How to Visit a Nursing Home

It seems easy enough, doesn't it?
It's one of the first things you think about when you think about serving your community.
The 'Old' Folks home, the elderly, the nursing homes....
"We'll go there! Yeah, that's what we'll do."

And that's the end of the good idea.
Or, you call and no one calls you back.
Or you do it and it's a bust.

It really is as simple as it seems like it should be! I promise!

Here are a few tips:

#1 Have something to show off.

Consider doing a recital there (dance, piano, poetry, theatre...any art). Have a plan. Practice what you'll 'recite' and put as much excellence into it as you can. Not perfection, excellence.

One time I went, without kids, and painted the fingernails of any woman who would let me.
You may have another 'skill' and it would count as a 'thing to show off'.

#2 Pick a holiday.

You do not have to have something to show off. Pick the nearest holiday and make that your reason for visiting. If this is your reason for going, see #3.

#3 Have something to give/handout.

You don't have to have a holiday or something to recite!

Are you going with kids? Have a craft date a few days before the visit. If it's near a holiday, do some homemade cards for that holiday - these can be intricate, they can be done by 2 year olds, they can be store bought and you can write messages in them...it doesn't matter. Excellence matters but not the level of artistry or expertise. If it's not near a holiday, go with the season and make encouraging cards/papers/crafts that go with the current season.

Are you going without kids? Same thing, have some cards or poems printed or written out to hand out as an encouragement. Nursing homes can be full of pain, regret, sadness, hopelessness, etc....bring joy with the words you bring.
Flowers or small tokens (such as pins or stickers) are fun too!

#4 How to get a hold of a nursing home.

I'll assume that everyone knows how to find the nearest nursing home to them so we'll skip that part. (uh hem...'Google'...I guess we didn't really skip it!?)

a. Find the nursing home.
b. Figure out your reason for going (#1-#3...pick one or more and just go with it)
c. Call the # listed in Google and ask for: THE ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR.
You will probably get a voicemail...leave a message.
d. Do this about 4 more times. (I'm kidding, but only kind of. You will most likely have to call and leave a message several times. It seems annoying and daunting but really, it's just a phone call, you can do it!)
e. When you do connect (don't give up! or if you're frustrated, try a few nursing homes at a time and whoever you get a hold of first, wins!) this is what you tell them:

Name.
What you want to do. (be specific but be willing to let them say what would work best and just go with it!)
When, approximately, you'd like to do it. (try to give two different days)
and they'll take it from there...promise.

#5 Actually going there.

You have your 'mission', you have your day/time, you have your people together...it's the DAY!

a. Get there on time but know that they may not be.
b. The receptionist is typically clueless about why you're there - just tell her why you're there and that you have it scheduled with the Activities Director. (really, several nursing homes later, I have yet to run into a receptionist that was 'aware' of my coming..again, just go with it.)
c. Do your thing, I promise there will be some odd moments but it will be neat.
d. If you are a Jesus follower, offer to pray with people...it's better than any card or gift.
e. If the Activities Director says that you can just roam the halls and pass out cards (they probably will), have an adult (assuming there are kids with you), scan each room before you send the kids in.
The dignity in nursing homes isn't what it should be. They are very open and not very private (sad). You can literally walk in most rooms unannounced and 'interrupt' someone from what they're doing.
I typically peek my head around the corner of their door, knock and as permission to come in first. Even that seems invasive but it's how they operate in most nursing homes.
f. Touch base with the Activities Director before you go. Tell her you appreciate what she does and would love to come back!

#6 Other notes:

Sorry for all the 'probably' - there is no way to definitively write this because each nursing home has a different staff. They are typically structured the same way but they don't all operate the same way. It will take some learning of your local home, but these tips will get you started and going.

Not all nursing homes are the same. I know that sounds redundant but actually I mean, for this point, that there is a difference between assisted living and nursing home.
If you have some apprehension about being around a lot of sickness and hurt then starting at an assisted living would be a better choice. Follow all the same guidelines, except try and go during a meal time and pass out crafts/encouragement while they eat. Otherwise most people will be in their apartments and seemingly unapproachable - if you've scheduled a recital, then pass out the cards/crafts afterwards.
Nursing homes are great to go to, don't get me wrong! There are people who need a happy face in both places.


#7 Going back.

Did one or two or three of the residents stand out to you?
Tell the Activities Director that the next time you call and see if you could come by with another special card just for those 1-3 residents.
Keep going back (once a week, once a month, once every other month, there's no formula) and watch the friendships change YOUR life.


Craft Time:

Gather a few friends and do it together (power in #'s, right!?)


Watch your kids amaze you:

If you're there on a holiday, you may get to catch a special show with the residents:

There should be sugar at the end of every trip!

SUPER BOWL

are you in the Dallas area?

are you aware of this fact:

Each year, 100,000 to 300,000 American kids, some as young as 12 years old, are exploited in the sex trade, he says. The traffickers use the Super Bowl and other large events such as the World Cup to ply their trade, Allen says. "The traffickers try to seize that opportunity to do business," he says.
(full article from USAToday here)

Traffick911 is a great campaign to link with if you are in the Dallas area this week.

you can sign a petition HERE that will be asking the Super Bowl committee to stand up and protect children.
it's free, it's loud, it makes a difference!

I know issues like this are hard to wrap our minds and hearts around, but please, don't let that make you look away.
They are little girls, in our back yard and they are voiceless.

The best weapon these buyers and pimps have is secrecy....let's get them out in the open for this one event...and I'll be back with more ways later!

**

The reward for considering the helpless is not just the end result, but the pain, the heart pain, that accompanies it. It is cleansing to hurt when God Himself hurts; it is a good thing.

source unknown

(thanks Jaimee!)

Persecuted Christians

This is the map of our world.

Each one of those dots lands on a country where Christianity is forbidden or greatly restricted.

Which means the Christians who live there are being persecuted, right now.

I am a Christian which means I am spending eternity with these precious souls, I will not stand by and watch it happen with no action on my part.

I stay connected with the current details of the persecuted church through an organization called:

Voice of the Martyrs


a small excerpt from their website:
The Voice of the Martyrs is a non-profit, inter-denominational Christian organization dedicated to assisting the persecuted church worldwide. VOM was founded in 1967 by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, who was imprisoned 14 years in Communist Romania for his faith in Christ. His wife, Sabina, was imprisoned for three years. In the 1960s, Richard, Sabina, and their son, Mihai, were ransomed out of Romania and came to the United States. Through their travels, the Wurmbrands spread the message of the atrocities that Christians face in restricted nations, while establishing a network of offices dedicated to assisting the persecuted church.
click here for the full 'about VOM' story.


Want to have the latest information on what is happening to your brothers and sisters around the globe?

May I suggest you go HERE and sign up for the incredible and FREE magazine subscription?
It's once a month, it's so well done, it will drive you to action and prayer.

It's free, they do not pester you with anything further, you have nothing to lose.  click HERE.

A few months ago my girls and I put together two of what's called an ACTION PACK.

here's the scoop:

An ACTION PACK is a HUGE zip-lock bag that you fill with survival type items.  Voice of the Martyrs gets them to displaced Christians, ones who have to flee or whose homes were destroyed on the basis that they are Christians.

Here's what it looks like:

1.  You order the bags for $7.00 a piece HERE

This is the screen that you'll be going to...I took a screen shot of what it looks like when you click on the pull down menu in the middle of the page.

See how there are three options for ACTION PACK, each to different countries?

Choose a country.
HERE is a link for more information and what your packing lists will look like when you get them. (keep in mind that you don't buy everything on the list, just what fits in the bag and it's up to you what that is, as long as it's on the list)


2.  The bags come in a padded envelope along with very easy and very clear directions, packing lists and educational materials.

3.  Then you tell your beautiful sweet children what you're doing and they respond with full servant-like, compassionate hearts that overflow with giving to others....

really, I had to hold her back....see:

ok. maybe she gave me the oddest blank look instead.  no worries, she'll get it one day, moving on.

4.  Now, you load up all your children and embark on a day long shopping trip for all that is on the lists.

(or, you go by yourself, OR you spread it out over a few shopping trips....you're call here, there's no time limit)

here's what our loot looked like:

I'm a bargain shopper, I have no issues with putting very-VERY-gently used items into packages like this, I buy them for my family too!  If you're short on cash, big time, but feel you could come up with something over a longer period of time or thrift for some of the items, then go for it, this project was a blast!

5.  We separated, organized and packed the big 'ol ziplocks up:

and then we played catch in the living room....because this is our real life.

 6.  I took them to UPS and shipped them using the information and shipping labels provided by VOM.
We did two ziplocks and it cost us $30 to ship them both.


(In my opinion and rumor has it, UPS is usually cheaper when you need to ship large items.)

Some Notes:

No, this isn't the cheapest project to do.

It's $7 for the bag

About $30-$40 to fill the bag

and around

$20 to ship it back.

close to $70 a bag.

Some of us have that, some don't.

It's worth it if you do, or if you can find it.

Here are some ways to be involved with VOM if you truly don't have it:

1.  You could team up with another family (or two or three) to do this project!  THAT SOUNDS FUN!

2.  VOM has a program called "Be-A-Voice" Network...it's an information chain, it's free to join and your job is to spread the word about who they are and the current prayer needs.  Like, through emails to friends, sharing in your small groups, sharing at play groups, etc...

3.  You can write to a prisoner (I'll do a separate post on this, but here is the link in case you want to beat me to it)  This costs you $.98 a letter and it's easier than you can imagine.  VOM practically writes the letter for you.

would LOVE to hear if you decide to do this!

Sponsoring a Child

I think we all 'know' about this one.
But how many of us have acted on it?

The thoughts that rattle around in my heart are:

We hear statistics but they overwhelm or they're too big we can't comprehend them.
We hear the opportunity to travel but that just isn't an option for everyone.
We hear about the number of orphans but we can't or aren't called to adopt.

Sometimes I think the solution is right there, it's simple, it's costs little on every level.
Money, time, talent, emotion.

But in the same way we are overwhelmed with the statistics, we are baffled by the simplicity of the solution.

So, now we're overwhelmed and baffled and still nothing is being done.

It's cliche but I'm gonna say it EACH ONE REACH ONE. (oh yes, I did.)

Sponsor a child, reach out to ONE and little by little those overwhelming numbers being thrown around in the statistics will start to become smaller and smaller.
You won't be overwhelmed or baffled.

There may not be an overnight solution to the masses, but there IS an overnight solution to the ONE.

HOW?
1. Below are two of my favorite links, click on one of them.
2. Pick out your kid, or if you're really short on time, tell them to pick one out for you (yes! they will do that!).
3. Sign up for automatic payment.
4. Write a letter often or every once in a while.
(World Vision even has the option to email your sponsor child.  It will go to a World Vision worker and then that person gets it to your sponsor child)

$40 a month.

I'm not going to belittle you and tell you how 'little' that is when you really concentrate.
But it really is very little....for the majority of us out there, it's littler than little.

But to our little Janeth and her family....who we've sponsored for a while now, I KNOW it is bigger than big.

Here are my two favorite organizations:

World Vision
Compassion International

A neat, quick, article on sponsor kids:

Your Refrigerator Kid

Here is an awesome success story, and I've seen countless numbers of these testimonies....he is not 'unique':



Don't let how easy this is stop you.
Seriously, this is so simple and it's one of my favorite ways to be in the battle for Justice yet.

Give UP Your Birthday!

What does that mean?


#1 - it means you actually get to celebrate your birthday this year.
#2 - it means you expect people to bring gifts.
#3 - it means that all 'your' gifts will go to someone else in need!


You have a party,
you choose the cause,
you choose the donation type (books, money, canned goods, clothes, toiletries)
you have the best birthday ever!


Here are some examples:


SETH TURNS FIVE!
Seth asked his friends to bring books to donate to Rota Books instead of bringing him new toys...

(below is an excerpt from Becky's post about their party, 

for the whole story, go HERE...

if you want to ask her a question, you can find her there!)

"This year Seth turned 5.  We talk a lot about doing hard things around here. Things we would want someone to do for us, if we couldn't do it for ourselves. So with having a big birthday party we didn't want to re-accumulate all the toys we just got rid of. Plus Seth was getting a lot of gifts from family. So I prayed for a special birthday project for him and found it: Books for Rota. 
I read about this project in a magazine, and you can read more about it at HERE.
Seth and I talked about it and he agreed to collect books for Rota for his birthday project and we prayed. He asked God for 100 books. That is a lot for a 5 year old to imagine. I made him a sticker chart with 100 places on it. We counted after his party and stickered up the page. We got about 106 books (with more on the way.) He was so excited to see that God did what we asked. We will be mailing the books at the end of the summer, and two other groups of grown ups may be doing this project as well. All because he was willing to share his birthday with kids who don't have as many books as he has. We are very proud of our new 5 year old!!!"





LIZ GIVES UP HER 35th BIRTHDAY!!!
(because who says birthdays are only for kids!?)

The wording on the invite says:


"For my 35th birthday, please come and celebrate with me at a luau in my backyard, 
but instead of bringing gifts, please bring a donation that will go towards a fund to buy goats or chicks for starving families.
(World Vision)
LET'S SEE HOW MANY GOATS AND CHICKS WE CAN BUY!"


The luau was a success and so much fun.
And it would have been even without a cool invitation or themed party.
It's about your heart, the cause and people's excitement to be able to be a part of something bigger!


Those are two examples to get your creative juices flowing.
If you need another cause to choose from, here are a couple:


Charity:water  
an excerpt from their website:
"In September of 2008, over 800 people gave up birthday gifts and asked for donations from friends, family and strangers. Together with matching gifts, almost $1,000,000 was raised to bring clean water to people in Ethiopia. We knew they were on to something. Since then, we've been busy building a website where everybody can give up their birthday, but also use weddings, anniversaries and holidays - run marathons, climb mountains and jump out of planes - or just create a fundraising page to give people clean drinking water. Join us."


Your local food bank or homeless shelter 
(if you don't know where your nearest one is or what they need you can:
1. Google 'food bank/homeless shelter and the name of your town' or 
2. Call any church office, it doesn't even have to be a church you know, the secretary will have the information you need.


collect canned goods, fresh fruits (donate quickly ;-), diapers, toothbrushes, etc...
or, ask what they need most and go from there!


Ok, who's gonna do it!?
I'd love to hear your birthday stories!

WELCOME to Embrace Justice!

Where am I!?
You are at a little blog called Embrace Justice.

What is it about!?
The purpose of EJ is to give you tangible ways to SPEAK UP for those who cannot speak for themselves and give you ideas to tangibly provide JUSTICE for those who are perishing.
(scripture from Proverbs 31:8-9)

What does that mean?
one definition of tangible I found says this:

Existing physically; that which can be touched.


How many articles have you read on the need for justice in this world?
How many books?
How many statistics have you heard about the number of homeless children in your city?
How many worldwide or domestic atrocities have you heard of just this week?


the answer to all of those is probably: A LOT!


The next logical question would be, "Ok, now what do I do?"
To which we normally have the answer, 
"I don't know" or 
"Send some money" or 
"I know what needs to be done, but I don' t have the time to get on a plane and fly to ______(country) to build wells, schools, hospitals, etc..., I have to cook dinner for my family and get everyone to soccer practice" or
"I know money needs to be sent, but I don't have that right now"


Or how many times have you not even gotten as far as asking yourself, "What now?" after hearing the news, statistics or reading the books because your mind is so overwhelmed with grief, shock or horror that you feel more paralyzed than driven to action?


Or am I the only one who feels like that?


I'm just going to put myself out there and guess that I'm not the only one who feels this way.


I'm also going to put myself out here, on this blog, so we can DO SOMETHING together, instead of giving into that awful feeling of being paralyzed.


Here, you will find TANGIBLE ways to react to all the information flooding your mind and heart.


What are the posts going to look like!?


For starters, they'll be a lot shorter than this one.


There will be an occasional information post, alerting you to different kinds of needs but for the most part, each post will be a step-by-step, hands on, hearts in, way to SPEAK UP, provide JUSTICE or SUPPORT those who are doing so in the trenches of the issues.


You could consider this a 'how-to' for justice for the average American woman.


No, not all posts will be tailored to women only, but I am a "stay-at-home, homeschool, granola making" mama and so naturally my posts will fit into that sort of lifestyle.


All that means to you, is that if you are already busy with life too, then you're at the right 'how-to' place.


Many of the posts will include ways to involve your children!!!!  I won't elaborate here, I'll just let it speak for itself as the blog unfolds.


Last note on what the posts will look like, 
I will be using my own experiences and projects but I will also be using projects that other people have done!
If you are doing one and have documented it well with pictures, PLEASE EMAIL ME your project so it can be considered!!!


What will the projects look like?


Some will ask you to shave your head.
Some will suggest you sell your home and move to an uninhibited island.
Some will ask you to drink kelp juice for a month.
Some will....


I'm just kidding.


They will be DOABLE.
You may feel led to shave your head or sell your home or move or drink kelp juice (is there such a thing, or did I just make that up?) but all credit for those types of 'projects' will have to come straight from the Holy Spirit himself....not from Him through here.


DOABLE meaning you can DO them, even if you have to get dinner on the table and everyone to soccer practice and finish your Bible study and clean the bathroom and get to work and check the mail and check the news and go to church and......


Even if.


I'm not saying that they will all be completely comfortable or that some won't challenge you to stretch but I am promising they WILL BE DOABLE and they WILL BE TANGIBLE 
(even if it is 'just giving money', you will know to WHO and for WHAT and WHERE and the RESULTS)

capiche?

(disclaimer:
My insecurities demand that this part be on here and they are loud so here I go.
I don't know how long this blog will last, or how deep it will be or if it will even help one person, I am doing it out of sheer obedience.
Jesus won't stop whispering it in my ear, and I need sleep.
I do hope every posts gives GLORY to HIM and points us all back to His arms and causes us all to fall more in Love and more in Obedience to Him.
HE GAVE ALL so we could be with Him.  So, I will give this and continue to give whatever He asks of me, even if my insecurities are loud.  He is Louder!)