Christ" toward Tony and it is really beautiful.
Ephesians 4:32 "And be ye kind
one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's
sake hath forgiven you." Also "walk in love, as Christ also hath
loves us" Ephesians 5:2.
My friend, "have courage and be
kind" is very important in our daily walk toward others.
Peace,
Rev.
Dorothy Callies
