Elsie H. Brunk was no stranger to difficult times. Her mother died when she was 3 years old and her "Grammy" (who was raising her) died when Elsie was 13. Difficult teen years followed and at age 17, Elsie experienced an emotional breakdown. She discovered that it is through the on-going difficulties that we learn many of life's most important lessons, especially spiritual lessons such as patience, endurance, dependency on God, and a deep trust in Him. Elsie was a devoted wife of nearly 66 years, mother to four grown children and their spouses, grandmother to twelve, and great-grandmother to nine. In earlier years, she was a foster mom to five teenage girls and two pre-teen boys (not all at once!). Elsie found joy in bringing encouragement to those who felt forgotten. She regularly visited shut-ins, sharing conversations, puzzles, domino games, and uplifting reading materials. Her passion for photographing the beauty of God's creation-birds, flowers, trees, clouds, sunsets, and sunrises-revealed her deep appreciation for the world around her. Though Elsie passed away in April 2024, her legacy lives on through Encouragement in the Wilderness, a book that continues to provide hope and comfort to those navigating life's toughest moments.