"Show respect for the elderly and revere your God."-- Leviticus 19:32
| 1925 | The Woman's Missionary Society (now NMI) proposed to build one or more cottages in Nampa, Idaho, for sick and furloughed missionaries. Funding would come from the Relief and Retirement Fund (now called "Missionary Medical Plan." [ more info on Missionary Medical Plan ]) |
| 1927 | In February, "Communication has reached us that a property in Nampa can be secured for a Missionary Rest Home for $3,500. We desire to secure the advice of the Department of Foreign Missions as to the wisdom of the Woman's Missionary Society securing such a property for a home for our missionaries through our Relief and Retirement Fund." Action was postponed by the Department of Foreign Missions until its next meeting at Columbus in 1928. |
| 1932 | The Reynolds Missionary Home was offered to the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society to use, along with needed nurses and medical staff for the care of furloughed missionaries. |
| 1937 | January: The Woman's Foreign Missionary Council recommended to the Department of Foreign Missions that a five-room cottage in Nampa be purchased for $1,500. Title to the home was to be held by the General Board. The WFMS paid for the house from Relief and Retirement Funds. |
| 1938 | January WFMS Council Meeting: Motion carried to change the name from Missionary Rest Home to Woman's Foreign Missionary Society Home. |
| 1940-44 | The vision for the home in California grew out of the heart of Dr. A. E. Sanner. He presented it to the Nazarene General Assembly, urging delegates to establish a retirement center for missionaries. |
| 1944 | The General Assembly voted its approval, and a commission was set up to find a location for a missionary retirement center. Included on this commission were Susan Fitkin [ more on Susan Fitkin ] the general WFMS president, and Mrs. Paul Bresee, a WFMS general council member. |
| 1945 | January: The WFMS General Council voted to go on record as approving the purchase of missionary retirement home and assuring the Department of Foreign Missions that the Council would do its share in making this possible. A standing committee was appointed. |
| 1946 | January: The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society appropriated at least $5,000 from the Relief and Retirement Fund and supplied furnishings through Box Work (now LINKS). The Nampa house (which had been purchased for $1,500) was sold for $4,458. The proceeds were given to the Relief and Retirement Fund. Dr. A. E. Sanner reported to the General Board in January that a suitable site in Temple City, California had been found. Dr. C. Warren Jones and Mrs. Paul E. Bresee were added to the original committee of three (A. E. Sanner, M. Kimber Moulton, H. Orton Wiley). On March 14, 1946, the first Temple City property purchase was made for $20,500. The property included the large home now called "Sanner House." The committee was especially impressed with the number of large oak trees located on the property. So, they chose the Spanish name "Casa Robles," which means "House of Oaks" in English. Within the year, additional property was purchased north of the "Big House" (Sanner House) for $22,500. Dedication of this property was held on February 16, 1947. |
| 1947 | The first cottage was built by the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. |
| 1952 | The property on the east side of the street was purchased in October. Cottages continued to be built. |
| 1955 | An additional land parcel south of the "Big House" was purchased, and missionaries arrived as fast as cottages could be built. |
| 1959 | A piece of property to the north was purchased. From 1946 to 1959, five properties totaling 41/2 acres were purchased, including five houses. Total cost? $113,520. |
| 1979 | One more parcel of land was acquired, adding four more cottages to Casa Robles. |
Alabaster funds have built 15 cottages and provided funds for one land purchase and miscellaneous projects at Casa Robles. [ more on Alabaster ]
Compiled from a variety of sources including Mary L. Scott [ photo and info ], Lorraine Schultz and Paul Benefiel
| "There
is an aroma of the presence of the Lord at Casa
Robles. I thank God and my church for a happy home for my retirement" -- Grace Prescott (Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands) "Casa Robles is a precious gift from God and a little bit of heaven on earth.'" -- Twylla Woods (Japan) "I am grateful for the great host of Nazarenes who have made this haven possible through their sacrifice and love for others" -- Edna Rudeen (Nicaragua and Spanish-American Seminary) |
Note: With the establishment of a fuolly-funded retirement program for Nazarene missionaries in the late 1970s, Casa Robles became less attractive to retired missionaries. More and more of them prefer to live near their children and other close family members.
-- Howard Culbertson,