Our Own Phoebe

Our son introduced us to our newest granddaughter Monday night. 

We haven't seen her since she arrived in the U.S. from Ethiopia just before Christmas!
She's our 10th grandchild (4th granddaughter).
Her name is the Ethiopian equivalent of the Biblical name Phoebe... 

who was described by Paul as "our sister who is a servant of the church that is at Cenchrea" and  "a helper of many, and of mine own self" (Rom 16:1,2). "Our (Christian) sister"...shows the church was a family.  The Greek word prostatis translated "helper" is better translated "patroness." The masculine is "the title of a citizen in Athens who took charge of the interests of clients and persons without civic rights" (Denney). Many of the early Christian communities had the appearance of clients under a patron.  Possibly the community of Cenchrea met in Phoebe's house. She also devoted her influence and resources to assist fellow believers landing at that port city. Paul was among those whom she benefited, perhaps on some special occasion!  Some think it may have been what Paul referred to in Acts 18:18 where "the vow" seems to point to a deliverance from danger or sickness in which Phoebe may have attended on him. It is generally assumed that the letter to Rome was carried there by Phoebe with these verses introducing her to the Christian community. In recommending her, Paul asks that the Roman Christians "receive her in the Lord", give her a Christian welcome and  "assist her in whatsoever matter she may have need" of them.

 While the others were busy in the pool, I was busy with my cell phone trying to take a self-portrait capturing the first minutes I spent with  her!  (She smiled much more as the evening progressed.)

 Her brothers enjoyed the pool and the shower -- where the water was much warmer!

Tuesday morning, after coffee at Mika's (our favorite coffee shop in Eureka, IL) we headed south to enjoy dinner with Gary's siblings & their spouses and his mother. After a long trip home last night and a good night's rest in our own bed, we're chomping at the bit to get to work on our "to do lists"! The week is half over already!