This past week one of the most amazing things happened to me that I must blog about to all my readers. May you find some comfort and love in it too.
Every Friday I volunteer with a local NGO (non profit) agency that is a school for kids with disabilities. This organization helps kids with Down Syndrome, Mental Retardation, Autism, etc with their vocational training among other things. I was assigned, as I usually am, to assist upstairs with the older kids while they worked on cutting or creating different items for sale (clay figurines, wind chimes, stocks of paper and plastic wrap). It is important to note that the money that the organization makes from the sale of these goods goes back into the NGO to support the enormous cost of running this organization for the 68 to 80 kids they have at any one time, many of which have parents from rural areas that can not afford to pay tuition even on the generous sliding scale the agency offers. Once the kids graduate from the school (around 18 years of age) they work from their homes using specialized equipment the school supplied free of charge to them. Any money they earn from working after leaving the school is 100% the individuals to keep. It is a very good program that teaches them a skill that they can actual continue to use after leaving the program. I love it!
So anyway, on Friday I was working beside a young women with Down Syndrome and she was lovely. We did not speak the same language but we worked together just fine. She stacked the pages while I weighed them out and bundled them up. We started out shyly smiling at each other and occasionally she would touch my hand and pat it. Eventually after working side by side for several hours she started to sing me a lovely song. Her voice was beautiful and she raised it proudly. I listened intently. I realized in that moment that I understood why they say animals can tell when a person (such as this little girl with DS) is pure of heart. You have probably heard it said that a horse isn't spooked by someone who has a disability because they can sense the person is good and does not wish the animal ill will. This girl radiated good feelings, simple kindness, and love.
At the end of the day as the classes had finished my new friend, with the lovely voice, and I gathered our things to head home, each of us to go our separate way. As we descended the stairs together she reached out and took my hand. She was singing softly under her breath and I listened as we walked together holding hands. It was a lovely moment for me. So peaceful and calm.
At the bottom of the stairs we turned to say goodbye to each other and she reached up and gentled rubbed my cheek while smiling. She said something in Hindi softly while looking me in the eye. The director of the program, who happened to be near by when it happened, inhaled deeply and smiled.
After she walked out the door I stood waving at her and asked the director what she had said and he smiled at me and said,"she wants you to know she loves you too!"
It took my breath away!!!
Every Friday I volunteer with a local NGO (non profit) agency that is a school for kids with disabilities. This organization helps kids with Down Syndrome, Mental Retardation, Autism, etc with their vocational training among other things. I was assigned, as I usually am, to assist upstairs with the older kids while they worked on cutting or creating different items for sale (clay figurines, wind chimes, stocks of paper and plastic wrap). It is important to note that the money that the organization makes from the sale of these goods goes back into the NGO to support the enormous cost of running this organization for the 68 to 80 kids they have at any one time, many of which have parents from rural areas that can not afford to pay tuition even on the generous sliding scale the agency offers. Once the kids graduate from the school (around 18 years of age) they work from their homes using specialized equipment the school supplied free of charge to them. Any money they earn from working after leaving the school is 100% the individuals to keep. It is a very good program that teaches them a skill that they can actual continue to use after leaving the program. I love it!
So anyway, on Friday I was working beside a young women with Down Syndrome and she was lovely. We did not speak the same language but we worked together just fine. She stacked the pages while I weighed them out and bundled them up. We started out shyly smiling at each other and occasionally she would touch my hand and pat it. Eventually after working side by side for several hours she started to sing me a lovely song. Her voice was beautiful and she raised it proudly. I listened intently. I realized in that moment that I understood why they say animals can tell when a person (such as this little girl with DS) is pure of heart. You have probably heard it said that a horse isn't spooked by someone who has a disability because they can sense the person is good and does not wish the animal ill will. This girl radiated good feelings, simple kindness, and love.
At the end of the day as the classes had finished my new friend, with the lovely voice, and I gathered our things to head home, each of us to go our separate way. As we descended the stairs together she reached out and took my hand. She was singing softly under her breath and I listened as we walked together holding hands. It was a lovely moment for me. So peaceful and calm.
At the bottom of the stairs we turned to say goodbye to each other and she reached up and gentled rubbed my cheek while smiling. She said something in Hindi softly while looking me in the eye. The director of the program, who happened to be near by when it happened, inhaled deeply and smiled.
After she walked out the door I stood waving at her and asked the director what she had said and he smiled at me and said,"she wants you to know she loves you too!"
It took my breath away!!!
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