By Anne Renfro, Church of the Advent Episcopal, Brownsville, TX
When Chawua’s aunt began living in a nearby nursing home Chawua Flores and Jessica Gonzalez made a Lay Pastoral visit. That day, this pair of Lay Pastoral Caregivers met other residents who enjoyed their visit. Chawua and Jessica began visiting regularly. Those first few people grew to a group of about 20. These Lay Pastoral Caregivers continued visiting several times a month for over 3 years. Over these years, Jessica and Chawua have been able to provide prayer shawls crocheted and blessed by our Rector, Father Isaias; prayer crosses donated by another Lay Pastoral Caregiver; and pairs of socks at Christmas last year. The staff look forward to their visits, too, and at times participate in prayer with the residents.
The people enjoy having a time of prayer with the two Lay Pastoral Caregivers. They have now celebrated two Christmas seasons with prayer visits and small gifts.
Chawua reflected on her experiences as a benefit to her spiritual growth. “Visiting these people has made me more sensitive, and I learn from them—from the hope and love with which they treat us, and from their need for someone to visit them. I have learned to be more patient.”
One of Chawua’s saddest experiences was when one of the residents was leaving. “I was there. She asked if I could visit her at her home. I said yes, but her daughter told me she was taking her to Ontario, (over 2000 miles away). Her daughter did not yet know the nursing home where she would live.”
One time they visited a person who was dying. He was no longer able to receive communion but received prayers from Jessica and Chawua. Father Isaias also visits as needed. Jessica reflected on that time about her sadness that was full of love and the presence of God in the room.
These visits strengthen the bond Jessica and Chawua share. Jessica puts it this way, “All this time it is a pleasure to share many moments and situations with Chawua. She is a wonderful and incredible person; we make a particularly good duo when visiting people.”
“When we debrief after each visit, we reflect on how we experience God’s spiritual presence in our visits.” Clearly these types of experiences and feelings are exactly what we ask our Lay Pastoral Caregivers to share and reflect upon in our group Circle of Care gatherings.
What began as a visit to a family member blossomed into a community of people who learned from and sustained one another.