Korea : Learning from people with severe disabilities
 |
Susan Dong houses 27 people with severe physical and psychological handicaps. Hardly any of them can speak at all, and 6 of them cannot walk. They can only communicate with one another through the heart. My job was to give them a bath, sometimes feed them, take them for a walk, or simply sit down and play a game with them. No matter what I did, I was so happy just to be with them. |
|
The interesting thing is that I feel each one of them is so beautiful. Those with unformed hands or feet, those who can neither stand nor walk, and those who have to sit on a commode in the living room, they are just beautiful as they are. The common characteristic of these friends is that all of them look so peaceful and content. Whenever I meet them, happiness fills my heart. Even when they can’t speak at all, their warm and gentle expression soothes my heart, gives me relief from my tensions, and tells me the fundamental truth about life. I can easily get upset when I find that I’m incapable of doing things well; yet these friends who are content to be themselves told me I was so stupid to behave that way. |
 |
 |
Sometimes I think how nice it would be if I could be more elegant; yet these friends showed me that physical beauty is not what makes you happy. Sometimes I think that having a good image and formal courtesy is important in relating with people, yet they told me that those things could be obstacles in a sharing and authentic relationship. In this way, they helped me get rid of all the obstacles buried in my heart, so that I could embrace them and myself freely and comfortably as I am. |
| I just have to say how wonderful it is to meet another individual in the essence of one’s being. Hence, I understand how precious we images of God are in His eyes. And I was able to taste the joy of a healing experience while I was giving them a bath. In fact, it was the first time I had given anyone a complete bath. I felt so shy and embarrassed at first. As time passed, I began to have a religious talk with them in my heart. It seemed that they were telling me: “I surrender my body to you and I believe that you will give me a really good bath, just as I would like.” They conveyed this simply by lying or standing in front of me in silence. When I saw them, sometimes it was so painful that I wanted to cry, and sometimes I said happily that I would give them a good bath and make them feel refreshed. From time to time, I felt the one in front of me was Jesus my Lord, and there were times that I felt my own body and heart were cleansed while I washed their bodies. |  |
 |
Each time I saw them going back to their room after their bath, I felt so relaxed and satisfied. And the image of Jesus when He cured the sick came to my mind. Jesus said to the sick person: “Go, your faith has saved you.” I felt the same thing happening in my life. For a seriously disabled person, a bath is a small miracle in their lives. Whereas to become the hands or feet of those disabled friends and be able to participate in the miracle of their life is also a small miracle to me. Just as Jesus cured those who believed in him in his time, I found out that there is healing power within me through relating with those special persons. They are the ones who reminded me of the meaning of my existence. They also made me more like Jesus, and they helped me meet God and my real self. |
Some of the novices at the RSCJ Korean noviciate
|
From a 2nd year Novice |
-
|2011-06-28 Rosario Mamani Cangre - Perú
Castellano: Hola señorita Susan Dong, mi nombre es Rosario. Estudio en el IPNM no se si lo conociera pero siento que de una manera u otra estamos unidas por Dios y por el Sagrado Corazón de Jesús. Solo quiero decirte que eres una persona extraordinaria y eres un ejemplo para nosotros los jóvenes. Admiro tu labor a deseo que todo te sigua saliendo muy bien ¡Feliz día del Sagrado Corazón!
English: Hello, Miss Susan Dong. My name is Rosario. I study in the IPNM: I don’t know if you know of it, but I feel that in some way or another we are united by God and by the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I only want to say to you that you are a very extraordinary person and that you are an example for us young people. I admire your work and I hope that all will continue to turn out well for you. Happy Feast of the Sacred Heart!
-
|2011-06-28 Rocío Felipe Luyo - Perú
Castellano: Hola!! Soy de Perú , soy estudiante del 2do año del IPNM (Pedagógico Nacional de Monterrico),de la especialidad de Ciencias Histórico Sociales (educación), De la congregación del Sagrado Corazón ... Comparto tu felicidad al descubrir que lo superficial no da felicidad y que solo lo hace estar con Jesús, nosotros también realizamos visita social a quienes necesitan el amor de Dios.
English: Hello! I am from Peru and am a second year student at IPNM (National Pedagogical Institute of Monterrico), specialising in Historico-Social Sciences (education), and belonging to the congregation of the Sacred Heart. I share your joy in discovering that the superficial does not bring happiness and this comes only from being with Jesus. We also make some social visits to those who have need of the love of God.
-
|2011-06-28 Carmen Medrano Vilcapoma - Perú
Castellano: HolaSusan Dong, soy Carmen Medarno Vilcapoma. Estudio en el Instituto Pedagógico Nacional de Monterrico (Lima). Es muy hermoso lo que tu haces al ayudar a personas con capacidades diferentes. Me gustaría hacer lo mismo que incluso en mis estudios. También brindo ayuda social a las personas con gracias por ser parte de la ayuda. Chao me voy saludo a todos. Bendiciones.
English: Hello, Susan Dong. I am Carmen Medarno Vilcapoma. I study at the National Pedagogical Institute of Monterrico in Lima. It is a very beautiful thing that you are doing in helping people with different abilities. I would like to do the same, as part of my studies. I also offer some help to people in thanksgiving for being part of this helping process. I am going now, so bye and hello to all of you. Blessings.
-
|2010-02-25 Merly D. Omarol - Philippines
English : Wow... What a very cute babies... I love it..
I really like your stories in relation to our Savior God... God bless… Enjoy eating...
Français: Ouah ! Quels bébés charmants ! Je les aime. J’apprécie beaucoup votre histoire en relation avec Dieu notre Sauveur… Que Dieu vous bénisse… Et savourez !
Castellano : ¡Qué bebés encantadores!, los amo!. Aprecio mucho tu historia en relación con Dios nuestro Salvador. ¡Que Dios las bendiga!,...y saboreen...
Castellano: Hola! Soy alumna del Instituto Pedagógico (Sagrado Corazón) de Monterrico. Les deseo feliz día del Sagrado Corazón. Estoy en 1º año. Aquí también celebramos con una Misa con las Hermanas. Las felicito por la labor que realizan y que ayuden, sobre todo, a sensibilizar a los jóvenes, porque también en el Instituto realizamos visitas de labor social, que nos ayudan a ser solidarios.
English: Hello!!!! I am a pupil at the National Pedagogical Institute (Sacred Heart) in Monterrico and I wish you a “Happy Feast of the Sacred Heart”. I am in the first year. Here tomorrow we will be celebrating Mass with the sisters. I congratulate you on the work that you are doing, and especially your work in sensitising young people because at the Institute we also do some social work and that helps us to be in solidarity.
Français: Bonjour ! J’étudie à l’Institut Pédagogique National (Sacré-Cœur) de Monterrico. Je vous souhaite une belle journée du Sacré-Cœur. Je suis en 1ère année. Ici aussi nous célébrons la messe avec les sœurs. Je vous félicite pour le travail que vous réalisez et qui aident, par-dessus tout, à sensibiliser les jeunes, parce qu’ici aussi à l’Institut, nous avons des visites de travail social, qui nous aident à être solidaires.