Merle Ivy

Merle waiting to catch an airplane with me.

Today a very dear friend of mine is being laid to rest.  For over three years I was her pastor down in Pascagoula.  She was on the pulpit committee that led the call for me to become the pastor of that church.  She gave me great support while I was there.  Merle taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, served as Treasurer, served as Women on Mission leader, served on the Budget and Finance committee, and chaired the Daycare Committee while I was there.  She did all very faithfully.

I’ve been thinking of words to describe Merle and there are many that come to mind.  The problem comes with actually putting them on here in a meaningful way. 

Merle at a McDonalds in Odessa Ukraine

Merle had a big heart.  HUGE!  Even this past year though I was not the pastor at Calvary she sent my son and daughter a Christmas/Birthday happy.  She was one of the most giving people that I know.  Even in the last couple years she helped mentor and teach literacy.  Merle was faithful.  You could always count on her if she agreed to serve.  Merle had spunk.  She was a go getter.  Nothing slowed her down.  Merle was a woman of prayer.  Merle continuously grew in her relationship with the Lord.  Merle would also tell you if she disagreed with you but she would always do it with tears in her eyes.

Probably the greatest experience that I had with Merle is

Merle felt a great deal of love when this poor lady gave her such a beautiful scarf.

when she and I went with some others on a mission trip to the Ukraine.  Even though Merle had been a leader in missions at our church she had never went on such a trip.  I was so surprised when she told me that she wanted to go.  Then I was just excited.  While in the Ukraine I believe that she touched more lives than any because they knew that she had gone through great effort to get there.  She would walk the streets of those villages until she just literally gave out and had to sit in the van.  I will never forget the testimonies that she shared while there.  I also will never forget having to help her with her luggage on that trip.  I laugh because Merle was the Queen of the souviners.  She bought something everywhere she went and I had to carry it through all of the airports for her.  Even in our last stop

Merle sharing her testimony with an interpreter.

before home she was STILL BUYING.  She wanted to make sure everyone was taken care of.

I love Merle Ivy.  I have missed her so much since we moved to Tennessee.  I would include her into a list of the top five people that I have met in my life.  See you in Heaven Merle!  I’m not carrying your luggage up there!

This is Merle and Robyn Dupree with the wife of the host family where they stayed while in Ukraine.

This is the whole mission team in front of the Black Sea.

This is us in Vienna on our way home.