This month I am visiting a nursing home. This means I am going to be stretched and out of my comfort zone that my Father is teaching me. I’m so happy for this ministry because I have two new friends named Olympia and Cesar.
When we walked into the building, there were two sections to the place we go as they are finishing lunch time. We walked into the back and there was this little lady that caught my eye sitting alone and away from the group. At first I was nervous and scared because she looked like she could be a feisty one. But I took a breath and remembered to look at everyone like Jesus would. So I braved it and walked towards her and sat on the ground. Out of nowhere she started to talk and I just kept listening to her.
Olympia is from the countryside of Guatemala so her dialect is different, thanks to a teammate that was able to tell me this. Every day since then, I sit with Olympia and I try to get her to participate in any activities that we plan. The first time we were coloring she would not have anything to do with it, so I drew little pictures and tried to say them in Spanish. But just recently, we were coloring again and she actually participated and she colored. I was so happy that I almost had the Holy Spirit giggles, but held them back because I did not want to scare her. I felt like a little kid again.
Olympia and Me
Another time she participated in an activity where we threw a ball in a circle and man, Olympia has an arm! She actually laughed at something that happened in the circle with the ball. It was so awesome to hear her laugh and her smile is so beautiful too. In seeing Olympia every day, I have seen a change in her and I pray that she keeps smiling and participates with the next group that comes. I also hope that she gets involved with the other people in the nursing home.
Cesar lives in the front section of the nursing home. He looks like he could have been a doctor or something in that status. He is such a sweet old man and one thing he loves to do is play a card game called “Seven”. If you know me, you know I am not a big game player of any kind. By letting go, I played and I have noticed Cesar just likes the company of the people around him. He likes the visits because I found out that his family does not visit him that much.
Cesar and me playing the game called 7
So this month I am so happy to bring smiles to the elderly people at this nursing home. My views have changed and hope that when I get home I would visit someone in a nursing home. Just having a visitor every day brightens their day. I am happy that my Father has opened my eyes and heart.
