Fraternity-Testvériség, 2006 (84. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
2006-01-01 / 1. szám
Page 24 Fraternity- Testvériség guest arrived. Matt talked that evening about his college and the fact that the Lord is calling him in the ministry. Afterwards, we had a reception. The fellowship was one of renewing old friendships and making new ones. Our branch was quite generous with their donations to Matt for his Matt is sharing this houghts with his schooling fellow members of Branch 151 0ur evening ended all too soon, but we are looking forward for a new opportunity to be together. Peggy Fabri, Branch Manager Tel: (724) 843-6162 Branch 227 — Warren, OH My Volunteer Experience (As told to Kathy Megyeri by 13 years old Kayla Revea Lytle) Since I recently moved to South Carolina, I had a chance to go back to my old home in Ohio and try a new adventure which became a wonderful and rewarding experience because I could help needy children. Camp Timberwolf, located in northeastern Ohio, is a Girl Scout supported one-week day camp for physically and mentally challenged youth from the ages of 6 to 21 held each year. The campers come from the tri-county area of Youngstown, Niles, and Warren, OH. Justin O’Brien, my cousin, has been a counselor there for the last 5 years and suggested that I also participate this last summer in Aug. The camp directors determined that I could mentor someone who was seven, had severe learning disabilities, and needed help with feeding, bathroom privileges, and motor skills. The parents of these children had paid $40 for each child to attend. Each counselor has to be at least 12 years old, and they work in pairs so that the demands on them are not overwhelming. We were together 8 hours a day, but the campers returned home each evening. However, on Family Night, the campers stayed overnight, and I was responsible for my charge to get her dressed, feed her, play games with her and take her swimming and on nature walks. Justin has taken care of the same camper for the last 5 years. His camper was a quadriplegic with severe speech problems. However, next summer, he will not be able to attend because he’s 21 so the bonds he has formed with Justin will not continue, much to Justin’s disappointment. At the end of the first day, 1 was drained because I was so sad seeing all of the children’s disabilities. But I wanted to return because I felt that I was needed and appreciated, and I prayed that God would give me strength to continue this volunteer work. I will always remember trying to win my camper’s trust because she had never been away from home. By patiently talking with her and by tye-dying shirts in crafts class, I was able to open her up and win her confidence. At the end of the week, I gave her a bracelet with Christian charms and her smile of joy touched my heart. This experience gave me the opportunity to understand the feelings of others, and I returned home more grateful that I had my good health and loving family and could help others. My Christian upbringing has had an impact on me because I feel the need to give back to others, and I love to communicate with new people as I do on Join Hands Day when my grandparents take cookies into the local Veterans' Home. My grandparents, Marge and Bill Nicholas from Branch 227 in Warren, OH, are my role models because they have been long-time activists in fraternal work with the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America. I recommend that other teens participate in such projects because when you are on the front line and have to decide minute by minute which activities will engage your camper, it fosters a sense of independence and self- reliance. Of course, there are adults around, but your own resources are called into play, and you will know immediately if you have been successful. Like my grandfather who was a teacher and coach, I consider teaching as a career, and this experience only reinforced the difference one person can have on another. The point of my relating this experience to your readers is that fraternal work can be instilled at an early age, if only one gets the opportunity and support from others. Branch 259 — Los Angeles, CA The Kodály Spirit Worldwide "The Kodály spirit, the philosophy and pedagogy inspired by Zoltán Kodály resonates around the world. From Hungary to the four corners of the United States, to Australia and the Philippines, to England, Finland and Greece, to Japan, Taiwan and China, musicians and music educators embrace the philosophy and ideals with enthusiastic dedication," as recently evidenced at the "Kodály Week and Symposium on Music Education" held in Beijing, China. Invitees were present from the United Kayla with her grandparents, Marge and Bill Nicholas
