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The Samaritana Christmas party last month was, as always, full of laughter, games, simple prizes, and a meal together for the women who visited, many bringing with them their children. But this year was also unique. Before the prepared program began, a visiting group who lead workshops in “playback” theater, an improvisational and participatory style of stage performance, led a brief playback activity for Samaritana. They asked for volunteers to share their feelings about Christmas, their thoughts and emotions. The visiting actors then performed each person’s articulated thoughts and feelings.
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I was particularly struck by what Beth shared. Fighting back tears, she shared how her sister had left her a letter written to Samaritana before she died last November. It was basically a thank-you letter to Samaritana for the ways that our community had journeyed with Beth over the years. The letter said that she and the rest of her family were grateful for how Beth was in such a different, better, more whole and hopeful place now than where she was just a few years ago. Beth used to be a “barker”, helping load passengers onto jeepneys in Cubao. Illiterate and estranged from family, she was coping and surviving by taking on a masculine persona and was also picking up customers from time to time. Now reading and writing, looking more healthy, peaceful and beautiful, she serves a missionary in another ministry organization across the city.
The words of a woman passing from life through death were “thank you” on behalf of her sister who had passed from death to new life. I didn’t look around to see the reaction of others in the room, but I was also wiping away tears… tears of joy and tears of gratitude, too, for being privileged to have been part of the difficult but sacred process Beth has gone through.
Thank you, too, for your generous gift which helps enable Samaritana staff and volunteers to offer the personal care and the kinds of activities and programs which can help women as they move from death to life. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
for Beth and the many others like her,
Jonathan Nambu
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