As I mentioned last month I asked my main volunteer and friend to share her story of what has happened to her since she became a member of this ministry. You can also hear a small testimony from Claudia Borders on the radio show as well.
THE LITTLE SHOP OF MIRACLES by JOEY GARCIA

In August of 2006, I was asked if I could watch this little store at the corner of 12th and Nebraska. All I could do was stutter, for some reason I couldn’t say “no”! I got ready, got a couple of oxygen bottles, and grabbed one of my daughter’s who had agreed to come with me. When we got to the store both Lupe and Gayle were waiting. We both got a crash course on where everything was another crash course on how to use the credit card machine, a price list of some items which included prayer cards and novenas. Then these two nice little ladies ran out the door as my Ceci and I stood in shock. We were reviewing all the things Gayle and Lupe had just told us when Ceci’s cell phone rang. It was her job and they needed her to go in as soon as possible. She called her sister to come pick her up. I was now alone. At this time I decided to walk around the store and look at all the beautiful things on the shelves. I kept walking around very slow until this 3’D picture caught my eyes, it was a beautiful picture of the Virgin De Guadalupe embracing Pope John Paul II, in an instant my eyes welled up with tears and I began to cry. I knew I had to have this picture, it had to come home with me this very day. It didn’t have a price tag on it, I knew I had a twenty dollar bill in my bag so I put it in the register, wrote Gayle a note of what I did and would pay her the balance when she got back.

I felt very lucky that first time at the store when customers came in and asked for things, Thank God I knew where to direct them or I would help them find something. I just figured if I help them find something then I would know where it is. The day went very well. At 5:30 I went next door to get Frank to lock the store. The few hours I spent at the store made me feel alive again and that was a wonderful feeling.
I hoped Gayle would call me and ask me to help her out again as she was helping me more than she could ever know. At that time I didn’t know my son D.J. had already talked to Gayle. She was looking for a volunteer to help out at the store. I wanted to work but who would hire a middle aged woman who had been out of work for at least 15 years with an oxygen tank at her side. I needed to get out of the house and do something. Who would ever know that my way was going to be Gayle Sims.

You see in 2003, August 13 I suffered a heart attack with many other things that were going on in my body not to say the least a severe depression. I was ready to die. I was not afraid of death and I still am not afraid; however working at this little store made me see God’s not ready for me yet. I know now that he has work he wants me to do. In a journal I had written my good byes to my children, my husband, my mother and father. This little store has opened my eyes to a whole new world; a world I always wanted to be in but didn’t know how to get to. I got to listen to people talk about how much they love God, what Jesus Christ has done for them and how the Holy Spirit has touched the depths of their souls. How the Blessed Mother walks with them through good times and bad and of course about the miracles that happen through the prayers of this ministry. I could relate to what they were talking about.

I remember this one lady who was from St. Monica’s Parish who came in looking for prayer cards on the Archangel Raphael. She was very much in a hurry but asked if I had ever read about Raphael in the bible. I said “no”, she said, “he is in the Book of Tobit” in the Old Testament. As she went out the door I took a Bible that was right under the counter and started reading it. I fell in love with St. Raphael the Archangel. Funny thing when I was baptized, my Godparents named me Raphealla, at that time Oct. 24 was the Feast Day of Raphael the Archangel. Also my birthday and also my Godfathers name. I have a devotion to all the Archangels now and of course found out about Gayle’s walk with St. Raphael that is related in the September, 2007 President’s page.
I know of so many miracles for a lot of people just from the time I have been in the store, not just mine but� all the people with faith who come in the store, just walking around, a sense of peace, calm and serenity comes over them as they share their feelings. People walking in saying they have lived in the area for years and never knew the store was here and don’t even know why they are here, I just smile cause I know the Lady of the Store called them in.

I would like to share one more miracle with you. The Pilgrimage Gayle led in 2007 where she went to Lourdes, Fatima and Rome. It started off on a bad note; it did get better as days went by. She would call me as often as she could to find out how I was doing at the store, if I had any problems. She would let me know how things were with her. The day before she went into the water in Lourdes, she called me to let me know she would be going in the water for me, to pray for me for the things that were going on in my body. When I got home that day my husband Rick was sick with the stomach flu. I prayed that I wouldn’t get it as I had the store to take care of. Next morning I got up and realized I had the same thing but got ready and went to the store. I really didn’t feel bad but had to keep running to the rest room. I didn’t hear from Gayle that day but the very next day, no more running or sickness. As Gayle called I told her what had happened to Rick and to me about us being sick, she said “were you sick or just trying to get rid of something”…that made me think.

Well, Gayle finally got home rested and returned to the store. As for me I had a test that I had to take and doctor appointments to keep. My doctor had an ultra sound scheduled for me so I went and had it done, it was of my liver and adrenal gland as I had a mass over both. A week went by, the doctor’s office called to make an appointment for a stomach specialist. I got scared and nervous, talked to Gayle about it and she said “don’t worry about it”. The doctor was going to send me a referral and the results of the ultra sound. When I received them I was both shocked and confused on why I had to go to a stomach specialist, you see there was no longer a mass over my adrenal gland or liver but they did find a small hernia which gave me no trouble. So I showed the paper work to Gayle. We were both very happy as we both knew what happened. IT WAS THE WATER IN LOURDES and the intercession of Our Blessed Mother. I have learned that when Gayle says it is all right, it really is.

After receiving these letters in the mail I decided to make an appointment to see my doctor, I needed to talk to her about why she wanted me to go to a stomach specialist, I really couldn’t afford the co-pay of $25.00. After speaking to her she saw how well I was doing controlling my blood sugar, she had already taken me off my high blood pressure medication. She said we would start cutting the pills and my blood sugar hasn’t gone over 94 where before it would be up to 124 at times. My medication has gone from $173.00 a month to about $45.00 month co-pay and I know it is going to be zero.

So is this a miracle? To me, YES. I remember I was sitting at home getting ready and waiting to die, now I thank God for making the way for me to be in the LITTLE SHOP OF MIRACLES. I can cope with it now with the help of God Almighty, Our Blessed Lady, St. Joseph, St. Anthony and of course now St. Paul.

I have learned that thru him all things are possible.
Yes, I have become the full time volunteer at the store and a Board Member as well. I love every minute of it because every day is different. I have learned to listen and I am also very surprised about some of the things that come out of my mouth, things I didn’t think I knew but realizing the Holy Spirit was helping me to help someone else which is what this ministry is really all about.
There are so many graces and miracles that I would have to spend many, many days just jotting them all down.
Please don’t think I have a perfect life now because I don’t; however , it’s just when things get really bad that I know I can grab my Rosary or call someone in the ministry or just ask God, Lord help me to deal with this! So come! I invite you to visit the Little Shop of Miracles; you don’t have to buy anything because the best part is FREE. You can just look, have a seat or even read a book. You may be surprised and get a little miracle for yourself.

Thank you Joey and May God Bless All of You.

Gayle