When we arrived, Praxis ECM (Elderly Care Ministry) took us around to “pick-up” residents who wanted to join us for service. Jessie walked with Bessie to service (which was right down the hall), who at the age of 94 was still insistent that she pick up her own hefty bible and push her way to service with her walker. It was truly an honor to meet her, as she was a missionary in China in the early 1930s for many years. Though she couldn’t recount many details of that experience or of her life to us, there was a resounding look of joy, peace and godliness in her eyes that told the story of her (almost a century-old!) faithfulness in Christ, or Christ’s faithfulness to her. Students combed the halls inviting anyone they saw, bringing anyone who wanted to come. When we entered the service area, we were warmly greeted with Carmelita’s friendly and vibrant Italian “hello” (She’s the woman in in the picture above). We started with praise, singing “Your Love is Deep” and “This is My Father’s House,” and followed with a message from John 14:1-4, in which we talked about heaven and how God has prepared a room, a place, for each of his children, and how God wants to prepare a place for each person, but that we first have to choose to enter into God’s house through Christ. We mingled, we embraced, we laughed. We listened to stories of hardship and resilience, we held the hands of those who could listen but not respond. As we interacted with precious people nearing the end of their lives, all of us were forced to look at the life ahead of us and wonder if we were living in a way we’d be proud of at the end of our journeys. All of us left glowing, and shared how we were impacted by the visit at lunch at Crossroads. All of us were wondering “When are we going back? Connecting with and loving people God’s way and through God’s eyes, always leaves you wanting more. We went to bring some joy and warmth to the elderly there, but as in many instances in trying to love others, we ourselves received much, much more!
