THE CARE GIVING SHIRT

I watched as my floral patterned shirt morphed into a favorite.  It became a meaningful piece of clothing I often wore on care giving assignments.
It became a familiar piece of clothing.  Besides being soft, a great fit, with vibrant colors it caught the attention of those I cared for and those I was fortunate to visit in the hospital.  It soon became a symbol that reflected my care giving.

Although this shirt is not worn much anymore, it hides many memories from the road behind me. 
It even captured the attention of my then three year-old granddaughter who asked why I was not wearing my "colorful" shirt again the next day. 


Surprising-first-days CLICK HERE 

LABOURERS TOGETHER

Labourers Together With God

   1 Corinthians 3:9

JUNE 13, 1947

 ^"For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building."

⁽ “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.”)

For we are God’s fellow workers;

"

Looking At The Big Picture-1955

"Paul uses the possessive “God’s” three times, making the term “God” emphatic. Those who serve God belong to God as His fellow ministers. Here we are God’s “fellow workers.” The point is not that we are workers for God but workers who belong to God"

you are God’s field,

"The sphere of labor is God’s “field.” The sphere of our labor is where God wants us to labor. The word “field” carries the idea of cultivated field. We work on God’s farm, not ours. God provides the sun and rain and the photosynthesis."

You are God’s building!

ON THE TRAIL

The church is “God’s building.” A building needs both a foundation and a superstructure. Paul laid the foundation and Apollos erected the superstructure under God.

PRINCIPLE:

The entire RESULT of God’s work is completely HIS.

 Dad's efforts in visiting remote villages,only accessible by foot or horse, would later reveal remarkable results.  The inspiration of those first years treks were conducted in 1949 in the shadow of newly married life and the motto "We are Laborers for Christ", and in the shadow of previous missionaries, fired by youthful imaginations, they set out for  remote villages that were not friendly toward the gospel.  Those were volatile days.

DAD

Dad was more of a visitation circuit rider than a missionary.  As a speaker he was not perfect but he personally addressed matters of concern to his hearers. Although he may not have been prepared for some of the opposition toward the gospel, he did have the courage to continue on.  He did not advertise his meetings to many of those villages.  He used great discretion, and endeared himself to the people and local authorities when possible.  As Hudson Taylor became "Chinese",so Dad became "Mexican".  He had an appreciation for the language and a deep respect for the culture.
His journey's  were nothing short of remarkable given the difficulties of traveling in those days, let alone the animosity of those rooted in religious opposition to the gospel and danger he witnessed sharing it.

"Dr. Livingston, I presume?".

 I can only imagine how wonderful, yet daunting those first visits were and Mother was ready to go on some of them.  My mother was delighted to make music and was constantly looking for promising students.  The accordion was her constant companion.

Dad on our young mare, Trixi (?)

It is a credit to the endurance and tenacity that they accomplished as much as they did.  Even when they retired from Mexico, they continued in various ministries.

A Great Respect for God's Word

To me Dad was just my Dad and Mother was just my mom.  He had a sweet relationship with God and extended grace to all. Insights that reflect the greatness of Dad  he was dependent on prayer and God had put a message in his heart to go tell the people of Mexico about God's love.

MOTHER

One re occurring theme emerges, Dad made people a priority.  God put many people into his path.
 

.

MOTHER & DAD

A DEVOTION TO RELATIONSHIP my brothers perspective  click here

 THE CALLING click here for how God called Dad into missionary service.

THE WHITE T-SHIRT- click here

LIVE SO AS TO BE MISSED-Early years click here 

BUSTED AT THE BORDER click here 

READY TO FOLLOW -click here 

MY MOTHER'S NOTEBOOK, What were they thinking? click here 

CRYSTAL FLAKES FROM HEAVEN ~2005

The anticipation was mounting.  We continued to drive farther up the interstate.   The frozen piles of snow along the roadside soon gave way to endless blankets of snow as we reached the Emigrant Gap exit.

  The narrow road into camp was flanked with piles of snow on each side, we slowly made our way the last few miles.  Anticipating our arrival our son had plowed the snow earlier that morning.

He met us at the first gate. With only the tops of the orange snow stakes visible, the road led us to the first campground parking lot where we left our vehicle and hiked up the last mile. 
The feeling and excitement mounted as the snow banks increased in height forming a tunnel-like effect.  We trudged on, we noticed icicles forming on the tops of the snow bank that faced the sun. The snow glistened giving a sparkling, crystal effect.
"There are no words to describe to full extent the peacefulness and the magical feeling snow transmits", the feeling of being in a dream but not actually being in the dream.  Until this moment my knowledge of snow was limited.

 We walked on endlessly.  The bright sunlight, a deep blue sky and the snow draped world became a momentous day.  The air was fresh and crisp.  The beauty of snow covered trees is inescapable.
Just when I thought the road would never end and rounding that last bend an amazing, magical, world appeared. I stood in awe at what loomed ahead.
I was so overwhelmed, the beauty was breath taking, the lake was frozen and covered with snow, giving you the false illusion that one could just walk on over to the other side.  It was one of those memories that I wanted to hold onto as long as I could.
The tranquility and peacefulness was broken only by our foot step crackling sounds,and  an occasional joyful comment.

This was one of those times when one experiences the beauty and glorious art of the natural world that God has created for us to enjoy.  Can you imagine what the last bend in our life journey will behold as we round that last curve and see Jesus?

“Thank goodness for the first snow, it was a reminder--no matter how old you became and how much you'd seen, things could still be new if you were willing to believe they still mattered.”  ~Candace Bushnell

FIRST INTRODUCTION TO CARE GIVING

The realities of first-time experiences drastically changed my perception of nursing homes and work as a nurses aide.

At the age of 19 and out of desperation for a summer job, I joined the nursing team at the Alliance Convalescent Hospital in Glendale in the late 1960’s.  My mother worked in the kitchen and my father worked in landscaping.
Little did I realize or have appreciation for walking, breathing or feeding oneself.  I barely knew how to lock and operate a wheelchair.  Clad in a light, white classic pant suit in vogue those days, I began my first day.
My first few days were spent shadowing one of the other aides.  I won’t forget the shock of seeing bedsores that had eaten away someones flesh to the bone and lost limbs due to diabetes.
I won’t forget how quick I was thrown out on the floor to manage on my own.  I did not feel comfortable or confident and basically learned by observation and on the job.  I often felt overwhelmed by the conditions of those in my care and would go home exhausted.

I have never forgotten the smells ingrained in my nostrils, the fish market smell of UTI’s and of a hundred things that can go wrong with the bowels and preventing the next recreational adventure.
To offset my college expenses, I again worked at a nursing home that was located across the street from school in Portland.
After graduating from college, I moved to Southern California.  Unable to secure a job in other areas, I began working at the Broadview Convalescent Hospital in Glendale.
These experiences led to many other opportunities to work in senior care through out my life.  Some of them were short term while others were longer.
If I could sum up in one word what I learned from those years, it would be PATIENCE.