International Service

Most of you know that three of our club members are in Costa Rica at this very moment in the company of Rotary members from Ellsworth, Old Town and possibly Rockland, distributing wheelchairs. Previously, Carrie and I had participated in both the Panama and Belize wheelchair distribution projects and we both enjoyed ourselves immensely. After much deliberation we decided, due to many reasons, that we could not participate in the wheelchair project this year.

After the initial trip to Panama, I made the claim that it was impossible to appreciate the magnitude of emotion that comes with being a part of such a wonderful and drastically needed humanitarian deed. I still stand by those words and know that if you inquire with anyone who has been a part of such an effort, they will tell you the same thing. While I am positive that the decision not to go to Costa Rica was the correct decision at the time, and that it still is today, that faith in our decision making does nothing to alleviate the longing to be there or the envy of those that are there, giving out wheelchairs, and meeting these wonderful people!

I hope that we get an opportunity to be a part of something akin to the wheelchair project again. I hope that I get to see the joy, the gratitude, the graciousness and even the tears in the eyes of the wheelchair recipients and their loved ones. In most circumstances these emotions were clearly and loudly transmitted without words, proving that verbal communication is not necessary and may not be the most powerful way to communicate.

I could go on and on for many pages trying to make you understand what I am trying to say, but I would probably never succeed. Those who have been in a circumstance that allowed them to feel the ecstasy of a truly humanitarian deed will know what I mean and I guess my point is that I want you all to know. I want all Rotarians, and in fact, all humans to have the pleasure of bettering somebody else’s life while actually being able to look into their face and their eyes while doing it. If you get the opportunity to test my words, take it, for there is no greater or more humbling feeling in this world!
           
See you Wednesday evening,

Shaun