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Volunteer Profile

Joe & Mary Selander

Joe and Mary Selander have been volunteers at Midland Living Center in Council Bluffs for the past two years. Everyone seems to bring their own unique gifts to their residents and Joe and Mary have developed their own style as well. It seems they are adaptable to the changes that take place too. They used to take the mail to all of the residents, but now that they have established relationships with five or six new friends they spend time a couple of hours a week visiting with them. They like to focus on relationship building. Of course Joe and Mary are familiar faces at Midland now, and as they walk down the hallways they are greeted by many.

Mary’s brother, who has a ministry to nursing homes in Georgia, visited recently and joined them with his guitar and his old favorite Gospel songs. The residents had a great sing-a-long and a very special service.

Prayer is a very important part of the Selander's life so they enjoy asking their friends at Midlands if they need prayer for anything. Even the people that don’t believe the same as Joe and Mary will ask for prayer for themselves or loved ones. Of course, most all of the residents love music and so do the Selander's, so they also offer to sing a hymn or two as they visit.

I visited Midlands with the Selander's on Friday. What a blessing they are. As they go to each of the rooms of their friends that they visit, they take with them a spirit of love that cannot be mistaken. The residents greet them with wholehearted anticipation. You can see in their eyes that they feel special, that someone has taken the time to come out and be with them for a while. At the same time the Selander's bring a message of hope to a lonely home. A bright smile, warm greeting, and a little time, go many miles in a nursing home.

Thank you Joe and Mary for your gift of time and love to the lonely and forgotten.

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