well. I knew patients would be excited, but families are just thrilled to see their love ones receive the cakes. It’s amazing the reactions we get.” The Elvis fan loved her cake so much that she suggested preserving it somehow and hanging the fabulous creation on her wall. Elliott’s cake ministry was born during a pastor appreciation event hosted by Hospice Compassus. Elliott serves First Church of the Nazarene as an administrative pastor and as minister of music. During that event, Elliott heard a strong message about volunteering and got to thinking about the various talents she might be able to share. “They didn’t mention cakes, but it just popped into my brain. I thought ‘Who doesn’t like getting a cake,’ especially when it tastes good!” Elliott is a veteran of all things baked and frosted, too. She’s been making and decorating cakes for 37 years. Her very first cake was for her daughter’s first birthday.
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“I really enjoyed it. For one thing they let me be creative, let my creative juices flow,” she said, adding that personalizing a cake for each recipient is very important to her. “It’s not just some cake off the shelf. I include something about the person in the cake. If there is a precious 90-year-old grandma who likes flowers and lace, that’s what I’ll do. They know it was made just for them.” Elliott bought her first set of highquality Wilton baking pans while she was living in Korea, where her husband had been stationed. Her most expensive pan cost her a whopping buck fifty. Since that first birthday party, Elliott has faithfully pulled cakes out of her oven for everything from graduations to weddings. But her favorites just might be these cakes for hospice patients. “My cakes are just a reminder to hospice patients that they are still extremely valuable. The fact that they are ill doesn’t detract from their value as people. These are just wonderful people! I know they are laying there ill and feeling useless sometimes, but I know they are valuable not just to family and friends, but also to the Lord.” The cakes have demonstrated something important to Elliott, too. Miracles can come from small things that are given with great love. “Sometimes we feel that we have to do big, grandiose things to help somebody. If people are sitting at home right now thinking ‘I wish there is something I can do,’ there is! There are plenty of everyday COMPASSION
organizations in town they can help, and Hospice Compassus is one of them. “Today they just need to look down at their own talents, take a good look at their talent bank and go spend it on someone else.” 11