Hajja Salesjana October - December 2018

7 park and ended up going on a spontaneous boat ride in its lake. It was such a satisfaction to witness the enthusiasm of the patients to row and feel the cool water on their faces. Shawn and I also worked with old people in another of Fr. Ray’s homes for the abandoned elderly. Here, we organised craft sessions for the patients to improve their hand dexterity and thinking skills. We also took them for strolls around the parks in the evenings. In return, they helped us immensely to improve our fluency in Spanish, with stories about their past and their joyful singing of ‘La Cucaracha’. Admittedly, working with terminally ill and elderly patients, was quite a challenge for my husband and I in the beginning. Nonetheless, as the bond between us and the patients grew, we realised what a profound effect we were having on these people, who were yearning for company and positivity in their lives. We will thus forever hold these memories, especially their smiles and gratitude, close to heart.