Our visit to Peacehaven Nursing Home has been changed from Tuesday to Monday. It really does not matter to us which day of the week. We are volunteers and gladly fit in with the Home's programme.
So yesterday was a busy day conducting chapel service and visiting the residents.
I felt rather sad when one of our salvationists asked me again why their pastor has not been to see him. We did pass on the message to his Corps Officer (pastor) but somehow no visit has been made to this day. While my wife and I do what we can to minister to the people, the folk still long to see their own pastor.
I recall en elderly Salvationist now in her nineties saying to us one day that she knew her pastor loved coke, so she bought coke and kept in her refrigerator and waited for him or his wife to visit. Three years later she had to throw the coke away. The pastor did not visit her at all throughout his term as her pastor. How tragic.
I recall in my younger days, it was mandatory for the Corps Officer (pastor) to clock a minimum of 18 hours a week. Has the rule changed? Do we need rules to practise our pastoral role?
I don't know how our Corps officers bond with their folk? There are many lonely folk, especially the sick and elderly longing for the pastor to call.
Some leaders seem to have time for facebook and twitter, but when have no time to visit their folk to minister to them in their homes.
So every Monday now, we go round to chat with the residents, listen to their stories, share their pain or joy and be a blessing to them and if they are agreeable pray with them.In turn we are blest.
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