From Marilee Tollefson, Faith Community Nurse …
“…Thy justice like mountains, high soaring above Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love…”
These are words of a hymn we sang in church last Sunday, and that goodness and love are what we see so often in the ministry that goes on at church during the week. Many parishioners don’t know about the large medical loan closet we have from member and community donations of medical supplies and equipment. The variety that comes through the door is amazing at times, as are the equally large number of calls requesting things.
These are words of a hymn we sang in church last Sunday, and that goodness and love are what we see so often in the ministry that goes on at church during the week. Many parishioners don’t know about the large medical loan closet we have from member and community donations of medical supplies and equipment. The variety that comes through the door is amazing at times, as are the equally large number of calls requesting things.
Recently Josephine called from VA saying she had an enteral feeding pump which she wanted to donate, among other things. I told her I’d put her on the waiting list, as we rarely got requests for those, and that it was a long distance for our volunteers to drive for a pick-up. She was kindly persistent, calling nearly every week, repeating what an expensive piece of equipment it was, and I repeated our infrequent need, and lack of manpower for the drive to get it.
One day Josephine called to say she was driving over with the pump and her other donations. It was wonderful to meet her and hear her story of caring for her 99 year old father. I placed the pump in my office, wondering how many months it would sit there. That same afternoon, I received a call from a woman caring for her dad who had been discharged from hospice, forcing her to buy all his supplies and equipment out of pocket. She wondered if we ever got in enteral feeding pumps?! Wow! God is good!
These “divine coincidences” happen to us so many times, as the office volunteers will confirm. When the woman came in, she looked at the pump, in pristine condition, tears running down her cheeks, saying “That is exactly what we had for my Dad. Now he can continue to receive his nutrition! I could never have afforded one.” When she left, I called Josephine to tell her how she’d been the hands of Christ to this young woman. We give thanks for God’s provision in our midst.