in answer to Carol's question

Suzie Norris was one of the first two residents of Rest Haven Homes. This lady, Bertha Webb, was the other.

It was 1946, and these were Christian ladies who couldn't live alone anymore, and had no family to care for them. A Christian couple took them in, but it got to be too much for them.

At about that time, Grace Pell had recently visited Abigail Townsend Luffe at El Nathan, the nursing home she ran in Buffalo (Abigail had grown up in Bristol, England, and was grealty influenced by George Muller's work there.)

Abigail met Grace, and took her all through the nursing home in Buffalo. (El Nathan, has since moved to Marble Hill, Missouri). She took her even into the rooms of the very sick people, and those whose minds had slipped. Then, at the end of their time together, Abigail asked Grace, "so dear, have you ever thought of working with old people?" Grace told her "no" ... that she already had a substantial work with children, and couldn't imagine incorporating a new ministry.

It was soon thereafter that the Lord brought the situation with Suzie Norris and Bertha Webb into Grace's life, and she was led to take over their care, which eventually led to the formation of Rest Haven Homes. They still hold to many of the principles that George Muller's orphanages practiced ... not making their needs known or asking for money, etc.

Grace Pell ended up dying in Rest Haven as a resident soon after I met the family. I know her younger sisters, who are now both currently living at the home - one in the nursing home, and another in an apartment there. They were from a family of 10, and had a huge impact on the Christian work here in Grand Rapids, starting a local church, Gospel Folio Press (since moved to Canada), Uplook Ministries, as well as Rest Haven. None of the 6 girls ever married, and are a great example of how to use one's single state to serve the Lord. They were even in Ripley's Believe it or Not as the "6 Miss-Pells (miss-spell ... get it?) who worked at the publishing house."

If you've never had a chance to read the story of George Muller's orphanages, or Sister Abigail's work in Buffalo, their biographies are both a real treat!

Got to the gym tonight, and read some in John this morning.