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Lawrence Esmond and Ethel Phillips Bush met while attending White Oak Baptist Church with their families. Lawrence's family had moved to Greensboro from Bladen County, while Ethel's family arrived here from Chatham County.

They married Sept. 26, 1926.

Lawrence Bush worked for Virginia Life Insurance Company and later for Cone Mills. Ethel Bush worked at Cone Mills until she was 48, then took a cosmetology course and worked as a hairdresser until her retirement in 1972.

The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1976 among friends and family. Lawrence Bush died in 1978.

Ethel Bush turned 102 this past June.

As her birthday approached, Ethel Bush's family pondered how to honor their beloved matriarch while remembering their father and grandfather in a special way.

In their honor, family members have raised money to build a church in Bangladesh.

Because she suffers from dementia, Ethel Bush in unaware of the gift in her honor. She still recognizes her seven children, which is a blessing for the family. They are: Lawrence Bush Jr., Dorothy Hoyle, Mary Francis Puckett, Johnny Avery Bush, Florence Ann Hipp, Ben J. Bush and Albert M. Bush.

Ethel Bush also has 15 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren.

Hoyle, the oldest daughter, remembers her mother loved to sing. Bush taught the oldest three children how to sing hymns in parts. Hoyle remembers well one particular Easter when they sang at church.

She also remembers her mother as a disciplinarian who did not allow anyone to talk back to her. Hoyle remembers her mother working hard, rising early to do the wash and hanging it outside on cold mornings.

All the surviving adult children live near their mother. For the past five years, they have taken turns staying with her night and day, enabling her to live in her own home.

Hospice has helped the family in various ways for the past year. The family knows it would be impossible for them to get their mother to doctor appointments without Hospice assistance.

The idea to build a church in the Bushes' honor was sparked by family member Harlie Miller, who had taken a trip to Bangladesh earlier in the year. Through service there, the family became acquainted with the work being done in the remote villages. The family learned about donations that enabled Christians to build churches in this predominately Muslim nation.

It costs $8,000 to build a church in one of the villages of Bangladesh. This covers the cost of land, digging a well and constructing a building large enough to seat 100 people.

Often, the well provides a village with its only source of underground fresh water.

The money also would provide for two to three rooms to be built at the church to serve as living quarters for the pastor and his family. There is no need for seats because people are accustomed to sitting on the floor inside.

There's no need for a parking lot either, because everyone walks or rides a bike to the church.

Miller sent out a brochure about the project earlier this year to family members to see if they would like to raise money for the church to be built.

Money came in through Miller's church, Gospel Baptist Church on Church Street in Greensboro, earmarked for the Ethel Project.

This money will be sent to the American Baptist World Evangelism office in Harrisburg, Pa., which will then send it to Bangladesh to build a church.

As of a few weeks ago, the family had raised more than enough to build the church.

Because of this special gift, the gospel message of Jesus Christ will be preached in a church in a village far away, leaving an impact on eternity beyond what we can imagine.

Linda Vestal is a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend living in Gibsonville. Contact her with comments or story ideas at lindavestal@triad.rr.com.