King's Business - 1959-03

a t r i b u t e t o a fa i th fu l s e r v a n t

W h e e l in g the w h i t e - s h e e t e d stretcher along the halls of vast Los Angeles County Hospital one day last summer, a nurse.steered it care­ fully into the tuberculosis ward. Instead of another patient, however, the stretcher carried a surprise for those bedridden there as they saw lights from candles on a hundred cup­ cakes twinkling cheerily. It was just Aunt May Lee’s way of sharing her birthday celebration with the shut-ins. No, Aunt May isn’t a patient herself and never has been, but with her wonderful smile she has gone each week for 12 years to visit

saw the need for a department for shut-ins who wished to belong but couldn’t attend. The result was the forming of the Comrades work which is not restricted to race but welcomes any woman patient who loves the Lord and pledges to do what she can “ For Others.” That is the club motto. Nurses have told Aunt May that the morale of whole wards has been lifted through this ministry. Her own mimeographed Bible lessons are given out together with “ pillow texts,” small luminous crosses and other helps of a devotional nature. Countless practical gifts, too, such

Aunt May Lee is known as "a comrade to the sick." Her friendly smile constantly radiates the joy of the Lord Jesus Christ. given permission to copy anything from his books for the Comrades. Birthdays and anniversaries of the patients are remembered by various Lyceum-Eteri groups throughout the West Coast, and the Comrades them- selves are taught to think of and pray for one another. In addition to seeing so many adult tubercular patients, Aunt May has t a k e n two-hundred-and-fifty l i t t l e dolls made of baby sox, and some tiny crocheted bunnies to children in the Sister Kenny Polio Hospital at El Monte. “ I like to think of this as the ‘In­ asmuch’ of Matt. 25:40,” she said. “ Some folks have been surprised that ministering to their needs was Christ’s work. I never argue, just quote James 2 : 14-20.” Many of the patients have been bedridden for years, some have no hope of recovery, while others of the 300 Comrades she’s made have gone home and still keep in touch with her. Some have gone to their Heavenly Home, yet down through the years Aunt May says there have been un­ told blessings because these sick ones have been made happy in feeling that they can “ belong,” and that “ Some­ one cares.” END. THE K IN G 'S BUSINESS

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Pictured above is one of the groups of students which has worked with Aunt May in bringing the challenge of Christ to those suffering and afflicted. While students often assist her, she also carries on her ministry alone.

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as knee-robes, caps and soap are taken. Aunt May’s Sunday School class of the West Hollywood Com­ munity Church has made hundreds of bags of different sizes, much cov­ eted by the shut-ins because of their usefulness. Scrap-books, stationery, stamps and cards are just a few of the many other items distributed. “ I even take jokes,” said Aunt May. “ I don’t think it hurts a Christian to laugh.” An author of Bible puzzles has

the two floors comprising this section; in her quiet way bringing them the Gospel. Age and the loss of hearing haven’t stopped her. She travels also to the County branch at Rancho Los Amigos, some distance from the city, and to Olive View Sanitarium in the foot­ hills, though these trips are not as fre­ quent as those to General Hospital. Long associated with the Lyceum- Eteri business girl’s clubs of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Aunt May 36

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