We've Gone Public!

[Spem in alium]

Tremendous stuff has been going on. One of my friends, who is Catholic but not practicing (and very doubtful about God), asked me if I would help her find a novena to pray for her aunt, who had a series of mini-strokes which left her unable to talk or do things for herself. I found a novena to Our Lady of Lourdes and helped my friend think of a suitably-worded intention to share with her family. A few days later I saw my friend and she passed on some amazing news: her aunt had actually begun speaking again. To me that's God's work and I'm so thankful.

Life goes on with all its beauty and challenges. I find a lot of joy in working with the elderly and in helping one of my sisters who is vision-impaired. It is a blessing to have her in my life (she is truly a beautiful person) and I hope I can give her the best help possible. Please do pray for me, though, and especially for my health.

[Spem in alium]

My diocese has had a new bishop appointed by the Holy Father, after over a year of waiting! Thanks be to God! Please pray for him.

[TheresaThoma]

17 hours ago, Spem in alium said:

My diocese has had a new bishop appointed by the Holy Father, after over a year of waiting! Thanks be to God! Please pray for him.

Finally having a bishop is always exciting!

[Spem in alium]

On 5/6/2016, 11:13:48, TheresaThoma said:

Finally having a bishop is always exciting!

It's wonderful!  

I need prayer at the moment. Please keep me in your intentions, pham.

[Spem in alium]

I never thought my hair (which is short and very dark, almost black) would come in handy for my job, but here we go:

Yesterday I went to visit a lady I've never seen before in our aged care hostel. I introduced myself and asked if she wanted to talk for a little while. She said no, so I went to leave and as I was going she said, "You have the most beautiful hair! So dark and so stylish!" I ended up with her for twenty minutes while she showed me every single photograph in her room. 

[Pax17]

It's wonderful how the little things can often help one connect with somebody, especially those in need.

[Spem in alium]

Exactly. With another lady, I just sat next to her and she started talking to me and held my hand for about ten minutes. I met one man I now visit regularly when he called to me by mistake and I offered to visit him. It's nice how that can happen.

One of the hard things with working in an ethnic-specific facility is that people assume I can speak the language (or at least have a conversation) if I say "good morning", "how are you?" or something to that effect. Yesterday I said this to one lady I'd met previously, and she ended up speaking to me for fifteen minutes almost non-stop (so I couldn't really butt in and ask if she could repeat in English). Some things I could pick up, but most of the time I wasn't sure what she was saying so I just held her hand and tried to nod/say yes or no in the right places. I know she appreciated me being with her, though, and I think that's the main thing.

[deusluxmea]

I so enjoy reading about your journey. You sound like a blessing to the people you serve. Prayers for you! 

[Spem in alium]

4 hours ago, deusluxmea said:

I so enjoy reading about your journey. You sound like a blessing to the people you serve. Prayers for you! 

Thank you so much - for your kind words, and for following my journey! Prayers for you, too  

During May, we do not say Vespers in community as there is opportunity instead to pray the Litany of Loreto in the Polish shrine run by my sisters. I live with a sister who is vision-impaired and she can't read well anymore, so listens and responds during Office in the places she remembers. She mentioned to us in passing that she had misplaced the audio recording she has of the Office, which she would have used during May. As I do like praying Office with others, I asked if she would like to pray with me during May (I read the psalms, and she responds where she can). Every evening we say Office and then I like just to sit and talk with her -- and, moreso, just listen to her. She is such good company but is dealing with a lot of heartache, and I think it means something to have someone with her and caring for her even in such a small way. I love to spend time with her. She's changed my life.  

 

Edited May 17, 2016 by Spem in alium

[Spem in alium]

I visited our dementia-specific wing today, for the second time ever. As soon as I walked over to some ladies, one of them grabbed me and wouldn't let me go for an hour and a half -- she held my hands (and actually started blowing on them and kissing them because she thought I was cold) and kept telling me she loved me and that I was her baby. The residents were playing with children's puzzles, matching blocks to their respective places to make a picture; it's a far cry from the low care wing where they have conversations, listen to music and play bingo. The wing itself is a bit dreary, and I'm not sure if that's because of the residents' needs, but the staff I saw today were incredible. In my view, they really worked to make the residents feel loved.

I was also so happy today because I was able to spend some time with a man I posted about earlier who cries when he sees me. I started talking to him and then he took me to his room and gave me some old cards and holy pictures. We talked for a good twenty minutes. At one point he asked me if I was going to World Youth Day, and I said no (I wish I could, but it's not the right time) and he said, "You MUST go!!!" I'll have to tell my superior one of my residents has given me permission.  

Through all my work I've realised that love is something illness doesn't break. A person might have severe dementia, or be bedridden and unable to communicate well, or unable to even speak the same language as you, but they can tell if you love them. Usually my residents thank me for spending time with them, and really, I should be thanking them. They teach me every day about who I should be and who God is - mercy and love.  

Edited May 18, 2016 by Spem in alium

[Spem in alium]

Yesterday I started volunteering at a food outlet run at the parish where my superior happens to work. The outlet is coordinated by the St Vincent de Paul Society (which we generally call "Vinnies" here...those Aussies and their need to shorten every word! ) and provides emergency help, in the way of food and donated items, to people in need. Each person gets two bags of food (filled with packets of rice, cereal, noodles, some soup and stew cans, long-life milk, pancake mix, and tinned fish), any fresh fruit if we have it, frozen bread and meat pies, and toiletries that have been donated. I learnt how to pack the bags and how to enter the client's details into the data sheet. Most of the day was pretty quiet though, as apparently Fridays are slower days, so I spent most of the time talking with the other volunteers, and actually talking a bit about my vocation! It's nice because a couple of them know my superior and I can see how people really value her in this parish. Given my commitments at our aged care I'll be volunteering at the outlet every Friday for a four-hour shift, which was quite funny yesterday as most people work two hours at a time (with a changeover at midday) so I think they thought I was reeeally keen (which I am, of course!)  

[Spem in alium]

Winter has hit and we've all started taking out our woollens! It doesn't snow in my city, but I live in a valley so it gets frosty. These last few mornings, the frost hasn't lifted until around 9am. Kind of have to do this to keep warm: or drink lots of coffee....  

Pham, I ask for prayers for my health. I'm having a persistent issue which is not clearing up, and it's sent me to the doctor five times in four weeks, with another appointment on Friday. I am thankful I've not had to stop working or anything -- though sometimes I'd love just to sleep a bit longer or take some more rest -- but it's still unsettling and sometimes makes me frustrated. Please pray the problem will be resolved, and that I can be as positive as I can be.

 

[Spem in alium]

Quote of the week comes from one of my residents, when doing some recreation (they had to guess the end of proverbs). We were talking about "A stitch in time saves nine", and she seemed happy with that saying, but then a while later said, "Why does it save nine? Why not ten?" I and the staff were in stitches, I tell you!

 

[AveMariaPurissima]

7 hours ago, Spem in alium said:

Quote of the week comes from one of my residents, when doing some recreation (they had to guess the end of proverbs). We were talking about "A stitch in time saves nine", and she seemed happy with that saying, but then a while later said, "Why does it save nine? Why not ten?" I and the staff were in stitches, I tell you!

 

Haha I see what you did there! 

[Spem in alium]

1 hour ago, AveMariaPurissima said:

Haha I see what you did there! 

My colleague said to her: Oh, Mrs ----, that's a good question but don't ask me! We really laughed. She was also interested in how a leopard can't change its spots, so I explained that to her for a while!

Thank you for your prayers re. my health, pham. Next stop for me is a specialist and I'm hoping they can sort me out.