SENT TO SERVE: MISSION NURSING HOME

BY CINDY CARLSON

Opened in 1964, Mission Nursing Home is the only skilled-care facility in Minnesota exclusively for men. They provide care for up to 65 residents who experience a variety of physical and behavioral health issues.

St. Philip the Deacon became involved with Mission Nursing Home in 2018 as one of our Christmas Care ministries. Members of the congregation have provided Christmas gifts and SPD hosted a Christmas party and caroling. This has been a delightful experience for both residents and SPD members. Faye Uppman, who helped with the party, reflected, “Mission Home’s residents have touched my heart. After the first Christmas party event, many of the men simply said, ‘Thank you for remembering us.’” Uppman continued, “Even if they were not able to speak or open their presents themselves, the one-to-one attention given to them sparked a light in their eyes, even if only for a short while. I saw a smile slowly appear on a face that only moments before had a habitual frown. I heard stories and beautiful singing voices.”

SPD member Lory Dornbusch also has a heart for Mission Nursing Home and the residents. On most days you will find a group of residents sitting outdoors, near the entrance, enjoying sunshine, fresh air and conversation. Lory had a vision to help make this entrance area more welcoming for both the residents and the staff. She has provided bird baths, bird feeders, perennial plants from her garden and added colorful annuals for a splash of color at the entrance. With the help of a small SPD garden team, they have moved dirt and mulch, weeded, and watered the gardens. The entrance now reflects that welcome spirit that Dornbusch envisioned.

In 2022, the staff at Mission Nursing Home asked if St. Philip the Deacon would make the on-site libraries more resident friendly. A team, led by Faye Uppman, cleaned up, stored, reorganized and refurbished these spaces. The libraries are now maintained regularly by members of SPD, and they are much more accessible to the residents. “Mission Home is a simple, unadorned facility which provides a safe home for these men. Their library had been untouched for years and the books mostly unusable on the shelves,” said Uppman. “A crew of SPD members reorganizing the library has made a difference in the day-to-day life for many of the men. It is a joy to see it ‘mussed up’ as it is evidence of use. I serve there so the men will know they are remembered.”

If you are interested in serving at Mission Nursing Home, or in any of the ministry areas below, please contact Cindy Carlson at ccarlson@spdlc.org for more information on getting involved.