Posted on 08/16/2006 6:07:16 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
SANTA CRUZ - When Sherry McDermott volunteered at Tara Home caring for a friend dying of cancer, she was impressed.
The retreat in the Soquel redwoods on property owned by the Land of Medicine Buddha provides a peaceful place for people to die, and McDermott's volunteer experience made her ask: What are Christians doing to meet this need?
She prayed, and talked with others at her church, Bonny Doon Presbyterian. The result was a vision to train Christians of any denomination to care for people who are dying and eventually provide a place where they could receive care and die in peace.
Over the past two years, the vision has taken shape. A new nonprofit was created with the name of Jordan House, representing the idea of crossing over from life to death. Volunteers from a dozen local churches have been trained; they began offering their services last November and have assisted 10 families.
Now, even though real estate prices are sky-high compared to two years ago, volunteers are organizing a luau for 500 people to raise money toward acquiring property. The goal is to provide a home-like setting where a person with terminal illness could receive full-time care.
McDermott sees the Jordan House volunteers as a complement to Hospice Caring Project, a Santa Cruz nonprofit founded in 1978 to help families when a loved one has a terminal illness. Professional staff on the Hospice team visit patients on a periodic basis while Jordan House volunteers are hands-on caregivers.
Tree Dunbar, a registered nurse and director of clinical services at Hospice Caring Project, said Jordan House volunteers help fill a gap in care.
"We're happy that they're there and that they've developed this volunteer effort," Dunbar said.
For McDermott, who describes herself as a "hermit woman" raising goats and chickens in Bonny Doon, the project represents a leap of faith. At 64, she has been living with cancer for seven years.
"I'm expecting when the time is right, the Lord will provide," she said.
Jim Seybert met Sherry McDermott through a cancer support group where he served as the pastor.
She shared her vision and Seybert, who is affiliated with Santa Cruz Bible Church, told her, "Let's go for it and see what happens."
Seybert now serves as president of the board of the directors for Jordan House.
He agreed that buying property might seem impossible, but he's open to other possibilities such as someone bequeathing a home, granting a long-term lease at a reasonable rate or agreeing to a lease-purchase arrangement. As board president, one of Seybert's tasks is to spread the word about Jordan House.
"One reason for the luau is to let people know we're here," he said.
Sally Thomas heard about Jordan House from Sherry McDermott. They are neighbors in Bonny Doon; they both sing in the choir at Bonny Doon Presbyterian Church.
"It's funny how things go," said Thomas, who had retired after 22 years with UC Santa Cruz Extension.
She had volunteered for Hospice Caring Project and found the experience enriching.
"It's the best part of my week," she said.
As McDermott explained that Jordan House would be hiring its first staffer, a part-time position, Thomas was intrigued.
"I knew Jordan House was what I wanted to do," she said.
Monterey Bay Academy, a private school run by the Seventh-Day Adventists with oceanfront property in La Selva Beach, agreed to host the luau on Sept. 3. Organizers hope to raise $24,000.
The theme is all-out aloha, with a Hawaiian buffet, live music by Huna Wai, fire and knife dancer Dondi Reyes, and emcees from KAPU-FM, the local radio station that plays Hawaiian music.
Gods Blessing be upon then and their efforts.
I could do something like this, right up to the moment someone I was caring for passed away. I don't think could handle getting close to people and then having them leave on a continuing basis.
These are truly incredible people.
CC&E
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