Some of the activities our volunteers are bringing to their elder friends are, music, Bible study, crafts, reading, writing, games and cards, sing a longs, and motorcycles, to mention a few. While there are many others who go from room to room to visit with their friends and just talk and listen.

          Some go at meal time, as I usually do, and pour coffee and chat along the way. Most ask their friends if they need prayer. Once you have established your relationship with the residents it becomes easy to ask and just strengthens the bond between you by showing that you really do care.

           I recently received an application for volunteering with Desert Ministries from a woman that said her mother had died and her elderly father had become quite withdrawn when a volunteer in the town where he lived started visiting and just doing things with him that he enjoyed. Within weeks this man started dressing up for dinner and talking to the other residents in his assisted living.

           She said, “now he is 82 yrs. old and has started looking and acting like he is 70.” She would like to volunteer with us because her father is not in Omaha but she would like to help others in her father’s position. If someone can develop a relationship with an elder who has all but given up, and make such a huge difference in his life, she knew she could be making a difference too.

          All this to say that this is what you are doing. You are making a difference. This world of ours that is so full of busyness and selfishness is still filled with people that are willing to give of themselves by serving others.

          And you are among those that have been heeding the call. You are developing relationships at the nursing homes, with people that are put away and forgotten, considered not to be a contributing member of society, no longer the lovely people, the old, decrepit and forgetful. The people that are still beautiful in the eyes of God.

          We had a wonderful time of fellowship and developing relationship and sharing about our relationships with the elderly at our Volunteer Luncheon Saturday, and as always we went away with the knowledge that God has blessed us even more than we are blessing others.

            Our next meeting will be June 30th at St. Joseph Tower. We will be having a day long retreat. Probably from 10:00A.M. to 3:00 P.M. We will provide lunch and have a surprise speaker. I say surprise because I don’t know who it is yet. I promise that it will be well worth attending and as always, time for sharing and relationship!

Mark your calendar!

          Huntington Park is not a fancy facility It is older and not very big, with about 100 residents. But when the Boland's come on Monday they are well received by the residents as well as the staff. Since they have been there for so long and are so faithful there are a lot of greetings as we walked down the halls.

          Many ask for prayer or just share if something has happened that week. Pat and Denise visit with several friends together and then split up so that Pat can visit a few of the men and Denise chats with a few of the ladies in the dining room.

          I met a retired nun friend of the Boland's who attends their bible study and had missed this morning. So we just went and found her. She had been to therapy and was disappointed that she couldn’t make it but promised to be there the next week.

          Pat and I went to see Steve, who had been feeling under the weather. I always enjoy going to the residents rooms because you can see what is important to them. Steve is no exception. He is an Elvis buff! And what a collection of memorabilia.

          Pictures, calendars, cars, and one of the staff had gone to Graceland and brought him back a street sign that said ELVIS PRESLEY DR. In fact I believe that is where he got most of his collection, from staff members who had brought him things. He also had a great music collection of old Elvis tapes and CDs.

          I thank you Pat and Denise for allowing me to share your time with your friends at Huntington. You are truly a blessing and a light that shines brightly in the nursing home.