Sevanthood Ministry

By William "Fred" Honaman, resident

May 2009

All of us are involved in some sort of ministry in our lives. If we follow the precepts of Christian belief, then most probably that ministry will involve some sort of servanthood, through receiving and giving to and from others. The possible examples are too numerous to mention and are all too familiar to each of you reading this. So let me focus on some ways in which my wife Eleanor and I have been recipients of the serving community of Landis Homes.

It began in 1977 when my parents, Mary and Earl M. Honaman, moved into Cottage 47 at Landis Homes. From then on, we were assured of their care and well being, even while we were living in Japan. Through their fun times in Dogwood Dell and through their illnesses, and finally their deaths in 1982 and 1997, we knew they were on the receiving end of good care and supportive staff in their living. Some of their nurse caregivers are still here, and Chaplain Don Good ministered to them both on our behalf. All of that knowledge of their care made it much easier for us to do our ministry in Japan. And how can we forget all the good times that were had when we visited them here and stayed right next-door in the House of Grace? In those days the rules were much easier and we even stayed for a month one time.

So when it came time for us to retire in 2000, we had been well accustomed to the 'basin and towel' attitude and practice of Landis Homes and fell right into the pattern ourselves, readily soaking up the care provided to us in our preparation and moving into our lovely rural spot right from the metropolis of Tokyo. We were happy to be here!

And now we are able to practice servanthood by living in our community with our neighbors, and by giving back to Landis Homes as volunteers ourselves: Eleanor in the Heritage Healthcare and Resident's Council, and Fred on the Ethics Committee and Resident's Council. We both look forward to continuing to grow in Christian servanthood in this community.

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