Place of Refuge, Center of Rehabilitation

In 1996 when St. Andrew members Marion and Maralee Baumgardner and Dick and Betty Nelson toured in Egypt, Israel, and Jordan, their hearts were touched by their visit to the Four Homes of Mercy, a charitable home that UMCOR had supported for some years.  As has been the practice of UMCOR, that organization does not support a group indefinitely, and it eventually ceased to provide annual funds that had been critical to the operating expenses of Four Homes.  On our visit to Four Homes we had a chance to see the Four Homes medicine cabinet, which contained only a bottle of Tylenol.  Our whole group had carried bed sheets as gifts to Four Homes; however, seeing the lack of medical supplies, we subsequently encouraged members of another tour group, which included Tom and Melinda Stolz, doctor and nurse respectively, to take along medicines and related supplies.  As a result, several members of that group toted carry-on bags which went to Four Homes, and their contributions were greatly appreciated.

The role of Four Homes of Mercy has been to serve the lost, the last, and the least in Israel/Palestine for over 65 years of its operation.  One of the homes is designated for severely retarded or disabled children, a second for similarly retarded or disabled adults, a third for birthing mothers, and the fourth is a residential home for nurses in training. In the words of a recent Four Homes publication, “The Four Homes of Mercy provides specialized residential services and respite care for people with both congenital and acquired neurological disorders... The Four Homes of Mercy aim to give residents every opportunity to maximize and achieve their own potential.”
 
Four Homes receives limited support from the government of Israel, but it depends as for a considerable proportion of its financial support on the generosity of donor churches and similar groups.  The members of St. Andrew has  given modest, but highly appreciated support to Four Homes both through the Missions Ministry budget and through direct donations from individuals.