Report of Volunteer Sites

As I get ready to sign off at the end of the month here is a basic summary of my volunteer sites.

Hospice: The time I put in now is small compared to my first year but if you look at the grand total of things it is a lot. Hospice gets a lot of short term volunteers (a few weeks, months to one year at the most), but I am one of the few missionaries that has persevered for the entire two years. Hospice has two settings if you recall, one in the home and one that is a nursing-home like building. I worked the first year full time in the community but in my second year I changed to part-time work inside because I had an opportunity to participate in a music program for youth.

The second year, inside hospice, I became more familiar with the process of dying and death. There is a higher turnover inside hospice because most patients arrive when their family can no longer care for them. Some live for months and others last less than a day. They have been all ages. I have enjoyed getting to know the residents and the staff there. One becomes like family to the residents inside; seeing them day in and day out sometimes more than their own families. It is heartwarming to see their faces light up every time you return for your shift.

One unexpected benefit working inside hospice is all the recipes I have compiled from the cook. Usually between feeding the patients their breakfast, vital signs and giving them lunch, I take a few moments in the kitchen to learn something new. I respect the amount of care and love all the hospice staff brings to their job every day.

Madeline Program: Madeline program was a short term experiment for hospice trying to separate services for their long-term care patients that were not terminal. It existed solely with volunteers and donations. It was dissolved because of allocation of resources and a low patient census; only 8 in the community as opposed to the 40 community census in hospice. It may be revived in the future if grant money is approved to sustain the program with employees.

Community Garden: I helped in the community garden part time with Padre Juan’s parish during my short run with Madeline to fill out my time. There are about 3 community gardens that I helped care for in Chimbote and learned quite a bit about the soil here.

Music Program: The program supported 2 flute students. My undergrad is in both Nursing and Music. I enjoy the arts so I loved being in this environment. It came at a good time in my service during my second year and gave me the balance that I was missing before. My students had a lot of raw talent with amazing ears for music. It was frustrating to get them to be disciplined enough to learn their scales. They lost a lot of the practice sheets I gave them. Music rehearsals here in comparison to what I have experienced in the States are very casual and the kids get away with murder. It is fun to see their sprit and see them truly enjoy playing.

English Program: I enjoy the camaraderie each class seems to take on. They function as a team. These classes came at the end of a very long day but the enthusiasm and smiles of the students at the parish made it all worth it.

Misc.: My first and second year I had some random opportunities to help in various medical community settings either for the Posta Santa Clara, the nutrition project in Cambio Puente or the Medical Clinic in Padre Juan’s parish. All were all a welcome break in my routine.

I am filled with gratitude as I finish my service. I am thankful to the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word who gave me this opportunity to serve the people of Chimbote. I am thankful to all the people of Chimbote who have looked out for us in the mission house. Our neighbors, friends, the people in the parish and in our volunteer sites-- they are all truly inspiring with their generosity. They have taught me how to get by with less and not feel limited. They make the best of what they have and never fail to share the riches of their culture of music, food and dancing. Peruvians do know how to celebrate life. My Spanish is not fluent but I know I will be able to communicate with Spanish speaking patients in a hospital setting so I have not wasted my time. I was told back in 2009 to enter missionary service is life- changing. Without the perspective of time, I cannot tell you what my most valuable life-lesson has been. I have grown a lot spiritually and I am grateful for God’s unconditional love that has followed me so closely on this journey. To quote John Walsh, a Maryknoll Missionary, “Mission is to go to a no-place, to serve God’s no-bodies, and, in the eyes of the world, to accomplish no-thing. Yet in doing this we realize we are at the heart of what time, meaning, and history are all about.” So check back with me in a few years, I may have an answer for you.