Homegoing of Joseph Carroll
Joseph Carroll, founder of the Evangelical Institute, went to be with the Lord this past Thursday, August 7.

There will be a private service for the Carroll family, Senior (staff children are welcome) & Junior Staff and caregivers in EI's auditorium Sunday afternoon tentatively set for 3:00. Afterwards there will be a small graveside service for the Carroll family only.

Anyone desirous may drop food off at the Carroll's home for the family on Sunday. The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, gifts be sent either to EI or to the GC Medical Fund.

For the public, there will be a memorial service on Saturday, August 30 (Labor Day weekend). The time is yet to be decided for that service.

Below are testimonies from the last two caregivers to interact with him.

Anda:
Yesterday, when I went to stay with Mr. and Mrs. Carroll for the night, he was rejoicing. Around 4:00 a.m., I changed his position in bed and we talked a little. He smiled at me like a happy, peaceful child. When I next checked on him, a little before 8:00 a.m., he had gone to be with the Lord. The Lord took Mr. Carroll while he slept.

Brooke's journal entry about Wednesday evening:
Last night as I was turning Mr. Carroll [around 8:00 p.m.] Anda asked him why he was grinning so--what was he thinking about? To which he replied fondly, "The Lord." Anda laughed and asked if the Lord was always on his mind. "I should hope so!" He exclaimed gently. When I came in about three hours later to change and turn him, he was still smiling broadly. As I worked, he said (in a voice with the excitement akin to that of a child at Christmas) "Ten minutes with Jesus!.. you must help me think of what to ask Him." I stopped what I was doing, laid a hand on his chest, and told him he didn't need to ask Him anything--that being in His presence, waiting at His feet, was enough. Mr. Carroll agreed. "Early morn with Jesus!" he exclaimed. Truth be told, I almost thought he was going to leave right then. Because he told me with a sigh after a long, thoughtful silence, "Well, I guess I'd better be going now." I asked him just where he was going. He looked surprised that I didn't know. "Ten minutes with Jesus!" Throughout the half hour I was there, he talked about how 10 minutes isn't a lot of time, but it would have to do.

And when I prepared to go, I asked him if he needed anything else.

"Three hours," he answered whimsically, his eyes twinkling. I knew what he meant. I told him good night and turned off the lights. Not thirty seconds went by when he called me back again. "Would you turn the light on, please? It's hard to think on Jesus in the dark."

[that's the end of my entry]

I'm blown away by that. How different his spirit was to that of other Alzheimer patients I've been around. His spirit seemed to be thriving though his mind was waning. What an incredible testimony!
Brooke