SOOP Volunteers Reflect — Tell a Story
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Why do we serve? More older adults find meaning along with new friends and new ideas as they volunteer with SOOP. Read on as they share these insights and some of the challenges as well as the joys of serving in Jesus' name.
Reflections On SOOP Service - 2002
From Volunteers in Phoenix, Arizona:
"People ask us, Who comes to Love in Action for help? Sometimes it is grandma's with grandchildren. Sometimes it is men, even young men, who have never had to ask for anything in their lives. But now they are out of work and have used up their savings. One family was moving to the area because the husband had a job offer. They stopped at a motel for the night. During the night someone stole their U-Haul with all of their belongings in it. They had no insurance. Love in Action was able to help them with clothing, food, household items and encouragement. Love in Action bases its work on Deuteronomy 5:11: 'For the poor shall never cease out of the land; therefore, I command thee saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to the needy in the land.' " — Joan
"It was a very important service [at Love in Action]. People came for food, clothing and furniture but had deep emotional and often spiritual needs as well. I could listen, try to understand and pray with them. Some were there to only work the system, but many expressed a gratitude for hearing their stories. Both men and women wept as we prayed together - one person asked to also pray .... The challenge was to share the love of Jesus in only a few minutes. I had one opportunity and then they were gone. I prayed daily that God would so fill me with His love that I could become the message in my attentiveness, patience, sharing God's word as it was brought to my mind and always to see God in that person - to convince them that God cared because God helped me to care." — Ted
"Today Lucille [resident on Alzheimer section of retirement home] was angry when they brought her from breakfast. She struck out at some of the other patients. I noted her angry mood and took her down the hall to her room chatting with her for a while. We talked about what she liked to do in her childhood and what she enjoyed doing now, like sitting in the sunshine .... I left to visit and read to some others. When noontime came several of the nurses commented that they did not want to go get Lucille for lunch. I told them I would go get her. They told me I would be sorry. I went to her room and chatted with her a bit then asked her if she was hungry. She happily agreed to go with me to lunch. The nurses were surprised .... Sometimes patience and giving some choices helps make for a more pleasant experience for all. They also needed some love and caring from someone who just cared and was not there to make them do something they didn't necessarily want to do." — Darlene
"One morning at Love in Action, Patty said, 'I have a special project for you. I asked others to do it and they said, Oh, no! So I thought I will wait till the Mennonites come!' A long table needed some alteration - she was pleased with my work. It was gratifying to send needy recipents on their way with 'God bless you' and invariably receive a smile and the same words in return. Equally meaningful were times with other SOOPers around the table and during off hours together. In a journal entry I wrote, 'This sort of reminds me of college dorm life.' " — Charles
"I felt the work I did was very much needed - a box of shoes I had sorted were soon taken to "the store" [a purchase area of Love in Action] and within minutes a man got those shoes. One day at the food bank a family of five (three lovely elementary-age girls) seemed so happy when their food supplies were loaded into the vehicle, especially the father." — Barbara
"I worked side by side with prisoners who were doing community service at Love in Action. I came to appreciate that these people were worthy of respect and had lives to live and struggles like everyone else. I was impressed with their willingness to work hard at their assigned task with a cheerful attitude." — Peter
"We always had a 15-minute devotional time before we started work. Patty spoke and prayed that God would direct, protect and bless the work. This gave us a good start each day. In counseling I realized that God would bless only as I depended on his direction …. Some of the clients were Mexican aliens and I used my faltering Spanish to speak with them …. Maria was in desperate straits, having fled from her abusive husband with only the clothes on her back. She knew of a home that took in women in her condition and this woman brought her to Love in Action. Maria was not able to speak in English so her friends explained the situation. We prayed together that God would give her strength and wisdom to make her next move. She received clothes and food - offered only once in six months ...." — Gladys
"While I think it will be good to be home again, it may also be a bit of an adjustment. We have lived in a community of anywhere from six to twelve persons sharing meals, good conversation and lots of laughs. We will miss all of that as we settle back into a house that now seems a bit too large for two persons. It was rather difficult for us to leave Arizona this year since we have made new friends and found the climate and our volunteer jobs invigorating and meaningful ...." — Roland & Dottie
Excerpted comments: Jim & Joan Gingrich (Lancaster, PA); Ted & Darlene Eash (Bristol, IN); Charles & Barbara Longenecker (New Holland, PA); Peter & Gladys Buller (Goshen, IN), Roland & Dottie Yoder (Harleysville, PA)
From Volunteers at La Casa in San Antonio, Texas:
From Volunteers at Hopi Mission School in Kykotsmovi, Arizona:
Edgar painted and installed floor tile and restroom fixtures. I prepared newsletters for mailing, did some cleaning at the school and even substitute-taught in the second/third classroom one day. This experience taught me that interaction with people is more important to me than the work accomplished. As the secretary and I sat working on the newsletter one day, she shared stories from her family and the Hopi culture. Her niece is engaged so her family was preparing for the custom of "taking a horse" to the future groom's family the next day. Actually, her family was taking a lot of food! - Marge
Doris and Jim Yoder, Marge & Edgar Harms are from Newton, Kansas. Bill Zercher who coordinates SOOP service in Kykotsmovi writes: We are really thriving with all the volunteer time that has been given this winter. In both numbers and quality/expertise of our volunteers we have been greatly favored
From Volunteers in El Dorado, Arkansas:
Today I went with Ms. Pearlie at Mission of Hope on her daily route of delivering 22 meals to homes in the poorest sections of El Dorado. With the meals we were also delivering five of the fifteen warm comforters made for the Mission of Hope by the SOOP volunteers. As I arrived Ms. Pearlie and her daughter, Joyce, were spooning the food they had prepared into styrofoam plates. Each plate was filled with baked chicken, greens, black-eyes peas and (always) corn bread - also a large cookie donated from Gary's Bake Shoppe. I felt very humbled and blessed accompanying Ms. Pearlie on her eleven-mile route, to experience the appreciation of her clients/friends as they received their meal and warm cover. Ms. Pearlie had told me some of these homes had no heat and tonight as the temperatures are predicted to hit a record low. I thank God for Ms. Pearlie's Mission of Hope and I treasure her farewell with her big hug: "God's arms is sooo long" - referring to the help she received from "way up north." It is difficult to evaluate the worth of a drink of cold water, giving a hug, offering a sweater, reading aloud, holding a hand while praying. My own evaluation? I felt so blessed. - Loretta
From Ten Thousand Villages Warehouse in Akron, PA:
We learned more artisan stories in our chapel meetings from the TTV staff members' travels. This made their stories and the construction of the craft items have greater meaning…. We always receive
more than we give , especially with the wonderful new friends that we had the opportunity to travel with to concerts and church events. We enjoyed getting to know the MCC volunteers in the International Visitors Exchange Program and learning their stories.
From Hickory, North Carolina:
From Lakewood Retreat, Brookville, Florida:
From Sarasota, Florida:
Sometimes we are surprised with a gift/ability that we did not know we had. Volunteering helps us to use our known gifts in new and challenging ways. SOOP certainly is an open door of opportunity and for us who are looking for a new challenge along with a little fascination with the unknown, this is the way to go! Volunteering… has a way of giving back much more than we give. - Edith
Charles & Arlene Mininger volunteer as the On Site Coordinators for SOOP.
From Tucson, Arizona:
Ralph and I replaced the damaged floor, then installed a new tub, set in the same stool… put down a new linoleum rug. When the children came home from school and saw the remodeled bathroom, their smiles said it all. - Walter
We have an ongoing relationship with the hard-working librarians - I felt we gave them some free time to work with students. We made materials more available by keeping the books in order. We also volunteered at Corbett School near Shalom, the church which sponsors an annual potluck for the the Bike Club. At the potluck we watched the bikers (wearing helmets) riding over the ramps and having fun. "I hope the Bike Club prospers with the new director." - Alice [The voluntary service worker who began the club is leaving at the end of his term].
The satisfaction of doing volunteer work here in Tucson [after six years] is very valuable to me. - Tom
I felt very good about what I was able to accomplish - whether it be changing a toilet, sink, windows, door or building a handicap ramp.- serving others who could not help themselves. - Oscar
I shelved books in two public school libraries and in the one I processed new books and also old books for resale. An older woman often came to the Corbett library to "help" although she did not have the expertise, having had only a few years of elementary school herself. She apparently bought some of the resale books for herself at a lower price - perhaps to sell for profit - and finally was told she could not do this since this project was to benefit the Corbett schoolchildren. She seemed lonely and had used the library as a place to "hang out." We didn't complain about our lives on the days we saw Nan (not her name). What have I learned? Flexibility, whether at work or in living with peers, makes life run more smoothly and everyone is happier. Humor is also a most useful tool. - Veralda
I worked with the emergency home repair program (CHRPA). At one house all the windows had been broken with plywood nailed over every window …. The day we installed new windows, the lady came home when we were still there and could hardly believe how light her house was. She was so thankful for new windows and new front door. Even her stool had been repaired. Some people don't understand why we come and pay for our stay and donate our time to help them. So we have a chance to tell them why we come to help. I have learned there are a lot of people who live with very little of this world's goods and they seem to get along in life. - Francis
At the Adaptation Center four of us worked for several days making weighted blankets and vests. We decided we needed to find out how it felt to lie under a blanket with fifteen pounds of sand. We discovered that when it was spread out over you, it was not nearly so heavy as it had felt putting it together! - Eloise who is discovering that volunteer work is rather like a job - "You try to do the best job according to your ability."
Because we worked for very low income people, our efforts sometimes seemed to be a drop in the bucket - in fact a very small drop in a very large bucket with a hole in it! I enjoyed going out on the job with CHRPA and meeting the families and individuals that we worked for. I was inspired and challenged by a 54 year old woman with multiple sclerosis. At one time Sandy (not her name) was wheel-chair bound. Right now she is able to walk with a cane. She lives in a small travel trailer while remodeling a two-room cement block structure and carport into a living space. With some assistance from CHRPA, Sandy is doing most of the work herself. We worked together several days on her bathroom which included tiling and grouting a wheel-chair accessible shower stall. Sandy's spunk, courage and enthusiasm for life were inspirational. - Elinor
I learned that as we "do the deeds" we must also "speak the words" so our motives are clear and so those we serve are aware that we are serving "in the name of Christ." There are many social justice and public service agencies working in various cities. It is up to us to bring a Christian witness and identity to our ministries. -Ted
Excerpted comments: Lorene & Walter (Armington, Illinois), Alice & Tom Johns (Delavan, IL), Oscar & Veralda Roth (Lombard, IL), Francis & Eloise Schrock (Goshen, Indiana), Elinor & Ted Shattuck (Grafton, New Hampshire)
From Carlsbad, New Mexico:
This is the second time we were in Carlsbad. We enjoyed the friends we've made there - not only other SOOPers, but also the people in the Carlsbad Mennonite Church. We've learned it's good to leave your comfort zone of home, family, church and gain new insights, friends and experiences. We've made many memories we'll always cherish. - Helen
The people of this small Mennonite church are so loving and caring. I immediately felt like it was "my" church. The fellowship of the other 12-15 SOOPers was a life-changing experience and they have become life-long friends. I am so glad for this opportunity of serving God in this way. I have had so much in my life and now it is time to give some back… It greatly increases one's awareness of the needs of people all over the country and around the world. When serving in various places and ways, one must adapt to the circumstances around you. - Don
A lady at the soup kitchen told me I had encouraged another worker there. Why, I don't know! But God uses us! - Edward One church member said, "Just the fact that you came made our church services more enjoyable!" …I am learning that there is more to life than being comfortable! - Irene
I worked as a cashier at the thrift store, tutored at a school, did some filing and shredding at the hospice office, helped in the school library, gave some computer assistance at the Living Desert State Park. My most satisfying job was the tutoring in a third grade class. I had not been sure I wanted to do that job. The class had 24 children - most were from single parent homes and were Hispanic, but they all could speak some English. A boy who had come irregularly was far behind in his work. After I started helping him he came every day - he had a short attention span, but we made good progress with his work. Other children asked me to help them also. - Roelie
I helped with home repair, worked for Habitat for Humanity, assisted at the community soup kitchen, painted and removed old shingles at the church. Among my most interesting encounters was meeting and eating with Gerald and Beth, two residents at CARC, a facility for mentally and physically handicapped. I learned again how much pleasure it gives me to work with others and make new friends and to accomplish something. - Gerlof
Encountering a man at the soup kitchen and deciding to "teach him a few things," Levi Peters later observed, "After a while I started to dialogue with him and lo and behold, he helped me clean up the dining room. The greatest lesson was learned by me! …I would recommend a SOOP experience to anyone who can take on the role of being a servant." - Levi "A local volunteer made a tatted bookmark for me, one took us out to eat and another gave us complimentary tickets to a local theater production. I learned you can become a friend to people you would never meet at home. - Leanna.
I hope that I have learned that I cannot assume that everybody should be able to fix minor things around their homes. - Myron As I helped the teachers at Hillcrest School and understood the poor home life so many students have, I learned to respect them for trying to do their work and to love them for who they are - God's children. They are lovable children. - Phyllis
We really enjoyed the friendship and hospitality of the Carlsbad Mennonite Church members. - Don & Maris
I learned that work ethics can be different from our own - good to learn this. - Ralph (& Lois)
The needs I covered were very small compared to the needs I saw. But seeing projects completed at individual places gave me a sense of satisfaction. I liked the challenge of replacing old windows in a stone cabin at the CARC ranch. Some said it was beyond our capabilities, but it turned out okay! - LaVerne
There were several incidents that made it clear that I was where God wanted me to be. The most significant happened at a nursing home. Elena and I arrived just after the patient had expired. The family was there and the patient was still in bed. In that nursing home there is a short service at the bedside after a death. I was there with my harp so this service included harp music. … Learning to play the harp in mid-life has become a special blessing to me and to others. - Janice
Excerpted comments: Ruth & Harold Beck (Newton, Kansas), Helen & Don Bachman (Newton, KS), Ed & Irene Freyenberger (Kouts, Indiana), Roelie & Gerlof Homan (Normal, Illinois), Levi & Leanna Peters (Henderson, Nebraska), Myron & Phyllis Schultz (Greeley, Colorado), Don & Maris Schroeder (Moundridge, KS), Ralph & Lois Bender (Morris Run, PA), LaVerne & Janice Graber (Freeman, South Dakota)
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