Christian Service & My Community by Cailin

Christian Service & My Community by Cailin - January 2017 Scholarship Essay

One of the greatest privileges offered to seniors at La Salle Academy is Christian Service. Through this program, students have the ability to go out into the world, and put to use the lessons they have learned in their religion classes. Students are able to interact with those in their community who need their help the most, whether it is through visiting a school, nursing home, or soup kitchen. This program allows students to see the different perspectives of people in their community. This one of the things I am most appreciative of after having completed my own Christian Service experience.
Over the course of my six weeks of service I visited the Jeanne Jugan Residence located in Pawtucket, RI. The first time I came to the nursing home, I was surprised by how bright and lively everything wass. The home has many resources available to the residents including: a shop, a hair salon, a breakfast diner, a craft room, and even a workshop. Most weeks, I spent at least a portion of my time at Christian Service helping out in crafts. Haley, the other girl in my group, and I worked with the women in crafts helping them with their sewing. Spending time in hanging out in this cozy warm room, listening to the women talk with the sound of the sewing machines in the background was one of the highlights of my Christian Service experience. There were no cell phones or TVs, or even radios playing in this room; in the sewing room, I found a peace that is hard to find in the hustle and bustle of regular day-to-day life.
One week that I remember particularly well, one of the ladies named Diva, asked Haley and I to “make couches”. We were confused as to what she meant. She sewed up sleeves of fabric and has us stuff them with the stuffing we had pulled apart the week before. We filled about 8 of them, and by the time we were done Diva was thrilled. She could not get over how much we had done in the time we were there. What made this particularly memorable for me was the following week. On the next Wednesday when we came back for service we checked in and said hello to the secretary. She remarked on how grateful Diva was last week when we left, and how she talked about us stuffing the couches for days. This was one of the highlights of my time at Christian Service; it was a reassurance that even the small tasks I completed were important and meaningful to the people in the community.
One of the major things I learned through this experience was about poverty, but not in a traditional sense. Some of these people, while not materially impoverished, were poor in spirit. A few ladies expressed sadness at not being able to name all of their grandchildren, or forgetting where their grandchildren go to school. It was nice to help these women try to fill that hole they have in their lives, especially around Christmas time. At the same time, I also learned about those who have every reason to be poor in spirit but are not. Our final week, Kate allowed Haley and I to go upstairs and bring down some of the Residents for exercises. One of these residents was a cute little sister, confined to the wheelchair. She had no pictures of family, or cards on her bedside table like the other residents we brought down; however she did not let her isolation overcome her and make her feel lonely. She was overjoyed while she told us about the train they had set up downstairs in the lunchroom for Christmas. Sister explained to us about how the train had used the same battery for 3 years before finally dying this past Christmas; she was hopefully awaiting the arrival of another battery in the afternoon. I was surprised by how excited this one little aspect of this Christmas Season was making her. Her hope for something so small was very meaningful, and taught me to be grateful for everything I have.
Christian Service was an amazing experience. It was a privilege to serve at the Jeanne Jugan Residence. Through the program, I was able to go out into the world, and put to use the lessons I have learned in my religion classes. It was nice to feel wanted, and useful to people who really need me. I will be forever grateful for the ability I had to see the different perspectives of people in my community, and learn about myself over the course of these past six weeks. I hope to put these lessons to use, serving at other nursing homes in the future.