Indonesia – English
30 Maret 2010
Bersama Romo Iswandir, CM, sebanyak 11 orang pengurus dan eks pengurus konferensi mahasiswa St. Benoit Labre – Surabaya melakukan refleksi bersama di Biara Suster Passionis – Malang. Acara yang digelar tgl. 13-14 Maret 2010 itu bertujuan untuk menumbuhkan kebersamaan dan semangat pelayanan para pengurus. Hari Sabtu malam diisi dengan Pembekalan yang diberikan Romo Iswandir, CM. Dilanjutkan dengan sharing pengalaman dari pengurus Dewan Nasional selama terlibat di SSV.
Yang menarik dari rangkaian refleksi tersebut adalah acara kunjungan ke Bhakti Luhur pada hari Minggunya. Saat mengikuti Misa didalam kompleks Bhakti Luhur, kami dikejutkan dengan kehadiran sebagian peserta misa yang memiliki cacat fisik. Hati kami terasa ditusuk melihat berbagai macam penderitaan yang dialami oleh para asuhan disana. Terutama melihat anak-anak dari berbagai kalangan. Ada yang menderita Celebral Palsy, ada yang punya kaki dan jari dengan ukuran besar (mirip kaki gajah), ada yang tidak punya tangan dan kaki, ada yang buta, ada yang tidak bisa menegakkan kepala dan banyak lagi.
Kami tersentuh dengan ketabahan mereka.
Meskipun kondisi fisik yang tidak memungkinkan, namun sebagian besar masih bisa mengikuti Misa dengan baik. Misa yang dipimpin oleh Romo Gigih, CM dan Romo Iswandir, CM itu terasa mengharukan. Kunjungan ke Bhakti Luhur sebenarnya bukan yang pertama kali kami lakukan dan berjumpa dengan para penghuninya, namun mengikuti Misa dengan mereka baru kali ini kami alami. Ada berbagai macam perasaan yang bercampur aduk. Terharu, karena melihat penderitaan yang mereka rasakan. Bersyukur, karena Tuhan memberi kami fisik yang mendekati sempurna dibandingkan mereka. Bahagia karena bisa berdekatan dan bersama-sama mereka memuji Tuhan.
Selesai Misa, kami diajak berkeliling melihat dari dekat wisma-wisma tempat tinggal mereka bersama bu Yayuk. Kami sangat tersentuh melihat seorang anak yang bernama Hendra. Hendra merupakan penderita autis yang saat ini berusia 12 tahun. Akibat sering memukul kepalanya sendiri, tangannya oleh para perawat Bhakti Luhur terpaksa diikat kebelakang dengan kain. Siang itu kami juga melihat dia membawa kemana-mana kursi dibadannya. Oleh orang tuanya dia dititipkan disana sejak kecil.
Ada lagi gadis cilik berusia 8 tahun. Intan panggilannya. Meskipun tampak ada perbedaan dengan anak-anak diusianya, ia tampak terlihat cantik. Wajahnya yang imut-imut menimbulkan iba bagi siapa saja yang melihat. Terlebih bila mendengar cerita latar belakang sampai ia disana. Seakan-akan orangtuanya sudah tidak menghendaki dia lagi. Duh…gusti kasihan sekali anak ini.
Ada pula ibu-ibu dan nenek-nenek yang menempati wisma terpisah. Beberapa dari mereka sudah tidak pernah dikunjungi lagi oleh keluarganya. Ada yang masih berusaha mengingat-ingat anggota keluarganya. Namun ada juga yang sudah lupa melupakan keluarganya. Bahkan ada yang tidak suka ketika didekati. Seakan ada trauma mendalam yang dialami.
Saat ini anggota asuh ada kurang lebih 300 orang yang tinggal di Bhakti Luhur. Sedangkan para perawat dan sukarelawan yang bertugas dan sedang belajar mencapai 500 orang. Suatu angka yang besar. Untuk kebutuhan beras saja sebulan mereka membutuhkan kurang lebih 8 ton.
Kami juga belajar banyak dari para perawat dan suster yang bertugas disana. Para sukarelawan itu hidup sehari-hari bersama mereka tanpa dibayar. Mereka tampak tahu betul masalah dan cara mengatasi masing-masing orang yang menjadi tanggung jawabnya. Mereka melayani dengan penuh sukacita. Ada pula yang menjadi suster atau perawat setelah mereka sendiri pernah tinggal disana sewaktu kecil. Apa yang mereka lakukan menjadi teladan bagi kami dalam melayani para anggota asuh SSV.
Siang itu kami mensharingkan apa yang dijumpai di Bhakti Luhur. Masing-masing dari kami menceritakan perasaan, pengalaman yang didapat dari perjumpaan dengan anggota asuhan Bhakti Luhur. Bertemu dengan mereka, membuat kami, para pengurus Benoit Labre, merasa disegarkan dan disemangati.
Kami berjanji untuk melayani anggota asuh kami dengan lebih baik…….semoga.
diambil dari:
http://ssvindonesia.blogspot.com/2010/03/berjumpa-sesama-lewat-bhakti-luhur.html
Meeting Those in Need Through Bhakti Luhur
Together with Fr. Iswandir, CM, as many as eleven people, board and ex-board members: the administrators of St. Benoit Labre student conference in Surabaya -gathered for a reflection at the Passionist Sisters Monastery – Malang. The event was held on 13th to 14th of March 2010, which aims to foster togetherness and a spirit of ministry for the board members. On Saturday night the session was packed with debriefings by Father Iswandir, CM; then followed by sharing sessions: the experiences of the National Council board members during their engaging period in SSV.
What was interesting from this series of reflection is our visit to Bhakti Luhur on Sunday. While attending the Mass in the complex of Bhakti Luhur, we were surprised by the presence of some participants who have severe physical disabilities. Our hearts felt sorry for those with all kinds of sufferings there, especially little young kids from different walks of life. We saw those who are suffering from cerebral palsy; some who have unusually large sized legs and fingers (similar to elephant feet), some of them with no hands and feet, some others were blind, some just can not uphold their heads and more.
We were touched by their fortitude.
Although their physical conditions are far from well, they still can follow the rituals of the Mass with solemnity. The Mass was presented by Father Gigih, CM and Fr. Iswandir, CM; and it was very touching. This is actually not our first visit to Bhakti Luhur, and is not the first time to meet with the children there, but this is the first time for us to attend the Mass with them. There were mixed feelings. Moved, because of the suffering they felt. Thankful, because God already gave us a near-perfect physical conditions compared to them. We were happy to be able to get together and praise the Lord with them.
After the Mass, we were invited to take a tour around by Ms. Yayuk and take a close look at the homestead, the place where the kids lived together. We were very touched to see a kid named Hendra. Hendra is currently an autistic 12-year-old. Due to frequent hits by his hands on his own head, his hands were forced to be tied backwards with a piece of cloth by the Bhakti Luhur nurses. That afternoon we saw him bringing a chair that was carried along with him wherever he goes. He was put in the orphanage by his parents since childhood.
There is another little 8 year-old girl. Her name is Intan. Though it appears that there is a difference with other normal kids of her age, she looks pretty. Her cute face causes pity to anyone who saw her. Especially when you hear the background story of how she was brought there. It is as if her parents did not want her anymore. Oh…Lord, we were very sorry for this child.
There are also neglected mothers and grandmothers who occupy a separate guesthouse. Some of them have never been visited by their families again. There are others who are still trying to remember their family members. But there also those who have forgotten their family entirely. Some even do not like it when being approached. As if there are scars and deep traumatic experiences.
Currently there are more or less 300 people who are staying at Bhakti Luhur. The number of nurses and volunteers who are currently serving and learning reaches 500 people. A number that big. For staple food alone they need about 8 tons of rice/month.
We learned a lot from the volunteer nurses and nuns who served there. The volunteers live their daily lives with those in need without pay. They seemed to know very well each individual’s problems and how to cope with each person who is being cared for. They serve with great joy. Some of them have become nurses or nuns after being treated there themselves and had lived there since their childhood. What they’re actually doing have become a role model for us in serving our foster members at SSV.
That afternoon we shared what was seen at Bhakti Luhur. Each of us was telling our own feelings, as well as the experiences gained from our encounter with members of Bhakti Luhur. Meeting them, makes us, the managers of Benoit Labre, feeling refreshed and spirited.
We promise to serve our foster kids with better parenthoods……. Fingers crossed.
Taken from:
http://ssvindonesia.blogspot.com/2010/03/berjumpa-sesama-lewat-bhakti-luhur.html