Nursing Home Music Ministry
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I started keeping a personal journal at this time. However it
lacked detail, and I didn't start the weekly newsletters until
March of 2005. So I've reconstructed this portion of the journal
from memory using the few details available from that period, of
what one pastor called (Testing the Waters).
Before "hitting-the-road" I spent several weeks purchasing an
older minivan, which used up all my cash. Then sold my older
cab-over camper, which gave me enough to buy a tent and some
camping gear, with a little left over.
I sang in the first nursing home in Austin, Texas on August 17,
2004. Then drove 90 miles to Yoakum, Texas and sang with some
cousins who were ministering in a facility there.
Then drove up to Mena, Arkansas where a campground owner
wouldn't let me pay after finding out what I was doing. Spent
several days there singing in the two nursing homes and the
hospital.
Back on the road, I arrived after dark and pitched the tent in a
campground on the Arkansas River. The next morning I walked
over to visit with a guy camped nearby. As I got close he said
"Have you come to torment me?" Needless to say that stopped me
in my tracks. Within 30 seconds of talking with this man he was
crying.
I made the decision to stay an extra day and minister to him.
The next morning, knowing it was time to move on, I was praying
in my spirit for guidance on the direction to take. A bit later while
visiting with my neighbors at the picnic table, a man drove up
telling us he was there to dig for worms. At one point he told me I
needed to go 60 miles back the way I'd come to Hartford,
Arkansas. He told me the church I needed to go to, and who to
see. Told me of a free campground near there.
So I went.
lacked detail, and I didn't start the weekly newsletters until
March of 2005. So I've reconstructed this portion of the journal
from memory using the few details available from that period, of
what one pastor called (Testing the Waters).
Before "hitting-the-road" I spent several weeks purchasing an
older minivan, which used up all my cash. Then sold my older
cab-over camper, which gave me enough to buy a tent and some
camping gear, with a little left over.
I sang in the first nursing home in Austin, Texas on August 17,
2004. Then drove 90 miles to Yoakum, Texas and sang with some
cousins who were ministering in a facility there.
Then drove up to Mena, Arkansas where a campground owner
wouldn't let me pay after finding out what I was doing. Spent
several days there singing in the two nursing homes and the
hospital.
Back on the road, I arrived after dark and pitched the tent in a
campground on the Arkansas River. The next morning I walked
over to visit with a guy camped nearby. As I got close he said
"Have you come to torment me?" Needless to say that stopped me
in my tracks. Within 30 seconds of talking with this man he was
crying.
I made the decision to stay an extra day and minister to him.
The next morning, knowing it was time to move on, I was praying
in my spirit for guidance on the direction to take. A bit later while
visiting with my neighbors at the picnic table, a man drove up
telling us he was there to dig for worms. At one point he told me I
needed to go 60 miles back the way I'd come to Hartford,
Arkansas. He told me the church I needed to go to, and who to
see. Told me of a free campground near there.
So I went.
Ended up spending two weeks in Hartford. One of them working for a lady doing
miscellaneous repair on her rent house. Attended all the services at the church
where I got to contribute songs. About the time I left the area, when I got paid by
the Sister and the church put together a little love offering, I'd gotten down to
thirty dollars.
In Greenwood, Arkansas at the "Pink Bud Nursing Center" I sang for a small
group of about 7 residents. One particular lady in the back sat slumped over in
her wheelchair the whole time. When I finished a staff member called me back
there saying "Mrs. So & So wants to make a donation."
Still slumped forward, digging through a change purse, she slowly raised her
hand offering six quarters. Humbling!
In another facility not too far away a rather large group had gathered. One lady
sitting close to me up front was like a stone. Cold, Icy Stare.
After about fifteen minutes of singing these old gospel songs I noticed her
Continance begin to change. Her eyes became red rimmed. At one point she was
crying. At another point she was singing along. By the time I finished she looked
like a different person. Her HAIR even looked different.
I thank the Lord for opening my eyes to this transformation. Visiting with her
afterwards she had softened and become animated, smiling and speaking in a
gentle manner.
In central Arkansas I ran across another free county campground. Spent several
days learning some new songs since I was all alone in a beautiful area next to a
mountain lake.
Had a strange experience: While sitting in the tent, in my spirit I saw a spiritual
being. Nothing was said and it lasted only a moment. At the time I thought it was
a Demon although I felt no fear or discomfort. Now I'm not so sure. Still don't
know what that was all about. However I was later told a murder had been
committed there in the past.
A few days later I attended worship services at a church in the town two miles
away. In this small, older, seven member church they had me sing some songs.
The pastor and wife took me out to lunch and after they found out I knew
something about electrical work they asked it I'd stay a few days and install some
ceiling fans and circuits in the church building.
Said I'd pray about it. Well, on my way back to church that evening the van died
every time I came to a stop. Made it to the church building and told 'em "I guess
the answer is I'll stick around."
The next day I rode with them to a bigger town with a hardware store to get the
supplies needed for the work on the church. While in town I picked up an oxygen
sensor for the van. Guessing that because it smoked so bad it might have fouled
the sensor. Sure enough, that seemed to fix the problem.
So I spent a few days adding extra circuits and hanging six ceiling fans in the
church building. Then continued east.
miscellaneous repair on her rent house. Attended all the services at the church
where I got to contribute songs. About the time I left the area, when I got paid by
the Sister and the church put together a little love offering, I'd gotten down to
thirty dollars.
In Greenwood, Arkansas at the "Pink Bud Nursing Center" I sang for a small
group of about 7 residents. One particular lady in the back sat slumped over in
her wheelchair the whole time. When I finished a staff member called me back
there saying "Mrs. So & So wants to make a donation."
Still slumped forward, digging through a change purse, she slowly raised her
hand offering six quarters. Humbling!
In another facility not too far away a rather large group had gathered. One lady
sitting close to me up front was like a stone. Cold, Icy Stare.
After about fifteen minutes of singing these old gospel songs I noticed her
Continance begin to change. Her eyes became red rimmed. At one point she was
crying. At another point she was singing along. By the time I finished she looked
like a different person. Her HAIR even looked different.
I thank the Lord for opening my eyes to this transformation. Visiting with her
afterwards she had softened and become animated, smiling and speaking in a
gentle manner.
In central Arkansas I ran across another free county campground. Spent several
days learning some new songs since I was all alone in a beautiful area next to a
mountain lake.
Had a strange experience: While sitting in the tent, in my spirit I saw a spiritual
being. Nothing was said and it lasted only a moment. At the time I thought it was
a Demon although I felt no fear or discomfort. Now I'm not so sure. Still don't
know what that was all about. However I was later told a murder had been
committed there in the past.
A few days later I attended worship services at a church in the town two miles
away. In this small, older, seven member church they had me sing some songs.
The pastor and wife took me out to lunch and after they found out I knew
something about electrical work they asked it I'd stay a few days and install some
ceiling fans and circuits in the church building.
Said I'd pray about it. Well, on my way back to church that evening the van died
every time I came to a stop. Made it to the church building and told 'em "I guess
the answer is I'll stick around."
The next day I rode with them to a bigger town with a hardware store to get the
supplies needed for the work on the church. While in town I picked up an oxygen
sensor for the van. Guessing that because it smoked so bad it might have fouled
the sensor. Sure enough, that seemed to fix the problem.
So I spent a few days adding extra circuits and hanging six ceiling fans in the
church building. Then continued east.
Came to a crossroads with three options in front of me. North, East, and South.
Since Solomon says "The lot is cast into the lap. But it's every decision is from the
Lord." I decided to flip a coin to determine which direction to take.
The answer for North was YES.
The answer for East was YES.
The answer for South was YES.
This taught me that it didn't matter which direction I took. That the Lord would
be with me.
While going through the Ozark Mountains I ran across an old abandoned
amusement park (DogPatch USA). Parked the van and spent half a day exploring.
It was like being in an honest to goodness Ghost Town.
Continued on into Missouri to Mansfield and arranged to sing for the next day in
their nursing home. Set up the tent in a private campground nearby and once
again, when the owner found out what I was doing, wouldn't let me pay and
encouraged me to stick around and minister in the area facilities.
Ended up spending two weeks there covering the nursing homes in a twenty mile
radius. And sang in a few locale churches as well.
Continued on through Kentucky and into West Virgina. A relatively uneventful
time except for the challenge of finding low budget places to pitch the tent.
Stopped in a coal mining area of West Virgina at a dome type church with a small
trailer out back that one of the young men in the church was staying in. I was
able to pitch the tent in back of the church building and do laundry and shower
in the trailer.
Did some work around the church property for a few days. Then the fourth night
it began to rain. By morning there was three inches of water in the tent. Being
well into November I figured it was time to head south.
Since Solomon says "The lot is cast into the lap. But it's every decision is from the
Lord." I decided to flip a coin to determine which direction to take.
The answer for North was YES.
The answer for East was YES.
The answer for South was YES.
This taught me that it didn't matter which direction I took. That the Lord would
be with me.
While going through the Ozark Mountains I ran across an old abandoned
amusement park (DogPatch USA). Parked the van and spent half a day exploring.
It was like being in an honest to goodness Ghost Town.
Continued on into Missouri to Mansfield and arranged to sing for the next day in
their nursing home. Set up the tent in a private campground nearby and once
again, when the owner found out what I was doing, wouldn't let me pay and
encouraged me to stick around and minister in the area facilities.
Ended up spending two weeks there covering the nursing homes in a twenty mile
radius. And sang in a few locale churches as well.
Continued on through Kentucky and into West Virgina. A relatively uneventful
time except for the challenge of finding low budget places to pitch the tent.
Stopped in a coal mining area of West Virgina at a dome type church with a small
trailer out back that one of the young men in the church was staying in. I was
able to pitch the tent in back of the church building and do laundry and shower
in the trailer.
Did some work around the church property for a few days. Then the fourth night
it began to rain. By morning there was three inches of water in the tent. Being
well into November I figured it was time to head south.
The first few nights (with weather being rather nasty) I simply stopped in
Wal-Mart parking lots and made a pallet in the van to sleep on. This eventually
led to realizing I could convert the minivan into a mini-camper.
As I neared the Florida Panhandle, the spirit moved me to continue on to Austin
and spend the Holidays around family.
Realizing funds were low, I began to conserve even more than normal. As I
crossed into Texas about 10:00 pm one night, still hundreds of miles from
Austin, my low fuel light came on. Pulled into a gas station with less than five
dollars to my name. Walked in with my stereo am/fm (Boom Box) and told the
situation I was in. Bless Her Heart! An elderly lady working the cash register
bought the stereo! Giving me enough to fill the gas tank!
Made it into Austin with a quarter tank of gas and no money.
Wal-Mart parking lots and made a pallet in the van to sleep on. This eventually
led to realizing I could convert the minivan into a mini-camper.
As I neared the Florida Panhandle, the spirit moved me to continue on to Austin
and spend the Holidays around family.
Realizing funds were low, I began to conserve even more than normal. As I
crossed into Texas about 10:00 pm one night, still hundreds of miles from
Austin, my low fuel light came on. Pulled into a gas station with less than five
dollars to my name. Walked in with my stereo am/fm (Boom Box) and told the
situation I was in. Bless Her Heart! An elderly lady working the cash register
bought the stereo! Giving me enough to fill the gas tank!
Made it into Austin with a quarter tank of gas and no money.
And so ended the period of Testing the Waters.
About this time my dad was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I spent quite a bit of time
with him in December and January till he wanted to go into the nursing home his
oldest brother had built many years ago. Back in his hometown of Yoakum,
Texas.
My brother and sisters did a wonderful job of dealing with the logistics of this
move. They are to be commended.
So at the end of February, I spent some time converting the minivan into a
mini-camper. And got back at it!
About this time my dad was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I spent quite a bit of time
with him in December and January till he wanted to go into the nursing home his
oldest brother had built many years ago. Back in his hometown of Yoakum,
Texas.
My brother and sisters did a wonderful job of dealing with the logistics of this
move. They are to be commended.
So at the end of February, I spent some time converting the minivan into a
mini-camper. And got back at it!
2004