Nursing Home Shenanigans

wahoofoundation.org

Set the scene. 2:35 pm. Saturday afternoon. Smell of bleach in the background as I walk down the hall and see Ms. O, an 80 year old Russian woman.

Ms. Olga: "Excuse me, Miss. Can you please go through that door for me. They won't let me."

Me: (reads the sign on door: EMPLOYEES ONLY) "I'm sorry, Ms. Olga. I can't go back there either. I don't work here."

Ms. O: "But I really just want those M&Ms right there. See them?"

Me: "Ha-ha, yes, I do."
Ms. O: "So if I watch the door while you buy the M&Ms (slips $2 in my pocket) we should be ok. You can keep the change, Sweet Pea." (She winks at me)

Me: (Chuckles aloud.) "Ms. Olga, (slips the $2 outta my pocket) I'm gonna go grab a nurse and ask her about your M&Ms, ok?"

Hi there. So, as a part of the urban "missionary work" I do we go to nursing homes. Ok so a nursing home doesn't sound very "urban" but the residents inside are still very important to God, thus, important to us! Just stopping by to see them makes their day.  Knowing that SOMEONE cares about them is very heart-warming for them and for us. Visiting the sick and the elderly is sometimes rewarding and sometimes just downright heartbreaking.  Being able to visit chipper old ladies like Ms. O, Ms. Jones, and Ms. Georgia and love on them with the love of Christ humbles me every time. While some of them are believers, others are not. Of course the "believing residents" are excited to have another believer stop by so they can GUSH about the "goodness of Jesus! And ALLLL He's done for me!" We love to visit believers in any of the places we go to to remind them that other believers still care and the fellowship is so encouraging for all of us! It is a greater pleasure to meet with the unbelievers because we may have an opportunity to share the Gospel and to pray with them. What keeps me returning to the nursing home, homeless shelter, and other places we do ministry is the reminder of the words of Jesus about the "least of these" in Matthew 25:31-40:

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him,then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,you did it to me.'