I began the day a bit homesick for the first time, but was expecting as much due to the fact that it is Founders' Day for Beta Theta Pi, the anniversary of our organization's founding. I thought a lot about how good it would be to be with my brothers for the day, and commiserated with some of my fellow alumni who feel similarly. Realizing I wasn't alone helped a lot (thanks, Shane!) and it was a fitting start to a day that would be marked by volunteering in the community, a core value of our fraternity. So, if anything, I felt good enacting the principles of the people I missed!
Throughout the program, we have visited a local seniors' home every Wednesday afternoon. I remember my first day being extremely challenging. Communication with the elderly can be trying and I find it difficult to see people suffering and in pain at the best of times, but the language barrier added a dimension that I wasn't anticipating. I committed to overcoming the difficulties and believed that it would get better, which it definitely did. In the the following weeks, we built genuine relationships with the residents. I will never forget singing "Yerushalayim Shel Zahav"/"Jerusalem of Gold" with them when, out of nowhere, a powerful, gorgeous voice emanated from a lady in the back of the room. Virtually all of us stopped singing so that we could listen to her... it was such a shock, as if there was so much life I hadn't seen in this person, and she was expressing it to us. The nature of the song itself made it even more touching. An elderly woman who lived her whole life here was singing, seemingly to us, about one of the most significant reasons we came. As she sang, with unwavering passion, lyrics of a people returning home to beautiful Jerusalem, I felt an overwhelming feeling of conviction.
Besides singing sessions, we developed the routine of playing chess with a man named Shalom. Each week, Shalom would sit downstairs and wait patiently for us to finish talking or playing music with the residents upstairs. A small group of us would spend hours with him, getting beaten badly, and slowly discovering bits and pieces of his story. He, along with many of the other friends we have made there, asked us to continue to visit him, and we certainly will.
A very moving letter presented to each Garin Tzabar volunteer thanking us for our contribution to the home, to the community, and to the State of Israel
The most moving moment of the afternoon came when we were gathered
upstairs with everyone and the director of the home presented each of us
with letters of appreciation. The words written on the page were extremely meaningful for me, but when a lady named Ebie began to speak to us, I felt a lump grow in my throat. She told us about how proud it makes her and the others when they see us and how much they appreciate us. With teary eyes, she looked up to the sky and said, "You give us so much hope. When you come here, we just think, 'here they are... here are our angels.'" It was a truly emotional moment for me, my heart swelling with pride and gratitude for the opportunity to have volunteered there.
For something that started a bit rough for me, I feel that I have grown from the experience. As weeks went by, it became something to look forward to, and is now something I will miss. I am very much looking forward to going back many times in the future.
For now, wishing a very happy Founders' Day to my Beta brothers and getting an early sleep for the big breakfast party in class tomorrow.
- Darren
No comments:
Post a Comment