The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1931, Page 106

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106

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER

a blessing. The following week the missionary
came and administered the Sacrament to her.
After twenty-three years she had again received
Communion from a Lutheran pastor.

As you read these simple, short stories, dear
reader, do not forget that the soul of an inmate of
a hospital, of a home for the aged, of a prison, is
just as precious in the sight of the Savior as yours
or mine. God loves every soul and does not desire
the death of any unconverted sinner. The Savior
who told the story of the Lost Sheep when in the
days of His flesh has not changed His attitude to
the lost ones in the least; His invitation, earnest
and tender, is still, “Come unto Me!” “Him that
cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.”

re

Mission in a County Home.

This is Sunday afternoon. We are on our way
to the county infirmary to conduct the regular semi-
monthly service among the unfortunate poor and
aged people. Upon our arrival the superintendent
greets us and immediately calls the inmates to-
gether for worship.

The sight that greets our eyes as they come

marching in is a sad one. Crippled, halt, and those.

sick of the palsy, and finally a blind man, who
enters the room with uncertain step, led by his
caretaker. Indeed a picture mingled with sorrow
and pain. Very reverently and attentively those
who have assembled here listen to the reading of
a Scripture-passage. As many as are able to do so
take part in the singing of the hymns. The eye-
sight of a number of them is so poor that they can-
not read and therefore cannot join in the singing.

The sermon is delivered in simple words, so that
it may be grasped by the hungry souls who long for
the Bread of Life. Outside of the regular festival
days the sermons for the past year were based on
Old Testament Bible-stories, which are always lis-
tened to with great interest. Twenty-one are in
attendance this afternoon; four were not able to
leave their rooms. Immediately after the service
a friendly hand is extended to all, and encouraging
words are spoken. Then the bedside calls are made,
so that no one is overlooked. There we hear of
varied experiences these inmates of the infirmary
had in their lives. In the women’s ward there are

two inmates who are confined to their rooms. Let
us stop in and have a little visit with them.
The first one is blind and physically weak, but

of sound mind. We read a psalm to her, over
which she may meditate during the following two
weeks. After having spoken to her a while, we ask,
“In whom do you trust for your salvation?” The
disappointing answer is given, “I am doing all I can
to get to heaven. I am trying to lead a good life.”
However, after some further questioning we are led
to believe that she did not mean to say what her
words indicated, but that after all she trusted only
in the merits of Christ for her salvation, which faith
she confessed later during the visit.

As we enter the next room, we are greatly
touched. We see a woman about sixty-five years
old lying in bed who is really nothing but skin and
bones. There she lies, with a raised arm shaking
a clenched fist at us as we enter. But on her face
there is a beautiful smile, which says, “You are.
welcome.” Yes, that is the fact. She longs for
these regular visits. The first thing she asks for
after the greeting is, “Won’t you sing for me?”
We do so gladly. Her favorite song is “Rock of
Ages,” to which she listens with eager delight. It is
food for her hungry soul. When asked what will
happen to her after she dies, she replies: “T’ll go
to heaven.” “With whom will you be in heaven?”
Comes the happy answer, “With Jesus. I often
pray Him to take me there soon.” Behind that
threatening fist beats a heart cleansed by the blood
of Jesus.

Now that we have completed our visits in the
Women’s Ward, we are going over to the Men’s
Ward. Here, again, the first bed that we reach
contains a blind person, a man. He is almost
eighty years old and is not only blind, but also has
a broken hip-bone. But never a cross word of com-
plaint leaves his lips. He is overjoyed at our visit,
for he, too, trusts that some day he shall see and
behold with new eyes the Savior in heaven. “How
do you pass the time while lying in bed?” we ask.
“T pray to God,” he answers. “Why do you pray
to Him?” Immediately comes the confident an-
swer: “Because He is the only one that can
help me.” “But do you think that God will hear
your prayer?” We continue to ask. “Yes,” he
rejoins. “How do you know that?” “From the
Bible,” is the reply. Yes, he believes also that the
blood of Jesus Christ has cleansed him from all his
sins. Not only he, but also we are strengthened in
faith by this sincere and joyous confession of this
poor blind man.

The last of our bedside calls takes us to a man
who is comparatively young, only about forty-five.
He is bedfast because his lower limbs and his right