Serving at Community Impact changed my life!
My name is Donna Huttenhoff - Team leader for Covenant Village
I definitely would recommend Covenant Village remain on the list of Community Impact events because it was such a positive experience for everyone who participated: residents, employees, and visitors as well as those of us from Community Christian Church.
There are so many things I could select as "GREAT", however, if one is to be mentioned, I would say, the greatest joy, the greatest moment, is to witness the transformation in an elderly person from lonely to joyous solely because of a visit from someone who cares.
Participating in Community Impact, specifically volunteering at Covenant Village, was and still is, one of the best things that has happened in my life.
When I signed up to serve at CV, my first thoughts were to check it out for my parents and considering that I enjoyed being around older people, it wasn't "work" or hard to do....just a little time out of my day. No big deal. Serving others was (and is) what Jesus called us to do, and I was gladly submitting. However, what I anticipated versus what I experienced, was so God!
As a volunteer group visiting a nursing/assisted living facility our main objective was to bring some smiles, happiness and hopefully, laughter to the residents. Many of these elderly men and women live alone, only being cared for by the employees ( who I might add do a superb job! ). Many of their families and/or friends live elsewhere or are deceased, hence few visits from the "outside" world. Rarely are children seen, so you can just imagine what our group resonated as we trouped through the doors. A mom and dad with young children, ladies ready to play balloon volleyball and hearts ready to pour out love and compassion. We brought LIFE and it was sweet. But it didn't stop there for me, I had an extra bonus, I met Mr. John Brooks. My new friend for life.
We all know God's timing is always perfect, but it amazes me how He orchestrates events and blesses our lives when we least expect it. John needed a friend and I needed to be a friend. You see, John's only daughter lives far away, he hasn't any other family here and has only one male friend that rarely visits. His world is the confounds of CV assisted living. He refers to his living arrangements as "assisted dying" which grieves my heart. I, on the other hand, have a husband, two children (both in college), aging parents, loads of activities and commitments, yet I was forever asking God...."what do you want me to do with my time?" John Brooks and his fellow residents were my answer. Serve the elderly. Give a smile, a hug, a chat, a cookie, a song....all the things we take for granted, but what so many of their lives are missing.
No matter how busy my days are, God always finds a way to add the time for my weekly visits to Covenant Village. It has been a blessing to me and to my family. My children and I took John to Rain Forest Cafe and truly, I do not know who enjoyed it more. This is what I want my son and daughter to see and know....God's love abounds, He gives it unconditionally to us and we are to share it with all.
My heartfelt thanks to Nancy May for her leadership and guidance of Community Impact. It is such a wonderful outreach that blesses all who participate....can't wait for the next one!!
From the bottom of my heart,
Your sister in Christ,
Donna
I definitely would recommend Covenant Village remain on the list of Community Impact events because it was such a positive experience for everyone who participated: residents, employees, and visitors as well as those of us from Community Christian Church.
There are so many things I could select as "GREAT", however, if one is to be mentioned, I would say, the greatest joy, the greatest moment, is to witness the transformation in an elderly person from lonely to joyous solely because of a visit from someone who cares.
Participating in Community Impact, specifically volunteering at Covenant Village, was and still is, one of the best things that has happened in my life.
When I signed up to serve at CV, my first thoughts were to check it out for my parents and considering that I enjoyed being around older people, it wasn't "work" or hard to do....just a little time out of my day. No big deal. Serving others was (and is) what Jesus called us to do, and I was gladly submitting. However, what I anticipated versus what I experienced, was so God!
As a volunteer group visiting a nursing/assisted living facility our main objective was to bring some smiles, happiness and hopefully, laughter to the residents. Many of these elderly men and women live alone, only being cared for by the employees ( who I might add do a superb job! ). Many of their families and/or friends live elsewhere or are deceased, hence few visits from the "outside" world. Rarely are children seen, so you can just imagine what our group resonated as we trouped through the doors. A mom and dad with young children, ladies ready to play balloon volleyball and hearts ready to pour out love and compassion. We brought LIFE and it was sweet. But it didn't stop there for me, I had an extra bonus, I met Mr. John Brooks. My new friend for life.
We all know God's timing is always perfect, but it amazes me how He orchestrates events and blesses our lives when we least expect it. John needed a friend and I needed to be a friend. You see, John's only daughter lives far away, he hasn't any other family here and has only one male friend that rarely visits. His world is the confounds of CV assisted living. He refers to his living arrangements as "assisted dying" which grieves my heart. I, on the other hand, have a husband, two children (both in college), aging parents, loads of activities and commitments, yet I was forever asking God...."what do you want me to do with my time?" John Brooks and his fellow residents were my answer. Serve the elderly. Give a smile, a hug, a chat, a cookie, a song....all the things we take for granted, but what so many of their lives are missing.
No matter how busy my days are, God always finds a way to add the time for my weekly visits to Covenant Village. It has been a blessing to me and to my family. My children and I took John to Rain Forest Cafe and truly, I do not know who enjoyed it more. This is what I want my son and daughter to see and know....God's love abounds, He gives it unconditionally to us and we are to share it with all.
My heartfelt thanks to Nancy May for her leadership and guidance of Community Impact. It is such a wonderful outreach that blesses all who participate....can't wait for the next one!!
From the bottom of my heart,
Your sister in Christ,
Donna
Labels: Covenant Village
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