Year End Wrap-up

 

December, 2022

Dear Praying Friends,

As we close out this year of ministry to the nursing homes, we want to thank each of you for your faithful prayers and financial support during 2022. Needless to say, this past year has been an unusual time for our ministry. With the relaxing of some of the COVID restrictions, a number of our nursing homes have been slowly opening to us again. It is amazing that there are so many differences in the current restrictions, everything from just wearing a mask into the facility but not wearing it once we’re ministering, to ‘facial recognition’ machines, checking of temperatures, and even standing behind a plastic shield! Some have refused to allow us back in because, although we had the virus before, we have not been vaccinated. However, beginning in January, we will be ministering once again in one of the larger facilities here in Pennsylvania that had previously held to stringent restrictions, including the necessity of vaccinations. They have relaxed their restrictions and we are looking forward to getting back to this facility where there had been much fruitfulness for the gospel in the pre-COVID days.

Currently we are ministering at: Rolling Fields Eldercare (the largest facility in this part of PA), Juniper Village (where we are now inside, but held a tremendous outdoor service in late summer), Embassy Park (where the least restrictions make the service enjoyable, rather than bearable!), Fairview Manor (the have gone out of their way to make it possible for us to be there), Walnut Creek Nursing & Rehabilitation Center (we only have to wear mask “in the hallways”?!), and the Crawford County Care Center (where we’ll start again in January). We have three more facilities that we are trying to get back into, but so far have been refused.

One of our larger nursing homes south of here was eager to have us back and called saying we only had to wear mask. After a 45 minute drive, we arrived only to find out that I would have to wear a mask while preaching and singing and playing my guitar (extremely difficult, and not necessary as I was no closer than 20 feet to the people!) and Priscilla was told she could not pass out the song books to anyone, and had to retrieve the ones she already had I asked where they were getting their restrictions from and when they told me we had a conversation about what other nursing homes were doing to allow us in. The staff would not bend and unfortunately, we packed up and headed home. Pray that the administration at this nursing home would be willing to allow us back with minimal or no restrictions. As you can probably tell, this is turning into an extremely frustrating situation. If COVID variants return this winter in any force, I can only imagine what will happen to our ministry. Thankfully, one Activity Director told me that they will NOT shut down again. If anyone tests positive at their nursing home, they will simply move them to a separate wing. Makes good sense.

So, pray for us, when God brings us to mind. The nursing homes will never be unnecessary and will continue to be populated with those who are “living on the brink of eternity”. We pray that 2023 will be a more fruitful year in reaching these dear folks who are without a pastor, without a church, and without the Gospel. Thank you again for standing with us.

Norm & Priscilla Aabye

C.A.R.E. Ministries