FatherTed
xD
+3,936|6939|so randum
I've just finished a week long stint in Lourdes, France (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lourdes), helping elderly and infirm pilgrims.

My work was only for about 8 hours a day tops, but included helping to dress, feed, move and communicate for the pilgrims, and was at times, both physically and emotionally draining.

If anyones ever been to Lourdes, they will know the Grotto is a very very special place, and even though i am not a practising catholic, being in that place made me feel...spiritual.

Tasks included taking our VIPs out in town, to bars, shopping, for food, for prayer, or just for a walk, and i found it totally worthwhile.

Has anyone else done any form of work like this, and if so, what did it entail?

Fatherted13
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IRONCHEF
Member
+385|6930|Northern California
112 hours a week, no vacation or time off for 21 months, serving the public's religious needs, doing mild construction, teaching english, healing the sick and afflicted, and sacrificing 2 years of my life at my "prime".  Oh, and paying my way.  In Brazil.  And learning more in that time than I ever would have in a lifetime staying home living up the "prime" of my life! lol

now I live a considerably more degraded life, playing war video games, arguing and swearing on message boards while at work all day....

Oh, I meant to congratulate you on your service to the town of Lourdes!  Well done!

Last edited by IRONCHEF (2007-08-06 10:29:55)

FatherTed
xD
+3,936|6939|so randum

IRONCHEF wrote:

112 hours a week, no vacation or time off for 21 months, serving the public's religious needs, doing mild construction, teaching english, healing the sick and afflicted, and sacrificing 2 years of my life at my "prime".  Oh, and paying my way.  In Brazil.  And learning more in that time than I ever would have in a lifetime staying home living up the "prime" of my life! lol

now I live a considerably more degraded life, playing war video games, arguing and swearing on message boards while at work all day....

Oh, I meant to congratulate you on your service to the town of Lourdes!  Well done!
Jesus that puts my experience well into the shade, sounds fantastic what you did.
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stryyker
bad touch
+1,682|7159|California

The only thing I volunteer for is Ambulance ride-alongs.
Simon
basically
+838|7097|UK
Been volunteering in an animal shelter for a few months now, its only on weekends, not nearly as hard as what you did
Doctor Strangelove
Real Battlefield Veterinarian.
+1,758|6907
I used to volunteer at a soup kitchen. My school does do service trips, where they take Juniors to the ass-end of no-where (Tennessee) and we build a house for a low-income family. I am going to be doing that next summer.
howler_27
Member
+90|7126
I did about a month stint with Habitat For Humanity.  Helped frame, insulate, cut and plained boards for the walls, and built some wheelchair ramps.  It was pretty damn gratifying to see the smiles on the faces of the people who we did the work for.
KtotheIMMY
Member
+513|7202
I volunteered to work with Habitat For Humanity, in Gliwice, Poland... June/July 2007. Construction work.. not too bad.. except for the bruises I got while carrying around buckets of wet cement..
Ratzinger
Member
+43|6831|Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Why would you need to help people at Lourdes? Why are they there? Were their prayers unanswered?

Go to Africa.
Doperwt.
Anouk, Slayers little bitch
+80|6833|Belgium

volunteers work. tsss, imo work you do, is needed to be payed. I will never do anything for nothing
GorillaTicTacs
Member
+231|6812|Kyiv, Ukraine

stryyker wrote:

The only thing I volunteer for is Ambulance ride-alongs.
Do that for the Red Magen David sometime in Tel Aviv/Gaza/Akko, you're capped at 1 month in service though unless you're jewish, then YOU have to pay them for the "privelege".
FatherTed
xD
+3,936|6939|so randum

Ratzinger wrote:

Why would you need to help people at Lourdes? Why are they there? Were their prayers unanswered?

Go to Africa.
Basically, the water from a spring at Lourdes is rumoured to have healing powers. Im not gona claim thats true, but if it gives people hope, whats the harm? So me and my group helped them while they were at Lourdes, people suffering Palsy,Downs,Cancer etc. I even got the privilege to meet a WWII vet
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Fenris_GreyClaw
Real Хорошо
+826|6958|Adelaide, South Australia

I planted some trees once.
Ratzinger
Member
+43|6831|Wollongong, NSW, Australia

fatherted13 wrote:

Ratzinger wrote:

Why would you need to help people at Lourdes? Why are they there? Were their prayers unanswered?

Go to Africa.
Basically, the water from a spring at Lourdes is rumoured to have healing powers. Im not gona claim thats true, but if it gives people hope, whats the harm? So me and my group helped them while they were at Lourdes, people suffering Palsy,Downs,Cancer etc. I even got the privilege to meet a WWII vet
If the spring heals 'em, why tf do they need your help?

Did you say "Well that was a complete waste of time and money, wasn't it?" when it didn't work?
FatherTed
xD
+3,936|6939|so randum

Ratzinger wrote:

fatherted13 wrote:

Ratzinger wrote:

Why would you need to help people at Lourdes? Why are they there? Were their prayers unanswered?

Go to Africa.
Basically, the water from a spring at Lourdes is rumoured to have healing powers. Im not gona claim thats true, but if it gives people hope, whats the harm? So me and my group helped them while they were at Lourdes, people suffering Palsy,Downs,Cancer etc. I even got the privilege to meet a WWII vet
If the spring heals 'em, why tf do they need your help?

Did you say "Well that was a complete waste of time and money, wasn't it?" when it didn't work?
Omg. Someone hit him, while i kill myself
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Ratzinger
Member
+43|6831|Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Rich white old cunts with too much money doing their best to hang on to their sad existence......fuck 'em.
unnamednewbie13
Moderator
+2,072|7211|PNW

Ratzinger wrote:

Why would you need to help people at Lourdes? Why are they there? Were their prayers unanswered?

Go to Africa.
...because Africa is the only continent that hosts the needy and the miserable.

Ratzinger wrote:

Rich white old cunts with too much money doing their best to hang on to their sad existence......fuck 'em.
Let's all be like you, bitter and rude.

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