Fort Scott Community Matters December 2018

Commun ty Matters Fort Scott Presbyterian Village

The reason for the season

Just one week before Christmas Once prayers had been heard, The people were scurrying To get out God’s Word.

Missionary shares message of hope

The hymns were being sung To Holy God above, In thanks for Him sending, Jesus Christ and His love.

Christmas brings remembrance Of family and friends, And the importance of our sharing A love without end.

Our blessings are too numerous, Our hearts filled with joy, Yet our eyes have often drifted Away from our Lord!

The Christmas season brings forth The best in most souls, To help those less fortunate And lighten their load.

Salvation was offered For all to receive, If only each person Would listen, heed and believe.

So if you don’t know Him Down deep in your heart, Ask Him to save you now You’ll be changed on the spot.

– Submitted by Cheryl White

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December 2018

What a joy it was to meet Benedicter Mwikali Tsuma, a missionary from Malindi, Kenya. She recently spoke to the tenants and guests about her mission work in Kenya to give food and clothing to villagers. She is also involved in helping with others’ needs as the mission team sees necessary. She tells the villagers about God’s word and is on a praise team in church.

While she was at Presbyterian Village she shared a few praise songs in her language, “Kamba.”

Bendedicter, along with six other missionaries from Benedicter Mwikali Tsuma, a missionary She recently spoke to the tenants and guests about her mission work in Kenya.

MISSIONARY continued on page 4

Tree-rific tradition

When thinking about Christmas the best memories most of us have are about the Christmas tree.

Did you know?

- The Christmas tree was used in winter festival and this was first a pagan tradition designed to symbolize life in the middle of winter in the 1500s.

- In the late 1500s, a missionary spread a legend saying that every tree miraculously threw off ice and snow when Christ was born to reveal green branches. This softened the stance on the Christmas tree. Today it is tradition in almost every home and is also used in a lot of churches because of the representation of the birth of Jesus.

- The evergreen tree represents the birth of Jesus because He gives a chance at new life through him. The candles that were used to decorate the tree were a representation of the Christians as the light of world. The decorations that are hung on the tree branches represent the souls that have accepted Jesus as their savior.

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Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Fort Scott Presbyterian Village by Presbyterian Manors of 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org.

Ginger Nance, executive director Becky Kellum, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact rkellum@pmma.org.

Telephone: 620-223-5550 Fax: 620-223-7800 Address: 2401 S. Horton, Fort Scott, KS 66701 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.

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- After the celebration of Christmas, the trees were cut up for kindling to help keep the families warm.

Just as Jesus can warm the coldest of hearts if allowed into those hearts.

So, the next time you see a beautiful tree remember that it truly represents new life. Have a Merry Christmas!

Let’s make music!

Presbyterian Village would like to give an invitation to community groups to come carol for the tenants or play an instrument such as bells or a violin. Music makes the season much more magical! Please contact Jo Bedsole at 620223-5550.

Why people in their 70s, 80s and beyond might want to meditate

I am sitting comfortably in my chair taking a course on mindfulness and meditation.

Like those around me, I want to cope better with stress and feel more relaxed.

But more than that, I am intrigued by my fellow “students.” After all, an assisted living community is hardly your usual meditation venue.

out of money? What will happen to me when I can’t stay in my home? Am I going to die alone? There’s worrying about how they will cope if their spouse dies first, going over and over a strained family relationship, or perhaps anxiety about burdening their kids with their care.

But along with that, it also teaches us to be kinder to ourselves.

Q: How are you seeing meditation’s impact in your classes?

Walkers and canes dot the room. Behind Meditation is like a pause button that A:There have been several situations me is a woman in her 80s wearing a jaunty breaks the cycle of worry. It can help where people have had significant health glittered cap. She is tethered to an oxygen older adults better accept their changing crises, like a brain tumor or prostate tank that whooshes in and out. bodies or chronic pain. It puts them cancer.When I told them not to worry more in control of their lives. about attending class, they’ve said, “No, I The whooshing sound fades as I follow my need this right now” or “When I was in instructor’s words: “Close your eyes. Now Q:When people meditate, the breathe in through your nose, then exhale, focus is on the present.Why is that the ER, I wouldn’t let my mind think that I was dying and instead I stayed with feeling the breath go from your shoulders significant? my breath.” to your rib cage and into your belly.”

A: Older adults often live in the future with their fears or get caught up in the Q: How does meditation work Many benefits of meditation past.

With mindfulness, you can catch when you have mobility issues?

Our instructor is Bob Linscott from the yourself and think, “In this moment, I A: As we age, we may have issues with Center for Mindfulness at the University am okay.”

Meditation quiets the mind balance, strength and agility. But with of Massachusetts Medical School. He and is very calming. mindfulness meditation, you can do it all believes that mindfulness and meditation, often referred to as “mindfulness Q: So meditation is a different way sitting in a chair regardless of mobility or ability.You can also do it anytime and meditation,” can help adults in their 70s, of dealing with stress? anywhere — walking, standing in line 80s and beyond come to terms with the A:Yes! We used to think of stress as a challenges of aging. life-threatening incident when the body with a walker or cane, lying down or sitting. has to prepare for fight or flight. But as Why? Research shows the profound Personal reflection on meditation psychological and physiological benefits of we age, stress can also be ruminating and worrying. meditation for reducing stress, depression, I may not be in my 70s or 80s yet, but as pain, and boosting emotional well-being.

When you have all this extra time alone, I get older, I have become more anxious it’s easy to ruminate. Meditation teaches about the future. I also find myself Questions and answers about us to let go of that and work with rehashing some of the same stuff and the meditation negative thoughts and how we react to “If only I had. . .”

I asked Linscott to talk more about our stress.We learn new patterns of course geared to older adults: responding and that’s where we begin to I find that I am more relaxed and calm after I have meditated. As someone in my see transformation.

Q:What are some of the issues class so aptly put it, “When I meditate I around “mindful aging” that It’s harder for older people because don’t know where I go, but I would like meditation helps? they’ve spent their entire lives with to go there more!”

A: Everything! When people get older, these patterns. Meditation helps them

By Sally Abrahms they tend to ruminate: Am I going to run slow down and take a minute to react. © Next Avenue - 2018. All rights reserved.

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The benefits of mindfulness meditation for older adults

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MISSIONARY continued from page 1 Kenya, parted ways once they landed at the airport in the U.S. Then each went to other states sharing with churches across the country about their missions back in Kenya.

Benedicter also shared her head dress and attire that is worn in her country. Each community has their own attire, and the community Benedicter lives in what is called the Massai community. This head dress and attire is for the married ladies of the community, and they wear it for events such as weddings and other ceremonies. The single ladies from the community wear the head dress.

Thank you, Benedicter, for your time and testimony. What a treat!

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