This is an article from the July 1985 issue: The Expanding Vision

Mildred Darrow: A Retiree Who Made the USCWM’s Extended Family Co-op Come Alive

Mildred Darrow: A Retiree Who Made the USCWM’s Extended Family Co-op Come Alive

Mildred Darrow, a 67 year old retiree called Want by many of the children at he USCWM, came 10 the Center in September of 1983. "I really believe the Lord led me here," she told Mary Ruth Curlee, who interviewed her for Mission Frontiers.

Mildred came to Pasadena because her husband had suffered a major heart attack and needed in be put into a convalescent hospital, Pasadena was chosen because it was close to their two daughters. But there was no place to park their motor home until contacts found through the telephone yellow pages led her to the USCWM. Here a large area is set aside to park the motor homes of retirees who come to volunteer their services for various lengths of time.

Mildred agreed to volunteer part time (between hospital visiting hours) and started out in the mail room. "While them! heard these children playing outside and many times crying," she said, "I asked, 'How come there's little kids here? I don't know what kind of place this is. Are there married students that have children?' I was told 'No, but them are couples on staff that have children.' I said, Oh, wauld you need a babysitter?"

The next day I was asked to interview for a new childcare position and I startedpart time taking care of the children. That was in September. Then my husband passed away October 5th. I've been here ever since."

MF: What kinds of childcare programs has the Co op established?

Mildred: I have the babies two and under. We don't have a regular cuniculum for them, but we do have a regular curriculum for the older children which is Christian and spiritual. We have materials with a seal strong mission emphasis, and we're hoping to get our mission program so well designed that we can market it. There is nothing listed in the childcare catalogs for missions!

MF: So you primarily serve the families here at the US, Center?

Mildred; Yes, its central staff and anybody from the William Casey International University, part of the USCWM's educational division, or families from the other mission agencies located here.

MF: Do you have help?

Mildred: Yes, For awhile I just had one mother helping, but then I started getting as many as ten children at once and it became too much. We're fortunate right now to have some of the women from MMAP (Mobile Missionary Assistance Program) volunteering. When they leave next week I don't know what well do.

MF: Do you think your life, because of this involvement, is more interesting than it would have been?

Mildred: Oh, I'm positive. I don't know what I would have done. It was so neat. I'm so sure that the Lord led me here. You couldn't possibly just go down the telephone book listings and find a place like this that you didn't know anything about, and then end up here. It just had to be the hand of the Lord.

ME: Do you feel this is a place you will he for some time to come?

Mildred: Yes! I just felt so sure, When I went down to have an interview that morning, t was told, "1 hope this won't make you feel bad, but we've been praying for a grandmother." And I said, "Here lam! I'm happy to be a grandmother." In fact, I was awestruck to think that somebody had been praying and that I could be an answer to that prayer.

MF: Did your interviewer tell you why she felt the children needed a grandmother to relate to?

Mildred: Yes, because so many of the USCWM families come from elsewhere in the country. Because many of the kids are separated from grandparents, they need a "substitute" grandmother.

MF: Do you think there will be a time in the future when there will be a need for another grandmother?

Mildred: Oh yes l The need is here now. See, that's what worked out. This MMAP person has been a grandmother. We're going so need more.

MF: Well, it doesn't sound like you have time to get lonely.

Mildred: Heavens, not I'm sure that I would have gotten lonely, except that God Himself led me hem.

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