In October 2010, I started volunteering with the Not
Alone Ministry through my church. This
program matches volunteers with individuals in local nursing homes who might
not have family in the area or at all to visit them.
I have been privileged to have the
opportunity to visit with two different people since starting 2+ years
ago. My last person, Miss Claire, passed
in March. When I learned of this news, I
let the coordinator at my church know that I was in need of a new person.
However, with a busy summer of babysitting
and working on my portfolio as well as working multiple jobs, I was not as proactive
as I should have been in being reassigned to a new person. Both the coordinator and I dropped the ball
on this task but in December, just before Christmas, I received a call from the
coordinator asking if I needed a Walmart gift card to buy some Christmas gifts for my
person. He had not realized that I was
never assigned to a new person. Through
that phone call, we resumed conversation and got back on track with finding me a new
person to visit.
The facility in which I
volunteered for both of my people in the past, was under new management and had
new protocols to follow so I was told I needed to submit a volunteer
application packet, have clearances be done, and get a TB shot. To be honest, I was a bit irritated with what I
deemed as unnecessary since I had already volunteered for over 2 years in this facility
and am not a criminal. Ah, how I need to grow in humility!!
However, I
understood why this procedure is in place and respected the fact that the new
supervisor was implementing these (or perhaps reinforcing?) changes.
So, upon returning to NC in
January, I filled out the application packet that was sitting in my pile of
mail from when I had been out of the state.
I provided the basic information but did not elaborate on my
responses. So, you can imagine my
surprise when this next little twist in fate occurred.
I received an email from the supervisor saying that she
took note of my willingness to volunteer “in-house” versus “out-house”. This means that I am willing to visit my
person in the facility rather than only communicate via phone or cards. She excitedly shared with me in her email
that she has a potential match for me.
The gentleman’s son lives out of state and has only one request……
Hold on, hold on, I’m going to be assigned to a male
patient?? My other two people I was
paired up with were women so I had naturally assumed that I would be matched
with female patients…
Time out….before I tell you the rest of this story, I
need to tell you about my New Year’s resolution for 2013. I don’t do resolutions, especially New Year’s
ones because I NEVER keep them. However,
in October 2012, Pope Benedict XVI declared Oct. 2012 to Nov. 2013 to be the
Year of Faith. During this time, us
Catholics are encouraged to renew & further grow in our faith whether it be through
committing more random acts of kindness, attending mass more often, reading the
Bible, learning more about our Catechism via faith formation classes, etc.
Well, for quite some time, I had been wanting
to try to increase my bible reading since I tend to devote time to it during
Lent and not throughout the rest of the year. So, over Christmas, when home for the
holidays, I was elated to be invited to participate in a 90 Day Bible ReadingChallenge that makes finding the time to read the bible much more attainable (especially when time is so limited)…the reading
passages come straight to your email (assignments are usually 4 or 5 chapters
per day) with a reading reflection question to ponder as you read. Finally, there is an online discussion forum
in which people can share their responses to the reflection and/or share other
thoughts that came up for them as they read the daily chapters. I love participating in this 90 Day Bible
Reading Challenge that began on January 1st and will end at Easter
and am even finding that at times, I’m learning more from the online discussion
postings!!
Ok, time in (back to my nursing home story)!
So, this man’s son, who lives out of state, has ONE
request for his father…..he would like for someone to read Scripture to
him. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is not a religious nursing home. I don’t know if the patient is a Catholic
(but it doesn’t matter if he isn’t b/c I can still read from his bible). I’m not sure the supervisor knows I’m
volunteering through a program at my
church since this email was sent as a response to my generic only the basics
were given application that I mailed in a month after it was sent to me (due to
being away for the holidays).
As if that were not enough of a coincidence….in further
email communication with the supervisor, it was revealed that this patient is
DEAF. !!!!!!!!!!!!! He does not use sign language to communicate
so I’m not sure if he lost his hearing with advanced age or not. Regardless, the supervisor, again did not
know of my connection with hearing loss.
She was flabbergasted to learn that I taught students with hearing loss
for 8 years and am currently working on my PhD with Professions in Deafness as
my concentration in Specialized Education Services…what are the odds?!
How funny that it’s been 11 months since I first sought a
new person to be assigned to but for whatever reason, events didn’t pan out
until now…I hope this experience helps me to increase in humility & walk through more doors as I grow in faith. I am so excited to meet my new person this week and to learn more
about him!
You are truly living your faith...so yes God has a hand in these things.
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