Final Days

>North Ridge, February 2010

Dear Friends,

It has been such a long time since I have had the opportunity to communicate with you! I’m sorry for this hiatus, but circumstances have changed my life quite a bit since last fall. I had several falls last year, and after the second one, it became clear that I could no longer stay in an independent living environment, and so the search was on for a long term care facility. With the help of all my friends at Plymouth Chapel and my son Pierre, I found a new home in New Hope Minnesota.

I moved in late last fall, and it took me a while to become oriented to my new surroundings. Of course, there was a lot of paperwork, address change activity, and getting to know the new people who are here to assist me with daily needs and activities. My new digs are quite a bit smaller, but I hope to be able to have a single room soon – for the present, I share a room with another man.

Because of my bad eye-sight, I would appreciate it if you would send any checks to my son Pierre’s address. He takes care of all my finances now. You can still make the checks out to Homer Payne. If you need tax credit, you can also send checks to CMML, as has always been the case.

I hope you will have patience with me since I now have to have someone read your correspondence to me because my eyesight has deteriorated to such an extent that I can barely read the largest of fonts – and I mean LARGE. Similarly, my hand is quite shaky, so I need help writing cards and letters. So I depend on my good friends and my son Pierre - when he is able to visit - to help me respond to your wonderful correspondence. In any case, thank you for your faithfulness in writing and gifts. It means a lot to me since my days are not as full as they once were.

I am still able to participate in church life at Plymouth Chapel, thanks to the good graces of my friends there who pick me up and bring me back from prayer meetings, Bible studies, special events and Sunday meetings. When you approach 100, life becomes quite different and it seems you need help from a lot more people than you ever imagined would be necessary.

One of my discoveries in this new home is that I have a wonderful opportunity to give blessings and pray for the attendants in the home. Many of them are immigrants from different African states, and have a profound need for friendship and warm human contact. They live in a world that is alien to them, and often feel it to be hard and impersonal. So some of them find that praying and having a blessing said for them is encouraging. There is never an ending to what God can do. So there are still opportunities to witness and help – people are always open to an attitude of helpfulness and the message of scripture.

Note from Pierre

Since this letter was composed, my father’s condition has deteriorated quite a bit. He seems to alternate between periods of lucidity and other times when he is confused about his whereabouts and condition. It has also become quite difficult to understand him.

Due to his diabetes, he has lost feeling in his feet, and therefore is not secure in his balance. As a result, he has taken several falls, and so a few weeks ago, the attendants concluded that he could no longer walk by himself. This means that most of his time is now spent in a wheel chair.

We are very glad that we were able to get him into North Ridge. We know that the home is run in a very professional manner, and that those taking care of him are doing an excellent job.

He is getting regular visits from the members of Plymouth Chapel, which is a great comfort to him.

Thank you for your continued prayers. I know that until God decides to call him to Himself, your intercessions will support him spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

God bless each of you for the long friendships and ties you have kept alive over the years. We will be in touch as things change. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to write me at ppayne@mgicommunications.com.

Pierre