I spent my day in Viking and Sedgewick today. Being the summer, it tends to be a little bit slow. I try every day to visit someone in one of my three parishes, but some days, there's just no one around, so that's when I start to wander. I wander the streets, walk into stores, go to the post office, the ExtendiCare and Seniors Lodge, and head to a resturaunt for lunch.
After arriving in Sedgewick and doing some things at the church I decided to treat myself to an afternoon tea at a cafe on main street. I had a service at the Seniors Lodge this evening at 7pm so I had a lot of time to kill. I walked into the cafe to find a few small tables set up off to the left side of the room with a kitchen behind them, off to the right side of the room against the wall were scrapbooking resources and pages that one could buy to feed their scrapbooking hobbies and in the back of the building, a hair salon!! The best part of the whole place, though, was the two little girls (3 and 2 1/2) who were hanging in the cafe all day, while their grandmother worked, rolling around on the floor laughing their heads off and playing some sort of game involving animals that growl at one another. I walked in and they immediately started to show off for me. I ordered my tea, sat down at one of the tables, and grabbed my book to read as I chilled out. The girls were getting a bit more crazy, so their grandmother called them into the back to help her fold towels for the salon. They hestiated for a moment, you could tell they really wanted to stay out in the cafe...but eventually they followed. After about 30 seconds the 2 1/2 year old came back to my table swinging a salon towel around trying to fold it. So, I put my book down, pulled a chair up in front of me, had her sit on it, and together we folded her towel. She was so excited and our team-towel folding soon turned into a game where each girl would run to the back, grab two or three towels, take turns sitting on the chair in front of me and together we would fold these towels. This game lasted a good 25 minutes.
By the time I left, both of them were sitting on my lap, playing with my hair, asking me questions, telling me about their pets, and showing me their polished finger nails!!! It was a great afternoon. Not only did I get to meet two adorable little girls, I got meet their grandmother who was a very hospitable, and caring woman.. a great pastoral experience for all of us!!
And a hard one to leave, I could have stayed there all afternoon, but needed to do some more wandering.
What I love about wandering is that it never fails, you will always run into someone you know. I was running into the Co-op to buy some treats for myself, bumped into one of my parishioners at the entrance. She was buying goodies for the Seniors Lodge evening prayer service. We chatted for a bit and before I knew it I had an invitation for supper and dessert. That's what I love about rural ministry, the gift and ministry of hospitality is offered all the time, and for that gift I am truly grateful.
After supper, I headed over to Flagstaff Seniors Lodge to do an evening prayer service. Our service at Flagstaff Lodge brought out 30 residents. These folks are so faithful in their attendance of the service and I always leave feeling energized! I've heard so many wonderful stories about their lives, it's been a blessing.
So, on my road trip home, I spent my hour giving thanks for the two little girls and their acceptance, energy, love and child-like mannerisms that they shared with me, while at the same time giving thanks for the community of the Flagstaff Lodge and their acceptence and the love that they share with me every month.
peace,
C.
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