A love of nature has followed Alba throughout her life

By Alba Powell

LW Contributor

I was born in Guatemala, Central America. My name is Alba, meaning dawn, and Letecia, meaning happiness. My father’s last names were Rios, meaning rivers, and Monte Rosa, meaning rose hill. My mother’s names are Rosa, or rose, Espina (thorn) and Palma, “palm.” As you can see, I’m a “botanical baby.” I love flowers, plants, trees, rivers and the first light of day. I enjoy visiting gardens, painting flowers and have a curiosity about the relationship of plants with human physical and mental health. Jeff Powell, my husband, is a Presbyterian minister. We were blessed to have served international, English-speaking, Christian congregations in Tokyo, London and Buenos Aires. After retirement, we served as interim pastor and spouse of congregations in Paris, Zurich and Bonn.

After our short-term, international sojourn, we decided to return to Leisure World. I wanted to settle down and enjoy art, paint and make jewelry. Soon after we returned to Leisure World, I was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis, a serious auto-immune disease that requires me to have supplemental oxygen 24 hours a day.

When we moved to Mutual 11, I designed a 14 foot patio and a 60-foot flower bed outside our corner apartment. Gardening is very relaxing for me. I love being outdoors under blue skies and taking care of a variety of flowers, succulents and other plants. We live on a beautiful green belt with six large trees.

With my compromised medical condition in the COVID-19 pandemic, I sequester at home. To keep myself busy, I read, paint, watch virtual worship services and studies from abroad as well as our local congregation, Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church. My husband and I also enjoy getting exercise by walking around the community while wearing masks, keeping physically distant from others and wheeling my small, portable, oxygen concentrator.

I am a Christian who has a strong faith and experience of God’s love and support. My husband Jeff, our Leisure World community and church members have been a great help and blessing during this time. My garden gives me a lot of pleasure and fun during the day as well.

Despite the challenges we all face, life can be wonderful, and we should count our blessings and every day is a gift from God.