Rochester is a beautiful city where the world-renowned Mayo Clinic is found. This service unit consists of six volunteers and their houseparents.

The volunteers work 5½ days a week at any of these places: Gift of Life Transplant House, Hope Lodge, Mayo Clinic, St. Mary’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, and the Rochester Mennonite Guest Home. At the Gift of Life Transplant House, they clean the kitchens and rooms. At Hope Lodge, they answer the phone, give tours, and clean. At Mayo Clinic, they work in the cafeteria, pass out children’s books, escort patients from recovery rooms, give hand massages to chemotherapy patients, and answer questions at information desks. At the St. Mary’s Hospital, they work in the Sisters’ Crossing Gift Shop, clean playrooms, help the Child Life staff, deliver flowers, and take a library cart around to patient rooms. At Ronald McDonald House, they sit at the front desk, answer the phone, and clean. At the Rochester Mennonite Guest Home, they help with the cleaning.

Singing is a large part of our witness in the city. We sing twice a week at the hospitals and guest home. Two Tuesday evenings a month are spent singing at the Gift of Life Transplant House and Hope Lodge, sometimes with the help of a youth group.

Sunday church services are held in the basement of an office building together with the guest home and mission couples, followed with lunch together at one of our homes. We encounter many opportunities to share our faith with the ones we work with and those suffering from illnesses. We feel privileged to work in friendly Rochester.

History

Rochester is a quiet, beautiful city, where the world-renowned Mayo Clinic is located. The service unit began in 1999 and consists of six young ladies and a set of house parents. The unit house, situated in a peaceful neighborhood, is within walking distance of St. Marys Hospital of 1200+ beds where the girls volunteer in the gift shop, which is a highlight of the work schedule. The other jobs in this hospital are the library cart, delivering flower bouquets, and the coffee route.

The young ladies also volunteer at Gift of Life Transplant House. Patients who are in the process of having a transplant stay here. Some of these people stay an extended length of time, and we get to know them quite well. The friendly staff is enjoyable to work with, and we have many good times with them.
Hope Lodge is a similar operation, but for cancer patients who are receiving chemotherapy or radiation at the Mayo Clinic. Two of the volunteers work here a couple days a week. Tasks include working behind the front desk, answering the phone, giving tours, and some cleaning.