Volunteer Work

So today I decided to go help out a mate from the young adult group I met, here at the local parish. He works for Vincentian Marian Youth, a Catholic organisation.. This pulled from their website sums up what they do - "VMY isn't just about helping those in need...it's ultimately about creating programs and activities to help young people grow spiritually and recognize the importance of helping others." So generally he helps organise events for young people (youth/young adults) to partake in to help out old folk for instance. So today it was the 'handicapables'. I don't really like the name, as in I am not in favour of using the term handicap, but rather some word describing the affliction with impaired/challenged, e.g. physically impaired, or mentally challenged...

Anyway I did not know what to expect when I arrived. However the surroundings were like something out of the botanical gardens. So to explain, I turned up to this secluded, quiet place nestled on a hill. It had its own orange trees, lemon trees, lake, tree covered walks, frogs, ducks, etc. The buildings were really clean, which turned out to be part of a convent, orphanage and the bureaucratic headquarters of the Sister's of Charity, along with some offices for the VMY. So I was thinking wicked, what a nice place :)


So my duties really only included having to perform a skit, otherwise it was having a BBQ and just having general chit chat with the participants - Sweet :D Out of the participants, most of them were in wheelchairs, however there were some that were more mobile but had had some brain damage. For instance Sharon who had a book written about her recovery (she showed me), had quite severe brain damage as a teenager, but now she was in her 50/60s and I was perfectly able to hold a conversation with her, which amazed me, as her book indicated that after her accident she was quite infantile..!

There were two things of note that were said to me. The first was that I got called 'Muscles', as in "Oh thanks Muscles for taking me around.." The second, would you believe, I was asked this "Stefan, Stefan, I have a naughty thought.." by a quaint old lady in a wheel chair. Needless to say I was dumbfounded and just managed to murmur "ummm, err ok.." with my inner monologue going "ahhhh, eeeekkk, what to do, what to do...?" Luckily the reply was I want to go pick some of those oranges, and not "Stefan you sexy beast" etc.. **PHEW**

I was a little out of my comfort zone at another stage, just because a couple of the participants had some things that made me cringe a little. However I got over it and was able to look past it. But yea I definitely haven't been to any place & event like that so I'm quite happy that I took up the chance to help as it was a good experience :) You know, as you only achieve personal growth by stepping out of your comfort zone every once and while..