Bob Lane Newsletter (Fall 2021)

Dear Family & Friends,

Greetings from Florida. Many of you already know that my beloved wife, whom I have loved for more than 70 years, went to be with the Lord on July 24. We are very sad for losing such a great loving person, but we are rejoicing and celebrating that she is now with her Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross for her. Her legacy will long be remembered.

She was a loving, caring and amazing lady. God blessed me with Betty to be my wife and I am very thankful for His gift. The Bible describes her as a Proverbs 31 woman. The many cards describe Betty as a wonderful, awesome, giving, humble, talented, humorous, witty, and creative person. She could prepare a gourmet meal with whatever she had, in her home kitchen or over a wood fire in the jungles of Peru for a team of 30 teenagers. She taught herself how to sew and made many of our three children’s clothes, as well as our daughter Nancy’s beautiful wedding gown. Her oldest sister, Laverne, taught her how to make beautiful porcelain dolls. Some sold for $200 each. She had the ability to perform many tasks and do it to completion. Betty always took the time to help others.

She had a beautiful smile that would warm your heart and make you smile and had a comforting laugh that would cheer you up.

Betty was a stay-at-home mom; never worked outside of our home until God called us to serve Him with Teen Missions for 44 years. It was a great pleasure serving with her side by side and traveling in over 74 countries leading teams and setting up teams for future years. We had a wonderful life together sharing the Lord Jesus Christ to the lost.

I met Betty Ann Browning at the age of 15 in June 1951. She had been discharged from the hospital after being hit by a panel truck that caused internal injuries and a broken right leg. She was still wearing the cast when I met her. That petite blue eyed blonde beautiful lady captured my heart and five months later we eloped on November 11th, 1951, (Veteran’s Day) in Fortson, GA. We were married and only God knew where our life journey would take us.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and He will direct your path. Betty was shy, but strong. Once in Walmart she went shopping to purchase a few items for the Christmas boxes that she needed. She went up to the checkout and put them on the counter not thinking there were over 20 items. That checkout was 20 or less. When the man tapped her on the shoulder and asked, “Lady, can’t you read?” She turned to him and said, “Yes sir I can read, but I never learned to count.” The other customers started laughing. It cracked them up. Betty could always get a smile from you.

I thank God for keeping me healthy and strong so I could take care of her during her bout with dementia. She slowly faded away for 2 1/2 years; I was always there for her 24 hours a day. It was my pleasure to take care of her needs in our home. Our love for each other grew stronger each day!

Betty had a love for children. She wanted to care for foster children and for 12 years we kept 10 children in our home. One she picked up at the hospital was only six days old. He hadn’t been named yet so the doctor told her she could name him. She named him Joey and cared for him for six years until he was adopted.

In 2010 God called us to help support Stella’s Voice, a ministry to save teenage girls from sex trafficking. It has been a blessing to help these girls and to watch them grow in the Lord Jesus. The girls spent most of their life in a state orphanage in Moldova, a small country next to Ukraine. At the age of 16 they are put out on the street with no family or place to go. Stella’s Voice Ministry picks them up and takes them to their safe house and cares for them and gives them a home, takes care of their medical needs and takes care of their schooling.

I have said a lot about Betty in this letter that I didn’t say to her while she was with me. I sang to her, “You are my sunshine, you make me happy” and “Have I told you lately that I love you?” Well darling, I’m telling you now, loving her was very easy.

I want to thank you all for the kind words you said about her on Facebook and through cards. They mean a lot to me. She was well liked. She did all to the glory of God!

Thanks for standing with us all these years; your prayers were felt. May God richly bless you and give you safety and good health. My prayers are with you.

I am thankful to still be a part of Teen Missions. I am able to come out and share in Chapel once in a while and I pray for the ministry. I seek God’s will for my life, to serve Him in my life.

Love,

Bob Lane

Proverbs 3:5, 6