Rolla Community Matters August 2021

Rolla Presbyterian Manor

AUGUST 2021

Allen Teal served Presbyterian Manor in financial, spiritual roles Allen Teal, our chaplain and business manager, retired last month after more than 10 years of service to Rolla Presbyterian Manor.

In a manner of speaking, the economy brought Allen to our community. He served as the head pastor of a church that struggled financially during the Great Recession.

“The recession hit my church pretty hard, so I decided to take a salary reduction and work part time at the church and part time here,” he said.

Allen began working as an accounting assistant for Presbyterian Manor, a job he heard about through his wife Betty, who then served as the director of nursing.

Allen Teal

The role evolved over the years. Executive Director Ann Caudill asked him if he would be interested in serving as the community chaplain.

In 2014, he began writing a monthly column for Community Matters.

In 2015, the Allen family went through a series of hardships, beginning with Betty’s brain surgery. (She has since fully recovered).

“I felt like my family needed a lot of my time,” he said. “After

Dealing with challenges and choices

By Allen Teal, chaplain at Rolla Presbyterian Manor But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God” (Acts 5:39, NIV).

A battleship cruised along on a dark, foggy night. In the distance, the lights of a second ship pierced the gloom. As the moments passed, it became evident that the two ships were on a collision course. The battleship captain had a message flashed to the other ship to turn out of his path.

Immediately, a reply returned instructing the battleship should be the one to turn.

Believing that his vessel held a higher rank, the captain had the message repeated and added that he was a battleship. Once again, the message flashed back instructing the battleship to turn. This message also carried an extra tag telling the captain that the light in the distance was a lighthouse.

Devotion – continued on page 4

Teal – continued on page 3 Get the latest on visitation and COVID-19 at our campus at RollaPresbyterianManor.org/covid-19.

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Rolla campus shares resident satisfaction survey results

Rolla Presbyterian Manor continues to seek customer feedback through monthly telephone surveys. Each month, residents and their representatives are randomly selected to participate in telephone satisfaction surveys conducted by Pinnacle Quality Insight.

and May 2021, Rolla Presbyterian Manor residents and their families gave the community high scores in offering safety and security, cleanliness, and ease of the move-in process. In addition, the residents and their families indicated a high likelihood of recommending the senior living community to others.

The graphic above highlights some of the survey results. All scores are given on a 5-point scale, with 5 being the highest score and 1 the lowest score. Between June 2020

“Most important to me is having somebody who has good knowledge of the care of elderly people,” one survey respondent

said. “I would tell [others] that being there changed my mind about eventually being in a [community] like that.

We greatly value the opinions of our residents and their representatives about the care and services we provide, and we encourage them to participate honestly when contacted by Pinnacle Quality Insight. All state and federal confidentiality laws are met in Pinnacle’s service. u

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Community Matters 573-364-7336 ◆ Fax: 573-364-7495 1200 Homelife Plaza Rolla, MO 65401-2595 RollaPresbyterianManor.org

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COMMUNITY MATTERS | August 2021

is published monthly for residents and friends of Rolla Presbyterian Manor

by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

To submit or suggest articles: lfreeland@PMMA.org Ann Caudill, executive director Joelle Freeland, marketing director

OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.

Teal – continued from page 1 consulting with the Lord, I made the decision to step away from the pastorate for a while.”

That’s when Allen started working at Presbyterian Manor full time. His chaplaincy hours increased, and he took a larger role in the business office.

Over the years, he has provided both spiritual support and financial education to residents and staff.

One of the things that surprised him is the value he has found in conducting memorial services for residents.

“We’re here to help you make the journey not just out of this life,

but through it,” he said. “When people depart, we have the opportunity to give thanks for having had a part in their life, and also to talk about our own mortality, which is hard for many of us to face.”

Allen has plenty of things to fill his time during his retirement.

He’s starting by taking a family vacation to the beach with Betty, their two daughters and two grandchildren.

A prolific writer, he plans to continue writing Bible study booklets and novels, many of which are available for purchase on Amazon. He has published several spiritual

books and two romance novels so far. One of the top items on his writing agenda is finishing the third book in a science fiction trilogy.

He would also like to continue preaching some, and he’s talked to the life enrichment department about returning to Presbyterian Manor to volunteer a couple of times a month.

“I have really appreciated the opportunity to be here,” he said.

“I really, really enjoy the residents. We have a lot of fun laughing and talking. Not necessarily about anything profound — just being friends.”u

Enjoy your summer!

Rolla Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY

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1200 Homelife Plaza Rolla, MO 65401-2595 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Devotion – continued from page 1

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Big challenges can seem daunting.

Sometimes situations may offer too many choices.

We all face obstacles that seem too large to overcome. Sometimes, it may feel like fighting against God himself. Like the lighthouse in the opening paragraph, it may be God’s attempt to get us to change our course. In the role of the battleship captain, humans lack the capacity to see through the fog. Tomorrow is a mystery to us, but not to God. At these times, we must lean on the arms of God. Trust that if he led you to the trial, he will also lead you through the trial.

Not all choices fall into the category of good and bad. You may have two positive options.

Unfortunately, it can also feel like you face multiple bad options.

Occasionally, God presents you with such choices to allow you to exercise your free will. Be aware that even two similar paths may lead to diverse outcomes. You must determine the direction that will leave you closest to your ultimate goals—personally, financially and relationally. God will give you guidance if you listen for his voice in your heart.

COMMUNITY MATTERS | August 2021

An old hymn reminds us: I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee, Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend; And I know that Thou art with me, Wilt be with me to the end.

—M. R. Stead (1850-1917) u