During all our years in Kazakhstan and in the four years since returning, we could count on receiving birthday cards and notes from Miss Gertrude Bloede. The cards were always unique, as she would cut the front of a card she had, then tape it to a blank index card, and personalize her note. A true missionary – do not waste anything! I later got to know other missionaries she supported, and found they had the same experience. Whenever we sent a newsletter out, we would certainly receive a hand-written note from Gertrude. When our son Keith served two years on the ministry ship Logos Hope, he received letters from Gertrude.
I just received word that this dear woman passed away last week at 99 years of age. Keith and I visited her in June at her room at a retirement village just outside of Lebanon, Ohio. We had a delightful time with this godly woman, whose mind was 100% sharp. She retold the story from her perspective of the tragic day 40 years ago at Red Bird Mission in Kentucky, when Shawn’s father, after whom Keith was named, was shot and killed. Keith Myers had been a missionary pastor at Red Bird. Gertrude had been a nurse at the mission at the time, and spent the days following with the family – Shawn was 5 at when this happened. I think that experience gave Gertrude a special bond with Shawn and all of her family.
Gertrude served for many years as a missionary in Sierra Leone, traveling to her appointment by ship in 1951. I loved hearing her tell stories of those years. She then moved to Red Bird Mission in 1965, and even upon retiring made frequent visits back until travel became impossible, but that was only after she was 96 years old!
To be supported by and prayed for by her and to receive frequent letters from her over all these years has been a special blessing to our family. We will miss her kind notes, notes that made it clear that she read every word or our updates and prayed for us accordingly. She now joins the cloud of witnesses in my life that we read about in the book of Hebrews.
