Roving Reporter
Insights into the comings and goings of Brooks Howell residents. There's seldom a dull moment!
Nov/Dec 1999 - Thelma
Caldwell sold forty-six prints of her painting, Miss
Africa at the pool and village dedication, holding a signing
event after lunch that day. "Miss Africa looks to
the future with the hope that all humankind will be free and at
peace." The major portion of what she receives in these
sales goes to the Brooks-Howell Home Endowment Fund. Details to
come on ordering this print.
Nov/Dec 1999 -
What Would Be in Your Basket? - from Alice Houser
At a recent visit to Brooks-Howell Home in Asheville, a retirement home for United Methodist Missionaries and Deaconesses, I noticed a very elderly lady walking into the lobby with the benefit of a walker. She may be one who does this every day, to enjoy the social scene outside her room or apartment. The basket attached to her walker held several items. One of them really caught my eye - The Prayer Calendar! This item was definitely a priority for her. I could just imagine her turning to it every day, and actually have fond memories of some of the missionaries listed there, whom she had met over her years as a missionary.
So what would you put in your basket, if it were attached to your walker? Would the Prayer Calendar be a priority for you?
Two weeks ago, I was once again at Brooks Howell for the dedication of their aqua-therapy pool. I was excited to rub shoulders with the staff from Women's Division in New York City. But there she was, the lady with the walker. A resident pointed out to me the fact that Anne Herbert had been a missionary to China and Hong Kong and was 103 years old. I kneeled down to her and said, "Are you really 103 years old?" "Oh, surely not!" she replied. "I'm only 102! But it really doesn't matter." We laughed at the confusion. But I noticed that in the basket of her walker was the Prayer Calendar. She marks her days in ways that are beyond her years.
Sept/Oct 1999 - from Esther Russell. "When I recently saw the new 77-cent stamps of Mary Breckinridge, I was thrilled. In Appalachia, especially Red Bird Mission country, she was well known as the founder of Frontier Nursing Service. She was trained in London, England and settled at Wendover, KY near Hyden. A sign at Wendover read, "Wendover, Population Approx. 21." Her concern was for better care for babies and mothers. Although the "granny women" had been delivering babies and assisting mothers, they were not trained and lived far from doctors. Arthur and I served part time at Lend a Hand Center. At the fortieth anniversary of the Center in 1988, the frontier nurse there had delivered five hundred babies."
Sept/Oct 1998 - From a letter from Mrs. Mary Hardin. "As I remember the occasion of choosing a name for the new Home for Retired Workers, this name was graciously accepted to honor Mrs. Frank G. Brooks, the current president of the Woman's Division, and Miss Mabel K. Howell, a beloved teacher, leader and greatly loved person who was held in high regard across the Church. [As I served] as the Chairman of the Department of Work in Home Fields and one of the Vice Presidents of the Division, as well as chairman of the committee to recommend the choice for the location and development of the much needed Home, it means a great deal to keep in touch."
March
1976 - Our White Elephant Sale. We
did it again! Isn’t it a good feeling when “all of
us” have a part in a house project? Of course, some few must
do the lion’s share but all of us had the possibility of
taking part in some way . . . We gave things that we were not
using, which might be of value to others. We gave our services in
any way the committee felt the need. Then we bought. Sometimes,
it’s true we buy and wonder what in the world we’ll do
with certain articles. The answer is that we can return them
another year. Some who had nothing to give and saw nothing they
needed just wrote a check. So that got all of us into the act.
One of the beautiful things about the whole affair was the
evident fun that Lola Timm and her committee got out of the whole
transaction. Bless them! At specific times over a two-week period
they received articles, sorted and priced them. Then, they
arranged them so that everything of a kind was in a special place
and seen at a glance.
At the end of the day there were tired feet and weary bodies but
the satisfaction of a job well done, and $256.82 additional cash
in the Family Council Treasury, plus five boxes of leftover items
sent to Crossnore School (North Carolina) and 117 pounds of
clothing to the Church World Service Clothing Drive.
Now compare that article from the past with an
article on the present-day event!
March
1999 - Our White Elephant Sale. Colors
everywhere! Piles and piles of boxes still to be unpacked! Happy
voices as interesting new items are uncovered! What was
happening? Our White Elephant Sale was underway from
classification week, beginning January 15, through preparation
week, and then the sale, February 1- 3. This year, as every year,
the amount of items for sale has increased as did the number of
persons who came to the sale. Dresses, exotics, linens,
miscellaneous, blouses, sweaters, toys, books, electrical items,
housewares are only some of the things that are offered for sale.
One of the special joys of sharing in the preparation for the
sale is the opportunity for residents to come to know and love
auxiliary members and one another better as they work and
converse together. So many wonderful people helped and deserve
our appreciation as workers and for the contributions made to the
items for sale from residents and friends.
Again this year our wheel chair residents were brought down to be
the first White Elephant clients, many with gift certificates to
spend. As last year, our Tuesday night sale was an overwhelming
success, perhaps with as many as three hundred shoppers. After
the sale heavy coats, jackets and sweaters were packed to be sent
to Armenia, special items were selected for ABCCM, and the rest
given to Goodwill Industries for their use.
Our total to date from the sale is $5,251.37. This amount will be
added to Brooks-Howell Residents’ annual dues to fund the
ongoing activities of the Residents’ Council, for responding
to special needs at Brooks-Howell, and then for outreach
ministry.
Pat Riddell was acting White Elephant chairperson for the White
Elephant Team: Jeannie Wintringham, Classifier, Coy Howe, Chief
Elephant Herder, Pat Richardson and Frances Burns, Assistant Elephant
Herders. Many residents, staff members, and auxiliary and board
members served as Stall Managers and Workers.
March/April
1999 - A Volunteer from Korea. Mr. Chan-woo Lee, from
Seoul, Korea, is doing volunteer work in the Social Services
Department of Brooks-Howell while he learns English and studies
older adult ministries. Mr. Lee has a MA in Social Welfare from
Kan-Nam University in Suwon, Korea, where he did a thesis on
“Research on Church Participation in Community Service
Programs in Small Villages.” He is an Associate Secretary of
the Board of Laity and Social Welfare of the Korean Methodist
Church and was sent by the church to the United States to prepare
for future development of older adult ministries in the church in
Korea.
Mr. Lee has a wife, Yeounpyo, a daughter Yaeri, who is fourteen,
and a son Sangin, ten. They are presently living in Seoul. In
Asheville he is directing the choir at the Korean Methodist
Church. His hobbies are mountain climbing, playing the guitar,
and sports.
At Brooks-Howell, Mr. Lee has been receiving tutoring in English
from Dr. Roberta Rice, former missionary in
Korea. In the Social Services Department he is assisting the
recreational therapist with activities, getting acquainted with
residents, and has become a member of the Brooks-Howell Home
Choir. His oral communication in English improves each day. We
are blessed to have Mr. Lee assisting in our department and are
excited about the opportunity we have to help him learn English
and learn about older adult ministries in this country.
--Jeannette Byrd, Social Services
Jan/Feb 1999 - Gallery. We are grateful to the Art Group for the gallery in the hall of Bethea Building, leading to the Memorial Garden. Hanging gold chains and hooks accommodate various sizes as the gallery is changed every six weeks. Some new residents have joined the water color class and a new employee will be showing six paintings
Jan/Feb 1999 - Volunteer of the Month. Frances Major has been selected Volunteer of the Month by MAIN (Mountain Area Information Network), the non-profit Internet provider in Asheville. Her services to the organization are among the many ways she serves others, both through organizations and individuals.
Sept/Oct
1998 - Volunteering in Armenia.
Pat Riddell (Left Photo) &
Frances Major (Right Photo), were members of a six person team
from Oakley United Methodist Church to visit Armenia this summer.
Frances shares, "Our purpose was to share our Christian
education methods with the Armenians. During the first week we
divided into two teams and conducted four Daily Bible Schools in
cooperation with the Armenian Evangelical Church as arranged by
our Project A.G.A.P.E. staff. In these four schools we reached
more than 300 children. Three of the team were in Yerevan, the
large capital city, and three of us went to Gyumri, a two-hour
drive from Yerevan. Gyumri was the epicenter of the 1988
earthquake and there are still both visible and invisible signs
of that earthquake that killed more than 25,000 people and
greatly crippled the electrical supply of the entire country.
"During the second week, we worked with the Armenian
Apostolic Church as arranged by the Agape staff. Two members of
the team worked with nine different groups of laypersons training
to be Sunday School teachers. Besides discussing the methods of
Christian education with children, they did relational Bible
study with the groups. The average size of the groups was about
sixty. Both team members gave very enthusiastic reports about the
responses of the groups.
"The other four traveled by road for six hours over very
mountainous regions to work in Lachin where Agape has established
a children's home, and a building to house volunteers and to
conduct community activities. The Director of Project Agape
expressed her appreciation of our work there. I remember the
intensity of everything the children did. Their responses were
overwhelming. They hesitantly told of their sufferings when
asked. They put up a valiant demonstration of a normal life in
extremely difficult circumstances."
July/August 1998 - Deaconess Anniversary. A fifty-year anniversary pin was presented to Anne McKenzie by the Rev. Karen Mouw during the church service at St. Paul's UMC on June 21. She was commissioned as a deaconess on June 15, 1948.
May
1998 - Organ Presentation & Dedication. 
(Photo, right:
Elizabeth Nowlin, deaconess and Roberta Rice, Korea)
Family
members, friends, and staff all gave generously to provide a new
organ at the Brooks Howell Home. Waldrops House of Music and
Butler Organ Representative Sam Lowry also gave generous
discounts to make the purchase possible. Elizabeth Nowlin, who
did a great deal to enable us to have the organ, presented the
organ to Brooks-Howell. We appreciate the fact that we have
several accomplished organists in our Brooks-Howell family. The
organ was dedicated to the Glory of God on May 21, 1998.
Jeannette Byrd spoke in place of Thelma McGraw. Words of
acceptance from Thelma McGraw, Administrator:
"We are deeply grateful for the foresight, planning, and contributions that have made possible the acquisition of a new organ for our chapel. On behalf of current and future residents, staff and others, it is with a great deal of pleasure that I accept this marvelous new organ. May it be used for the Glory of God, as the music enhances out worship services and brings pleasure to all who hear it."
Jan/Feb
1999 - "Called, Served, and Serving Still"
The Call to Prayer and Self-denial program, “Called, Served,
and Serving Still” in the 1999 program book for UMW was
written by BHH resident. Esther Megill. Brooks-Howell’s video, brochures and the Serendipitor are part of the
resources available for the program. There has been good
response. We’ve sent packets to many areas, and we have a
number of new subscribers for the Serendipitor. The video is
twelve minutes long and was designed for UMW programs.
July/Aug
1999 update - Congratulations! United Methodist Women!
The 1999 Quiet Day Service for A Call to Prayer and Self-Denial
program was a tremendous success. To date, we have mailed out
more than 500 packets of information including the video,
brochures, copies of Serendipitor, a current Resident List,
“Basket of Blessing” booklets and the deaconess flyer.
Many local groups dropped by and picked up their program
materials, and we are still receiving a few requests for
information. The second phase of the program was receiving
posters, displays and hundreds of cards sent by individuals and
units of UMW to residents. These have been accumulated into a
large scrap book so that residents can read them at their
leisure. Many of you also received personal responses from the
residents who were featured in the Program Book article. For God
is not unjust; he will not overlook your work and the love you
showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do.
(Hebrews 6:10)
THANK YOU, United Methodist Women, for your wonderful work and
commitment shown in your response to another call to mission.
--Doris Gidney-Ferell, Assoc. Director Public Relations