Enriching T
Lives, Together
his past December, Landis Homes residents were invited to participate in horse-drawn carriage rides with proceeds benefitting the Caring Fund. Tinking it sounded like fun, they separately signed up for the carriage ride. Tey had no idea they were in for a sweet surprise.
Movita and her husband George got into the carriage and sat down. Arlene was already on the bench seated next to Movita. It was dark so Arlene asked Movita her name, and Movita introduced herself. Arlene hesitated, and Movita wondered why.
“I used to know a Movita Riggs that lived in Mountville,” Arlene said. A little surprised, Movita replied, “Tat was me!”
A happy reunion commenced when they both realized they had gone to school together more than 75 years ago.
During their time apart, Movita met George in high school, and later they were married. Tey had two daughters and lived and worked locally for many years. In 2016, they decided to settle down at Landis Homes. Tey had lived in a house right down the road, so they knew all about it.
Arlene went to college and then taught in schools locally. From there, she spent 22 years in Ethiopia with Eastern Mennonite Missions. Afterward, she returned to the United States and took on the position of Director of Volunteer Services at Landis Homes. When her sight began deteriorating, she retired and became a resident at Landis Homes.
Te unexpected reunion took place in December 2021. Te horse- drawn carriage rides were part of the Christmas Bazaar as a way to unite residents and raise funding for the Caring Fund. Due to COVID-19 and physical distancing, Movita and Arlene hadn’t run into each other on campus.
After the carriage ride, they got together and compared photographs of their childhoods. Tey were able to identify some mutual friends as well as each other.
“After all these years, I still cannot believe that I ran into someone I used to go to school with. What a small world,” Movita shared.
Landis.org | FLOURISH | Summer 2022 • 5
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