In the Aboriginal culture it is shameful to have a family member in a nursing home. It’s sad but a reality here in Katherine, Australia.
On Friday, my team had the opportunity to go with a local pastor to attend their weekly 30 minute church service. As we met the precious people and were welcomed by them I wasn’t sure what to expect. I watched those with walkers, the man pushed in his wheelchair, and the blind man assisted by his cane gather for their 30 minutes of fellowship with people from the outside.
They sang a few classic hymns and finished with the song they have to sing every week because it is their favorite: “Jesus Loves Me.” Tears came to my eyes as a videotaped those who were singing at the top of the aged lungs; singing proudly about their Jesus who loved them. When we finished singing a blind man named Dandy sang it again for us in his native tongue (not sure how it said or spelled). He also sang “Follow Follow” in English and his language. I was again reminded of how it doesn’t matter what country we are in or what language is being spoken, we are all one in the family of God. We are all His children, no matter the race or tongue.
When the service was finished we got to continue fellowshipping with them. We were entertained for over a half an hour by two very special men. Stanley is only 48 but confined to a wheelchair after a car accident and a stroke. Due to the stroke his speech is impaired and he uses basic finger spelling to get out some words. The other man was a relative of his named Allen. When Allen arrived (late) he brought with him his guitar and his straw hat. He loved to play his guitar and sing, regardless of the fact that he didn’t have any teeth. His face lit up as he sang his favorite hymns keeping rhythm with his guitar.
Allen and Stanley had a game for us. Stanley would finger spell initials and we had to guess who he was thinking of. Mickey Mouse, Billy the Kid, Chuck Berry, and Clint Eastwood were just a few. The men showed us their muscles and told us that they were Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee. We were all laughing so hard. My teammate Bek was named Blondie by Stanley because of her hair and I received the name Stalk as I reminded him of a tall beanstalk.
