“The first year I visited St. Lucia it was felt I should NOT go to St. Lucy’s Home. A couple of Good News members were apparently trying to protect me from seeing some very “squalor” type living conditions. Of course, this made me all the more anxious to go and visit St. Lucy’s and see for myself.
Naturally I went armed with all my singing and entertainment supplies. When it was time for the part of the program where I play my violin, I noticed a gentleman in the back of the room walk out. He returned with a harmonica in his possession. Well, “I tell you” (as they say down here in the islands) what followed was most interesting. A professional musician would have had to leave the room. I have always been grateful that I am just an amateur violinist and singer. I believe it affords me the position of being able to appreciate ALL music without being so critical.
Martin and I began throwing tunes back and forth to each other and the elderly, senile audience joined in when they could. However, Martin and I were not always playing in the same key. The dear, simple man did not understand such a concept as that of musical keys. It was not a topic to even begin discussing. If and when we did find the same key it was truly a beautiful duo of harmonica and violin. Martin’s eyes danced as he played. His hands cupped the harmonica just as I remembered my grandfather’s did decades ago. His legs tapped the beat.
I have just returned from St. Lucy’s. Martin was not in the congregation waiting for Mass. I asked Sr. Theopane as to his whereabouts. The sad reply was that Martin was in his bed. His left leg and just been amputated. Martin was dying!
Approaching his bedside, I saw his familiar “dancing eyes” but his body had been transformed into sculptured bones covered with aged skin. His smile assured me that he recognized me instantly. He spoke excitedly and rapidly. I tried desperately to understand what he was trying to tell me. It was something about his disease, his joy at seeing me, etc., etc. Actually, the exact meaning perhaps didn’t matter that much. It was obvious that Martin and I were saying our final good-byes. I held his hand and stroked his arm and we both knew the memories we shared together. My heart was very touched and I am tearfully sad as I write this.
I hope it won’t be long that Martin will be playing his harmonica for all the saints in heaven. And…. he can dance with his eyes; tap with both spiritual legs and play in any key he chooses.
Goodbye, Martin.”
– Kay Logemann
“A couple months ago, I borrowed a wheelchair for my mom because she was having foot surgery. Two days after her surgery, my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. 20 days later, he passed away. My mom depended on that chair to get back and forth to the hospital until my dad came home. [In my dad’s] last week, [Mom] graduated to a walker and he needed the chair. She said to me, ‘I don’t know what we would have done without that wheelchair’.”
– HELP Client
“All the people that I met were so kind, loving and welcoming. I felt right at home. I had an amazing experience… because I truly felt like I made a difference in the lives of others, and Good News Project gave me the opportunity to do that.”
Brennan Schneider (first time volunteer in Jan 2014)
“Childhood for me was like the dew at dawn which quickly vanished when morning came, however the few moments that I commit to memory have everything to do with the love and generosity of Good News Project.
As a toddler, making contact with Peggy and friends replaced the missing link in my life. My father was unknown to me and my mother’s disability did not permit her to provide me with all of my desires as a child. When most kids looked forward to Christmas in December, for me it was January. This was the time of year when I received the most adorable teddy bears, coloring books, and story books, Frisbees, beach balls and tennis balls. I make no regrets in attributing my love for reading, or even my academic performance to the caring and sharing hearts of persons like Peggy, Chuck, Bob and friends. As a matter of fact, my academic foundation was laid by learning to read those books which they provided.
On behalf of my family, country men, Caribbean counter parts and all those who have benefited directly or indirectly from Good News Project, it gives me great pleasure to commend you on a job well done for 25 years.
I have been able to be a positive citizen and make a meaningful contribution to society because of your assistance. My mother and two siblings have a roof over their head because of your continued commitment and hard work. Thank-you guys!
I have made my exit from childhood. I have departed from adolescence. I am now embarking on a journey of complete maturity, responsibility and success into adulthood. At three years your junior, Good News Project, I wish you nothing but continued success and growth. To those persons giving of time, money and skills, Thank-you. Good News has truly been a blessing and friend to the needy ones among us in the Caribbean.”
— Julietta Gonzague
“I guess I can sum up the island in one word, love. That is what this place is about, love. It is a love that knows no boundaries, and it is so amazing. The people here are selfless. You meet people on the street, and they just run across to hug you, even if they don’t know you. It is nothing like the U.S. where people won’t even look at each other passing on the streets.
People stop to care here. They stop to see how you are, and genuinely want to know how you are. They aren’t the typical, how are you? fine? type asking.
I can’t begin to even type everything about my experience here, but I will be bringing back lots of pictures and stories to tell you
I am having the most amazing time here in St. Lucia. Every day is a new experience. On Monday I worked at a girl’s center for troubled girls who had been kicked about of school. That was an amazing experience for me. We went back for half a day on Tuesday which was great, cause the girls really wanted us to come again. Then the second half of the day we walked down to the nursery and preschool at the Corpus Cristi School. There I held a baby named Alex who screamed at 5-minute intervals at the top of his lungs. After about an hour, the screaming lessened, and he finally fell asleep on me. He was so precious. Then we read stories and sang to the kids at the preschool. They loved the hokey pokey, baby shark, and the wheels on the bus.
Today I went to the women’s prison. That was an interesting experience in itself. Tomorrow I will be going to the boy’s correctional facility to work on team building and crafts with them. I am super excited for that. This weekend I will most likely go horseback riding on the beach with Shanna and Amanda, and then shopping in the town market (which is amazing). Then on Sunday we will take a catamaran all day on the ocean, which is incredibly beautiful.
I am getting a lot of reading done here at night. Right now, I am reading the autobiography of Dorothy Day. It is incredibly inspiring. I like to spend a lot of my time outside sitting on the hill every night that overlooks St. Lucia. It is beautiful. I have been journaling a lot, and taking a lot of time to myself to figure out my life. This has been really good for me.
I have only been here 5 days, and my life has changed. When I come home, I will be making some changes in my life. Beginning with loving more. The people here, the natives and the good news people have showed me what it truly means to love with abundance and without reservations. I can’t begin to describe the changes that are occurring, but God only knows they are shaping me for the better.”
— Amy Kroll
