These Hands…

“Through Covid, I would sit there, holding residents’ hands,” Shelly Mann, Lead Enrichment Specialist, recalled, “and I would think of all the things their hands had done that I didn’t know about.” 

After Messiah Lifeways at Messiah Village closed its doors to visitors in response to the coronavirus pandemic, team members like Shelly became even more like family for residents, providing companionship and comfort while their loved ones could not.

What have these hands done? -Shelly Mann

As she sat with different Nursing Care residents, she’d wonder, ‘What have these hands done?’ So, Shelly began to interview them, listening intently to their stories, and photographing the hands that she had been holding. The result is a deeply moving photography project now on display at Messiah Village and available to view below. 

What started out as something intending to invoke feelings in others turned into something much deeper. “It was very healing,” Shelly shared. The entire team in Nursing Care persevered through heartbreaking times over the past year. Thankfully, precautions are beginning to be lifted and children are able to hold their parents’ hands themselves again, but the impact of COVID-19 will most certainly be felt for a very long time.

Shelly hopes to build on this project in the future, photographing residents’ hands in other levels of living and some couples’ hands together as well. For now, we invite you to scroll through the photos and read the captions to relive these incredible human beings’ most memorable moments and accomplishments — some which have taken place over an entire century! These hands… have lived full, meaningful lives and we are very appreciative of Shelly and others who continue to tell their stories.

These hands made many meals for my family. These hands have loved my husband for many years. These hands have raised 2 girls. These hands traveled to many places with her husband.

These hands raised 3 boys. These hands worked as typist to pay for the boys’ college education. These hands explored the world with not just her hands but with her heart on many bus trips.

These hands played piano and the organ for church. These hands typed for the English Department at Bucknell University. These hands raised 5 babies. These hands have held the hand of the LOVE of my life for 68 years.

These hands raised 3 children. These hands loved on 15 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. These hands decorated many homes. These hands collected teddy bears and paper weights.

These hands have written many cards to show my love to family. These hands made lots of peach sauce. These hands braved the rapids in West Virginia with my grandchildren.

These hands taught many people on college campuses (Penn State University), Navy chaplain schools, and congregations about religious cults and how main line churches can understand and combat those effects. These hands received a Doctorate of Divinity degree. These hands, along with my wife, raised 3 children, one of whom died of SIDS. These hands cheered on the Pittsburgh Steelers for 23 years of home games. These hands participated in sports publicity and news photography.

These hands are 100 years old! These hands pinned Girl Scout badges on many Girl Scouts as a Girl Scout leader. These hands typed and did shorthand in an office setting. These hands prepared our RV for many trips with my loving husband.

These hands did a lot of church work. These hands received an undergraduate degree and Masters Degree in English/Spanish. These hands taught at Susquehanna Township High School, 12th Grade English. These hands worked as a governess for a little child of a wealthy family. These hands raised 2 boys along with her husband.

These hands pushed a music cart to teach children musical instruments. These hands played the piano and the organ to help pay for college. These hands played baritone sax and french horn. These hands have held lots and lots of music.

These hands loved/cared for his wife and 2 Children. These hands did woodworking projects and one that made the newspaper. These hands protected our country with my time in the Navy. These hands caught many fish.

These hands LOVED doing anything with my FAMILY. These hands made blue ribbon shoofly pies. These hands help many children get their books in the library. These hands loved to bowl and play bingo.

These hands raised 2 children. These hands decorated amazing birthday cakes with a special theme for each person. These hands made peanut butter eggs. These hands knitted and crocheted. These hands used the computer to make beautiful greeting cards.

These hands raised 3 children. These hands provided care to many animals. These hands sewed many items and quilted. These hands were constantly involved with Church activities.

These hands are 100 years old! These hands played golf for many years with her husband. These hands drove alone across the USA from Harrisburg to the west coast and got on a boat for Japan to be with her husband who was in the Army Air Core. These hands played bridge and had cocktails with the wives club.