The Eighth Station:
Jesus embraces the unclean

Arrival at the Golden Age Home Cluster (G)

Cluster G was adopted in 1991 and is home to elderly, senile, and infirm residents. Some of these seniors have been abandoned by their families or simply outlived their families. All of the residents are former street people and without this cluster would have died on the streets of Kingston. The cluster provides a comfortable environment where these people can live out their sunset days in dignity and comfort. Ms Yvonne Thomas manages the cluster.

It’s a sprawling facility located on 13 acres of land at the foot of the Wareika Hills in Kingston, Jamaica and is home to approximately 360 elderly and handicapped residents. The Golden Age Home, is strategically close to several major hospitals. It was built in 1985 following a devastating fire at the existing Government facility, Eventide which took the lives of 153 residents. The facility became home to the survivors of that disaster.

Seven of the eight housing units, called clusters, remain open to care for these forgotten members of society. Each cluster consists of a square one- story building which surrounds a courtyard. The courtyard allows the non ambulatory residents and the mentally and physically challenged to enjoy a garden like setting, while remaining in the safe confines of the cluster.

I found these residents to be extremely religious and spiritual many of them would recite to me their favorite bible verse the two most common that I heard were “the Lord is my Shepherd whom should I fear” and “The Lord is my Light and my Salvation.” They were so grateful just to have a place to live and a bed to lay on, and food. Most were in such good spirits. I went there to minister to them and they ended up ministering to me. They made me realize in their contentment. As life is in it’s twilight for them that being with their friends and having faith in God is all they needed. I remember praying a short prayer asking God to never let me forget that valuable lesson.

 

 

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