Good News

November/December 2014

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TransFormation>> 'God working through me' ROBERT MITCHELL M any times, Donna Arcenio Stivason has seen God working through her to help others. A member of the Youngstown, Ohio, Corps for the past decade, Stivason has also been the director of SASSY Seniors for fi ve years. "I have seen many blessings," she says. "God's timing is unbelievable. He uses His people in amazing ways and in the strangest places. For me, I have allowed Him to use me to serve others." One day, Donna walked into a public restroom and saw an older woman with a nasty bug bite. Donna warned her about the danger of spider bites and persuaded her to see a doctor. "She came back in and thanked me for my suggestion and for being concerned," Donna said. "She's diabetic. They gave her an antibiotic and she needs to follow up with a specialist for wound care. I believe it was God working through me." On a recent and rainy trip to work, Donna saw a woman at a bus stop, soaking wet, and needing an umbrella. Donna gave her one of her family's two umbrellas. "Her whole face lit up and she kept say- ing 'Thank you, thank you, thank you!'" Donna said. "I was blessed by this and I was glad that I stopped to help." Donna, a former counselor for the De- partment of Housing & Urban Develop- ment, said her heart goes out to people in need. A few years ago, Donna met another woman in a restroom who had just be- come homeless. Donna directed the woman to social services and even asked if she wanted to help at the senior program. "Last year, she stopped by to tell me that her life had drastically changed," Donna said. "She was drug free and in stable housing. Although she had an incurable illness, she nonetheless thanked God for her life." Also last year, Donna stopped to say hello to an older woman who was sitting in a hall. "I noticed a lesion on her nose. I sat down and asked if she had a family doc- tor," Donna said. Donna warned her about skin cancer and persuaded her to see a doctor. "About a week later, I saw her eating lunch. With a big smile on her face, she called me over," Donna recalls. "She had a bandage on her nose and she said, 'The doctor biopsied it and it was skin cancer. Thank you for car- ing about a stranger. You saved my life!' "I said, 'It wasn't me, but God through me.' She sees me every now and then and is still battling skin cancer, but she has hope and a renewed spirit and a great big smile." Donna said these experiences have taught that "God calls us to serve others. Be ready, because that opportunity could come on the job, in a restroom, in a hall- way, in a food line, in a car, or even on a street corner—in the rain." THE SALVATION ARMY 440 WEST NYACK ROAD WEST NYACK, NY 10994 –1739 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED GOOD NEWS! $ 1.95 6000054 Two – Inch Salvation Army Mini Bells • Tie onto a special gift • Highlight your place settings • Comes inside gift box • The perfect party favor or Christmas ornament WEB: armyconnections.org/trade • CALL: Toll Free (888) 488.4882 • EMAIL: use.trade@use.salvationarmy.org Check out the Trade e–Catalog with your Smart Phone!

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