Webster defines hospice as “a place of shelter for travelers or a home for the sick or poor.” These words, especially the word shelter and the word home, conger up in most of us thoughts and feelings of warmth, comfort, love and security.
For people dealing with catastrophic illness and end of life issues, whether here in our country or abroad, these words take on even more significance.
Aren’t all human beings, made in God’s image, deserving of no less than this?
In the U.S., hospice care is commonplace and accessible to most of us. But in other places in our world, such as third world countries, hospice care is unheard of and/or in it’s infancy.
Thankfully, in Tanzania, where the Murnyaks have been our missionaries for over 20 years, hospice care is already a reality and part of a growing African movement. Much of the work and credit goes to Dr. Kristopher and Rebecca Hartwig, whose efforts in this area of service have been tireless. They continue to listen to God’s clear leading in their lives.
We, as a church, Zion Lutheran, help support these people and this mission by our prayerful and monitory support through our Global Missions Committee. Prayerfully consider this day, supporting these ongoing efforts by a financial gift and by remembering this program in your prayers.
