[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2466]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MS. PAULINE WHITE

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to a woman who 
has answered a call to service, and given so freely of herself over the 
course of her fruitful lifetime. Ms. Pauline White of Cumberland, KY, 
has not ceased giving to her fellow man, even though she is entering 
her 80s. Contrary to what one may think, Ms. White has not let her age 
stop her from participating in the missionary work that is so dear to 
her heart.
  Ms. White, who was working as a missionary in Sebring, FL, at the 
Association for Retarded Citizens in 2002, felt that she was called by 
God to come and bring aid to eastern Kentucky. She put up a ``For 
Sale'' sign in her yard, and called a few of her lady friends to come 
over and help her begin to pack her belongings. Just a few hours later 
a couple knocked on the door, asked about the price of the house, and 
ended up buying the house in cash later that day. Ms. White did not 
worry about selling her house for long, which she believed was just 
another sure sign from God that her journey to Kentucky was part of His 
plans.
  Ms. White is now the director of Shepherd's Pantry, an outreach 
program in Cumberland, KY, that provides food for 500 to 900 low-income 
families on the second Wednesday of each month. Families that 
participate in the program are assigned appointments to come to the 
pantry and receive what Ms. White and her volunteers have worked so 
hard to prepare for them. At the pantry, the families are given food, 
personal hygiene items, and treats for their children. But according to 
Ms. White, the most important thing the families receive from 
Shepherd's Pantry is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The volunteers at the 
pantry drop gospel tracts in each of the bags that the families 
receive, and then they wait for the Lord to move. The staff is always 
available to provide those in need with spiritual counseling.
  Along with their aid of food to families in need, Shepherd's Pantry 
also distributes government commodities to low-income families, 
supplies breakfast for schoolchildren, and provides snacks to mission 
groups throughout the area.
  Shepherd's Pantry has attracted volunteers from as far as Florida, 
and as close as London, KY. The volunteers come to witness God's work 
in the community. And according to Ms. White, they have yet to be 
disappointed. She says that God performs miracles week after week.
  Ms. White recalls one instance when the computer wiped out all of the 
names of the Pantry's clients and addresses. The staff tried just about 
everything to get the computer to turn back on, but nothing seemed to 
help. After much praying, the computer miraculously booted up and 
printed all 500 names, addresses, and emails. Upon hearing about the 
phenomenon, the mail station company said ``No way!'' Ms. White 
responded with, ``Yes, God's way!''
  Ms. White has no intentions of ending her mission work anytime soon. 
She has handpicked a Bible verse in Psalms Chapter 91, Verse 11, which 
is very dear to her heart: ``For he will command his angels concerning 
you to guard you in all your ways.'' In Sebring, FL, in 2002, Ms. White 
heard a preacher speak of a lady who was still serving the Lord at 86 
years old. She thought to herself, ``I still have 14 years to go!'' Ms. 
White offers this advice to other ``old folks'': ``When he calls, I 
think you need to consider his call and not your age.''
  The service and good works of Ms. Pauline White and Shepherd's Pantry 
have contributed mightily to the town of Cumberland, the surrounding 
region, and the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky. Ms. White is providing 
nourishment not just for her neighbors' bellies, but also for their 
spirits. Mr. President, at this time I would like to ask my colleagues 
in the U.S. Senate to join me in commemorating the great service of Ms. 
Pauline White.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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