Share
Chaplains across Adventist Health in the Central Valley are usually quick to rush to the bedside of patients to share God’s word. That’s no longer possible during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Erika Valenzuela, chaplain for Adventist Health Hanford, came up with an idea. She reached out to a local design vendor, “Truth and Words,” to have cards created specifically for COVID-19 patients.
Burning Desire
“I had a burning desire in my heart to do something for our COVID-19 patients since we’re not going room-to-room, providing visits like we normally would,” says Valenzuela.
The end result was a heart-warming card that reads “You are not forgotten” on the front, and on the inside, “Psalm 46:1: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help… With love and big hugs, your spiritual care team.”

“Truth and Words”
“Erika shared with me some of the emotions and issues COVID-19 patients were experiencing, such as isolation, suffering, pain, loneliness and fear,” says Andrea Gruen, owner and CEO of “Truth and Words.”
“I took that information back to my office and started to pray, ‘Lord, we have no idea how to meet this need with words and a card, but you do. Show us.’ So, I started to create, hand-letter and place words.”
First Day After Receiving Cards
On the very day of receiving the printed cards, Valenzuela received a call from a COVID-19 patient who said she feared dying and was unsure of the purpose God had for her life.
“I listened and ministered to her from scripture,” says Valenzuela. “We ended our conversation with a prayer, and I as soon as I hung up the phone, I took the elevator up to the floor where the patient was receiving care and delivered the ‘You are not forgotten’ card and a sunflower to the nurse to help brighten the patient’s day.”
RELATED TOPICS:
Shedeur Sanders Is Still Waiting for a Call as the NFL Draft Enters the Final Day
49 minutes ago
Paul Skenes Strikes Out 9, Wins Duel With Yamamoto in Pirates’ Victory Over Dodgers
1 hour ago
Eovaldi Outlasts Verlander as Rangers Beat Giants
1 hour ago
Rams Take Oregon Tight End Terrance Ferguson in Second Round After Trading Out of First
2 hours ago
The Latest: Francis Is Remembered as a ‘Pope Among the People’ as He Is Laid to Rest
2 hours ago
Trump Is a Revolutionary. Will He Succeed or Fail?
3 hours ago
We Need Proof of Life for the Makeup Artist Trump Sent to El Salvador
4 hours ago
Only About Half of Republicans Say Trump Has Focused on the Right Priorities
33 minutes ago
Categories

Only About Half of Republicans Say Trump Has Focused on the Right Priorities

Shedeur Sanders Is Still Waiting for a Call as the NFL Draft Enters the Final Day

Paul Skenes Strikes Out 9, Wins Duel With Yamamoto in Pirates’ Victory Over Dodgers

Eovaldi Outlasts Verlander as Rangers Beat Giants

Rams Take Oregon Tight End Terrance Ferguson in Second Round After Trading Out of First

Wired Wednesday: What’s the Future of Fresno Unified and the Superintendent Position?

Zakaria Draws Parallels Between Trump’s Tariffs, Failed 1930s Economic Policies
