Volunteer Reflections
Washington D.C. ---Alternative Spring Break with Newman Center at University at Buffalo
March 9th to 15th, 2003 AD
One of my most memorable experiences occurred on the last day of service. The day was full of warm, warm weather. I had the opportunity to return to Food and Friends, however, this time to take the deliveries to our FRIENDS. This delivery was unlike the others. There was construction on the road leading up to the man's home. The street had two lanes. The road in which we drove on was accessible with the asphalt intact. We stopped along this single lane and hopped out. How were we going to get up to the home to the other side that was inaccessible by car? If we continued down the road in which we were headed we could cross and follow down the ROAD and then make it onto the sidewalk. This route was going to take longer. We peered over the divider that separated the two lanes. The other side held asphalt that had been torn up with dirt and rubble remaining. It hadn't been repaired yet. I threw myself over the divider with the same swinging motion that I would use to mount a horse. Once I victoriously landed there was no turning back. Rob followed. We marched up the stairs and stopped at the outer door to the apartments. Another barrier. We knocked and knocked and had no response. Again and again we knocked and WAITED. Something kept us there. We persisted. We asked for Justin and the others to call the home. Within a few minutes both doors were flung open. A little girl about the age of six let us in. She stood radiant, full of life, and wore just her underwear. She quickly ran off after we greeted her with a "Hello" in order to return to the sounds of a television in the next room. A man sat in a chair in the living room wearing just a robe over his very thin, sick body. He asked us to come in and close the door. The home was hot with no ventilation coming through. We sheepishly offered the food and asked where we could place it. There was no telling if the man could stomach this food in his state. He seemed to be unconcerned about the food and wished for our company instead. He appeared to be DYING. We drew near and he asked us to pray for him. To him this seemed to be what we were there for. I held his bony hands and spoke to the LORD on his behalf.
This is representative of just one person who over the course of this week touched my life. I haven't forgotten the images or the people or the experiences. I think of their faces and their smiles. I want to continue to carry the torch, to continue to reach out to others, and it is my hope that each of you remember, reflect, and pass on this RAY OF HOPE unto all that you do. Let's make ourselves accessible, break down barriers, and embrace this humanness that all of us share together.
Peace and love,
Christina