A NEW Effort to Stay in Touch!
To our knowledge, while previous Boards have sent out letters to supporters, mission co-workers, and members of the Furlough Home Board, this is the first attempt to share news of the Furlough Home in a blog or online newsletter. Depending on interest, we will attempt to make this a quarterly endeavor.
Recent Activity
The Executive Board met virtually on January 13, 2021. To meet rising costs, the monthly charge for utilities (cable, internet, electricity, gas, water) and upkeep of common areas will be increased for future residents from $200 to $300, effective June 1, 2021. Presbyterian mission co-workers and missionaries from other denominations are still not charged rent, thanks to the generosity of our PWs who funded our endowment and the wise management of that endowment by prior Board members and the Seminary.
With an aging building and mounting repairs and renovations expected, Finance Chair and Treasurer Rick McClain is arranging for an inspection of the Home to determine exactly what needs to be done in the next few years. As the portion of the Seminary property where the Furlough Home is located is still on the market, we feel a little uneasy about continuing to spend money on a building that could be knocked down by a future owner. Board Co-Moderator Emily Seeger has made inquiries to the Seminary about the possibility of our purchasing a few acres surrounding the Home so that we have a more secure position from which to operate, but there is no news to report.
Needs
We are struggling a bit to keep up with cleaning. While we do hire professionals to handle floors and surfaces, the Housekeeping Committee typically does a "deep clean" of an apartment in preparation for new residents that involves going over every other inch of the space with a proverbial fine-toothed comb. Dwindling numbers on the committee, along with serious health issues of members, have made this work difficult to accomplish. We are seeking additional volunteers to help on these dates: April 8 (Apartment 2), April 16 (Apartment 1), and July 9 (Apartment 4). We will begin at 9 am and typically bring a sack lunch so that we can work for a number of hours until the apartment is completed. Pam Glaze, Housekeeping Co-Chair, has a detailed list of tasks that we divide. To RSVP, email pamelamglaze@gmail.com.
Current Residents
We've had a full house over the holidays--the first time in many, many years--and so our Care and Nurture Committee (Emily Seeger and Faye Fedlam) literally decked the halls.
Apartment 2: Jerry Van Marter and
wife Eva Stimson (11/2/20 to 2/21) Jerry is the Presbytery Stated Clerk. He and his wife are renting, which helps defray FH expenses. Jerry shared this note for the newsletter:
When we decided last fall to have our house remodeled, we began to search for a place we could stay temporarily while the renovation was being done. Through our work on the national staff of the PC(USA) and Jerry’s work as stated clerk of Mid-Kentucky Presbytery, we had become aware of the Furlough Home and so contacted Emily Seeger and learned that an apartment was available.
Since November 1, we have been comfortably ensconced in Apartment 2 and it has been a true blessing for us. It is a 15-minute walk/5-minute drive from our house, so the location is perfect. It is furnished, so we didn’t have to worry about moving a lot of stuff into it. And we are particularly blessed by the relationships we have established with our fellow residents and the Furlough Home “staff” and volunteers.
We will always consider the Furlough Home part of our home and our fellow residents part of our family. Thanks be to God for the Furlough Home.
Jerry Van Marter and Eva Stimson
Apartment 3: Tyler and Rochelle Holm and daughter, Mphatso Holm (3/27/20 to 6/21) Tyler serves in Ekwendeni, Malawi, at the invitation of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP), Synod of Livingstonia. He is a lecturer of systematic theology and church history in the Faculty of Theology at the University of Livingstonia, which prepares future CCAP ministers and community leaders. Contact him at Tyler@tylerholm.com. We celebrated Mphatso's birthday in November with a little virtual party.
Apartment 4: Jo Ella Holman (7/4/20 to 7/31/21) She retired as regional liaison for the Caribbean on September 17. Jo Ella will stay at the Furlough Home for a year as she transitions. She can be reached at joella.holman@gmail.com.
WAYS RESIDENTS CAN HELP “AROUND THE HOUSE”
We frequently have residents ask us how they can help
around the Furlough Home.
Here are some suggestions. And… by the way, thanks for asking.
WATER LANDSCAPE PLANTS IN SUMMER
SHOVEL SNOW OR PUT OUT SALT ON WALKWAY IN WINTER
BIKE MAINTENANCE
VACUUM YOUR HALLWAY
EMPTY BASEMENT BATH and LAUNDRY ROOM WASTEBASKETS when full (take to dumpster).
PICK UP LARGE STICKS FROM THE FRONT LAWN….please dump in the woods
INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND WORLD MISSION TO SEMINARY STUDENTS
CELEBRATE TOGETHER….
….have a cookout
….play guitar or piano for other residents
….share a meal
….pray for each other
Please Note: This is entirely voluntary. And thank you.
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