An International Organisation - Yen Yen visits from Punla, Phillipines

One of the remarkable gifts of our small community, somewhat isolated in the island state of Tasmania, is that we are able to experience ourselves as an integral and active part of a worldwide organization of 132 communities all united by that vision of sharing life with people with intellectual disabilities. No matter in what cultural or economic environment that vision is lived out, we know how much we learn and are encouraged by developing contacts and friendships with other communities.

We focus in particular on our zone, Asia West Pacific that includes communities in Japan, Philippines, New Zealand and Australia and develop our friendships by visits, sharing joys and struggles, praying and contributing with practical help where appropriate.

Recently, Yen Yen, an assistant in the Punla Community on the outskirts of Manilla in the Philippines was in L’Arche Sydney for some experience and she was able to take a few days to visit us in Beni Abbes. She came to our monthly “Solidarity Night” and showed pictures of life in Punla – also a small community with two households, and a day program, which welcomes people who do not live in as well as those who do. We heard of their joy in welcoming visitors, having celebrations, seeing growth in their members.

We were touched by their faithfulness and trust in providence under very difficult physical and economic conditions. We were glad that we are able to make some of the financial contributions, which are so vital to the community’s continuing existence. We shared ideas for cooking and lent her an extra coat as we showed her the sights of Hobart. We made a little book of prayers to take back home to Punla.

Celebrating

Celebration is an important, life-giving part of being in community for all its members. Everyone loves to feel valued enough to be “Star of the day”. When a new assistant or Core Member is welcomed there is a celebration; when anyone leaves, or goes on a special journey there is a celebration. We celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, births and deaths. Sometimes it seems we are doing nothing but celebrate and perhaps we could be tempted to feel that some are not as important as others and let them slip because we are all so busy and tired. But no, each person and each event is a treasure we would not want to part with: it’s worth the effort.

Each Core Member has a “Life Book” which contains pictures telling the story of their life so far. Every year their life in community is reviewed; pictures are added to the Life Book and plans are put in place for things they are hoping to do in the year ahead. Then there is a celebration in the way the Core Member chooses – a barbecue for one, morning tea in the Gardens for another, a supper at home and so on. All the household members are invited as well as family members and special friends. At some point in the gathering 2 or 3 people speak about their friendship with the person and the Life Book is shown and presented. The whole process is called “Remembering, Celebrating, Dreaming.”

Dreams Can Come True

Last year, through his Remembering, Celebrating, Dreaming process, one of the Core Members was able to articulate a dream he had had for some while and then during the year he was assisted to make it a reality. He had lived with many assistants over the years, several of whom had come from Germany and England, and each time one of them left he said he would like to go and visit them in their homes. One of these German ex-assistants offered to hep us make the arrangements and be the “Tour Guide” for our Core Member and his accompanier.

The trip was a memorable success and a very happy three weeks for all concerned. They caught up with 5 former assistants in Germany and 2 in UK, visited a L’Arche Community in London and did wonderful sightseeing, even a day in France.