Outreach & Ministry
Written September 8, 2008
I am starting outreach in my local community and I am so excited about it & I wanted to share with all of you.
In April, when I was still pregnant with Jillian, I contacted my local Hospice. I sat down with Will, one of the Bereavement Counselors, and described my vision to him. I told him I wanted Hospice to be seen as service for all types of loss. Although that is what they provide, when we think Hospice we think old people, end of life. I wanted to have it become common knowledge and well understood that if you just lost your baby, Hospice is there for you. Will was excited to get started. They did support groups on occasion, but I wanted us to be OUT THERE. Shortly after, I started having complications with my pregnancy and had to put our plans on hold. Then Jillian came and the whirlwind of having a newborn took all of my time. Last month I got in touch with Will again and said I was ready to continue with our plans. I asked three close friends who have also experienced losses to join me to sit on a panel during the support group. We have been meeting with Will and discussing what we would like to see happen for the group itself, and give him some suggestions and information, as the whole idea of PILA is new to him. It has helped us and him as well I would say. So, our dates are set: we will be doing two opening meetings, one October 6th for Pregnancy Loss and one October 9th for Infant Loss, and then both groups meet together for the next 6 Thursdays in a combined support group.
During that time, I am organizing a separate meeting at my church on October 15th (PIL Remembrance Day) in which everyone from the group will be invited to attend. I have contacted approx. 30 local churches to announce the meeting for me, and I have put up flyers anywhere I can think of. I hope for a good turnout. My church was great when I asked to use the space, and when I mentioned there were things I wanted to hand out to the mothers, keepsakes and such, they wrote me a check to buy my "wish list."
I am meeting with the local hospital to offer my help there as well, with their support group. I am looking into becoming a certified bereavement counselor. I want to be available to the mothers at the hospital, either in their hospital rooms or in their homes. Having been through it, I know what an impact it would make to have someone come in that can say "I AM SO SORRY," and actually mean it. Not that counselors and others don't try, but as the grieving mother, it is NOT the same, because you know this person does not really understand because they have not lived it themselves.
I have come up with the idea to have Mother's Comfort Baskets full of lotions, coffee, chocolate... things a woman can use to pamper herself and bring a bit of comfort. I am contacting all local businesses to donate items for the baskets. I want to have them available to give out the evening of October 15th as well as any time I meet a mother for grief support in the community.
I am excited about a vision I have of running a store where I sell my jewelry and do my outreach from the same location. I would use the income from the jewelry business to fund my outreach. This will only become a reality if I can find people to help with the resources I need to make this dream a reality.
Please pray for me, and that I can find a way to devote my time to my outreach and ministry.
If anyone would be willing to donate to my cause, please see my "Donations" page.