Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
All Are Welcome at the Table of God
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| A photo by Jürgen Treiber_Fotor.com |
Here is a reflection by Jyoti, who volunteers at the JRS Day Centre since 2
years
The
vision of the JRS Day Centre for me comes from the Bible: the table of God
where all are welcome, regardless of caste or creed. This is the place where all
are given their place, their respect. This is the atmosphere we have here and
this is the welcoming attitude we have for our guests.
I
like of course talking to each person! First of all opening the door… Open the
door, give a smile and a welcoming gesture. It is for me an openness to receive
each one, the receptiveness, and then you see the smile on the other’s side. One
of them who came recently was a new one, it was her first time. The day she
came she was really down, the second time she came here her face was so
peaceful and calm. I asked her and she said it was because I met the cheerful
people, the good people here.
That
is the difference we make. Those who come with their burdens, feelings of what
is happening to them… so even one smile makes a big difference. What I see
differently, what I have learnt myself as a volunteer, well as you can see, a
smile is my main motto here! Sincerely, despite all the difficulties, if they
can smile, what if I can not give a smile. I see that from the other side, so
it brings such a difference.
Then,
I was on the desk for the travel money. Money is a big thing in their life,
they don’t have money, and although we are giving little, it is very supportive
to them as other organisations do not give it, they have no access to money. So
JRS is doing a very purposeful work which can help them to go to the place they
want, the necessary solicitor or reporting at the Home Office. And all the
various activities of course, they are ways of freeing them from the tension. Like
the massage, the touch makes the person feel healed and loved, all the
activities for our guests are very down to earth, and so very helpful for them.
For
me dignity is one JRS value that is important to me. People come to the UK looking for
dignity a good life, but they end up with nobody respecting them. But this is
one of the place that we have that good practice or a very good deep model of
dignity. Overall I feel this is a place of hospitality where one feels at home
and each volunteer and staff member are so open to cater to our guests in a way
they feel welcomed. And of course our compassion to them in their suffering. We
give that to each person, respecting them as they are as a person, regarding
their person as the image of God.
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Bon Appetit!
Kate shares her most recent experience of offering hospitality for friends of JRS in the UK
How do you know an evening event has gone well? When you spend all night doing the washing up and everyone brings their plates in saying how delicious the food was! Last week, we were pleased to welcome here a mixture of people to a meal cooked by one of our JRS refugee partners. It was our way of saying thank you to those who help sustain the work of JRS in various ways: as donors, supporters, advisors, volunteers...
Eating together is not unusual at JRS, we do it most lunchtimes: simple bread, cheese, salad, fruit... but this meal was special with tchep rice, spicy harissa chicken, chocolate mousse. All prepared by one of our refugee friends who is completing his training as a chef at a college in London. The occasion gave him a chance to articulate the importance of being accompanied by JRS in his chosen course and for us to appreciate how we all grow together, here in community.
One guest said: "It was a delicious meal and so beautifully presented; it was great to see so many people who love and support our JRS; and it was good to have the chance to have deeper conversations with the people we were sitting near... I know that many people have been enabled to find their dignity and to give them hope through the continuous presence of JRS in their lives."
So here's to many more occasions to celebrate our journeys together, to sit around the table sharing joy in life and to taste delicious food - cheers!
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How many people can you fit around one table?
Greetings in different languages!
Kate, a member of staff, shares one of her favourite things about JRS
How many people can you fit around one table? At JRS today we had 20 people sat around our lunch table. This is one of my favourite things about JRS – we eat together every weekday. Each day, whoever is at the office or community centre sits down together. And then we clear up, wash up and tidy up. It is an important time in our working day and there is usually laughter and news to catch up on.
Mostly we have simple food: bread, cheese, cold meats, houmous, salad and a piece of fruit each. Sometimes if it is someone’s birthday, we share cake. Other times if we have had an event the day before there is leftover pasta or a pudding to eat up. If we are few, we always set an extra place for a late comer or a guest arriving in time for an appointment or meeting. Some days, one of our refugee friends comes to have their only meal for the day. On other days, visitors are caught up in the hubbub of chatting together.
We share stories, we try to learn each others languages and talk very little about work. It is a special time to deepen our relationships, appreciate each others’ culture and feel like a community together. It helps us see people outside of their roles and learn different perspectives in an open and relaxed way. Today we were from 15 countries from across 4 continents: interns, refugee friends, Jesuits, volunteers, members of staff… each one welcome in their own right and appreciated for who they are.
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