Memory Care Wing

Dear Levi,

I want to tell you about my nursing home ministry. I am so happy to be there. The old people are so incredibly precious! And as much as I love the regulars and those “bee bopping” around in their wheelchairs, my heart has been longing for the visitation I used to do in Valporaiso. I miss knocking on Ms. Carol’s door and letter her fuss about the way her furniture is arranged, the birds in the feeder out the window, the television channel. I miss tiptoeing up to Jack’s bed and putting a soft kiss on his cold, wrinkly forehead, reaching around the oxygen machine that smothered his voice. He cried when he saw me, big, silent tears making silent trails down his ashed grey cheeks. I knew he was dying… the cancer was killing him faster and faster each week. I sang to him until he drifted back into unconsciousness, and then it was my turn to cry. I was there before the day he died, screaming wordless garbles around the trach tube, not a soul in the world knowing he was there in those walls, caring for his pitiful struggles for that lost breath.

It is such a comfort to know that God sees each seemingly insignificant existence. He sees me, too. And I want to be some small measure of love ot these silver headed lives fading into dust beyond the halls of sterile death.

I spoke to Bro. Don after services and he said that they do not do anything for the bedridden wing. I was so sad and asked if I could come early and visit them in their rooms? Maybe read to them a psalm, sing them a hymn, pray with them? And he said, “If you want to head up your own ministry in that wing, by all means, go forward, girl!” He and his wife went with me to talk to the administration, and ten minutes later I walked out with the codes to both the bedridden and memory care wings and over 100 precious old souls at my door. I couldn’t help but tremble in joy at the opportunity. What a responsibility… I am so humbled God would allow me to even be here. It’s overwhelming. I spoke to a couple of the Heartland girls about coming early to visit with me, and urged them to be praying about it.

I can’t believe it, I have my own ministry to people so far unreached. Wow!! I know Satan will try to hinder me, and I’m praying really hard. This means so much to me. Thank you for encouraging me to start back up this ministry, thank you, thank you, Levi.

Your star,

Rigel