"Not Our Needs...But Others"

Jaimee Hamilton
> Emmaus Community of Pittsburgh

Serving residents with developmental and intellectual disabilities at the Emmaus Community of Pittsburgh has shown me a new sense of patience in relationships and also a true sense of God’s love.  In the first couple of months of service, my outlook was not too positive.  I was directing resident activities, however, often times, the activity I attempted to direct never got completed.  This was new for me and I didn’t know how to react.
It wasn’t until I was introduced to Henri Nouwen’s book “Adam,” and received the support of a colleague that my outlook on my experiences at Emmaus changed.  By reading “Adam,” I learned that it is not our needs which need to be considered, but others.  I rushed to get certain things done, but didn’t take time to think about the residents or how they were feeling.  It was then that I started talking to the residents more and letting know them better.  By spending more time with them and getting to know how they functioned by observing, my experience was improving. 

Within the past couple of months, the residents have begun to warm up to me, hugging, kissing and welcoming me by name. These people whom I serve are showing me God’s love.  I have never been so happy in my life!  I plan to continue this journey with the residents until God calls me to something different.