invitation through story - l'arche tahoma hope

Volume 30, Issue 2 Fall 2018

SOUNDINGS

When the sun reaches a certain position in the sky, it must shine down on earth and through the big sliding glass doors of Ananda house just for Bobby. Every afternoon, he trades his wheelchair for space on an 8’ x 8’ mat. During these late afternoon hours, Bobby possesses extraordinary gravity. All who visit are drawn into his gaze; into his silent invitation to be: to be still, to be quiet (or noisy!), to nap, or to simply exist - in our joys or in our burdens.

The world expects so much from us. We move from place to place and from chore to chore, judged by the ripple our momentum creates. This is not Bobby. His value resides in his being, and chief among his gifts is invitation. The invitation is humbling and reflects our own vulnerabilities and deepest needs. In the community of L’Arche Tahoma Hope, spoken or unspoken we ask of one another: will you care for me? Can I be forgiven when I’m cranky? Will you wait for me if my legs are tired, and I’ve fallen behind? Will you remind me if I forget? Will you help me up off the mat?

It is easy to take for granted what we ask of others and to be mindful of what is asked of us. We get lost in the mechanics of expectation and the forward momentum of our routine. We may work together

with friends, co-workers, and families, but the value of this daily dance is easily lost in the shuffle. The story of our lives that we long to write with one another, becomes a series of disconnected phrases, jargon, and incomplete sentences.

Our theme in community this year is invitation, and the way we are choosing to enter that theme is through story. And so we have an invitation for you: will you be in our story? Whether this invitation is mysterious for you, or is a call to connect more deeply with L’Arche Tahoma Hope, please know that you are invited. As you read our newsletters, attend our events, and you gather with us, we hope you will feel the call of this mysterious invitation and be part of this amazing story.

Invitation Through Storyby Jonathan Ross, Development Director

WHAT’S INSIDE• Community Member Reflections - pp 2-3• Welcome Center Dedication - pp 4-5• LTH Hosts Regional Gathering - pg 5• Welcome Center Programming - pp 6-8• Tribute Donations - pg 8• Holidays on the Farm - pg 9• Community Vacations - pg 10• #GivingTuesday 2018 - pg 11• An Evening with Sue Mosteller - pg 11• Auction 2019 - The Roaring 20’s - pg 12

SOUNDINGS | FALL 2018 - 2

The incessant beeping of the microwave, the shattering of a fallen plate, the loud noises of some excited (and some not so happy) core members. My first Day Support lunch rush was, in Leana’s words, a little nutsy. I’ve heard it can be a hectic time of day, but living it was something else entirely. We can’t predict how folks, both assistants and core members, will enter the space. Is the space organized how we like it? Did we have a good morning? Are we even hungry yet and ready for lunch? Were we hungry and ready for lunch hours ago?

When I was living at Ananda, I loved when things went smoothly. I always hoped to avoid tension and commotion as best I could. Maybe that’s natural. After all, Ananda was my home too, for that time. I found that it affected me greatly to have to be and sleep in a space that was difficult during the day.

Since transitioning to Day Support, I’ve found I have more energy to deal with the chaos that ensues. I have more energy for shenanigans and more space to experience joy. My short time with Day Support so far has brought me back to a place of recognizing the beauty in ordinary, everyday tasks, like sharing a meal together, even when that meal time is hectic. There’s a lot of fear and some unknowns that come with moving out of community. There is also room for many gifts to unfold. I hope I discover and embrace

these gifts when they reveal themselves. Lunch time will inevitably arrive each day, and perhaps the transition from living in community to moving out will allow me to see the joy in the unpredictable.

by Michelle Garofalo, Day Support Assistant

Michelle offers this reflection about her recent transition from living in at Ananda to Day Support Assistant in the Welcome Center.

Transition in Community Life

Goodbyes and Hellos

Jonas Appelhoff, INVIA VolunteerJulia Bartos, Assistant at Hopespring and AnandaBriana Bee, Lutheran Volunteer on the Farm Lindsey Eckstein, Jesuit Volunteer in Day SupportDorothy Herbst, Assistant at AnawimLauren McKenna, Summer Assistant at FarmhouseCharity Odetola, Lutheran Volunteer in Day SupportMegan Reid, Employment LeadJohn Schott, Assistant in Day SupportHeather Sherbourne, Assistant in Day SupportKristen Vitcovich, One on One Support on the Farm

And we enthusiastically welcomed:

Brendan Coyne to Ananda, from IndianaJared Eshelman to Ananda, from MinnesotaAnne Grass to Hopespring, from WyomingKayleigh Harper to Farmhouse, from Jesuit Volunteer on the FarmAbigail Hedgecock to Hopespring, from North CarolinaCathryn Kelly as Jesuit Volunteer on the Farm, from MinnesotaLena Kraemer as INVIA Volunteer on the Farm, from GermanyCatherine Lee to Farmhouse, returning from North CarolinaSally Lowell, OP to Day Support, from CaliforniaKatie O’Dowd to Day Support, from LouisianaHannah Sattler as Jesuit Volunteer on the Farm, from TexasPhilippe Smalley to Ananda, from Louisiana

With sadness and best wishes, we recently said goodbye to:

Thank you for your YES to L’Arche!SOUNDINGS | FALL 2018 - 2

Michelle & Shann chillin’ at the beach.

3 - SOUNDINGS | FALL 2018

I love this quote from Mother Teresa: “I do not pray for success. I ask for faithfulness!” This is certainly not a sentiment we hear in the media these days. When we look in the dictionary for the meaning of faithful, we find words like loyal, constant, staunch, to be true, devoted, dependable. There is a power in this word. Faithful implies a long-continued and steadfast fidelity to whatever one is bound to by duty or obligation, such as a faithful friend.

On September 10, Jean Vanier turned 90 years old. Jean is a man of incredible faithfulness; a man who, at the age of 36, dedicated his life to two men, Raphael and Phillipe. Jean left academia to follow his inner voice and what he felt was a spiritual calling. He knew that, by inviting Raphael and Phillipe to live with him, what he was doing was irreversible. As we wish Jean a very Happy Birthday, we should also thank him for 54 years of incredible faithfulness. He has certainly given us an example to follow.

I am privileged to spend a few hours with Sharilynn Heinzman every Wednesday. Sharilynn is also a woman of great faithfulness. Once you have entered Sharilynn’s life and heart, you stay there. When she says, “Get back where you belong. Stay there,” I often think that is her way of keeping those she loves close. She mourns Lu Farber, a faithful friend who recently passed away. She misses assistants who no longer live in L’Arche but are never far from her thoughts. She waits a year for Nicole to return and spend a month once again at L’Arche. Throughout the year, Sharilynn will look at an airplane and say, “There goes Nicole!” while she waits for her to eventually land in Tacoma and back in her place. She also remembers a beloved core member, Becca, who no longer lives in L’Arche, but is near her heart.

Another example of L’Arche faithfulness is Sharilynn’s good friend, Sr. Madeleine Farrell. Becca used to be a core member at Ananda. For many years Madeleine visited Becca weekly. She would often have to take two buses just to get to Becca’s home. Over the years, I have been privileged to take Madeleine and Sharilynn and sometimes Ricky to see Becca. I cannot express in words the joy, the delight and the contentment when these faithful friends see each other. Recently, Becca fought her sleepiness in order to glance, smile at, and delight in her friends. I glimpsed God’s faithfulness, through the hearts and eyes of these amazing friends.

Yes, faithfulness is a powerful word. It does not mean we have to do great things; it just means we have to keep showing up for those we love and those who care for us.

Faithfulness

by Sue Hudacek, Volunteer Coordinator

Sue, Sharilynn and Lu

Sr. Madeleine with Becca


Welcome Center Dedication Blessingby Katie Guertin-Anderson and the Tahoma Hope community

May the Welcome Center be a place where…

People of all abilities are invited to foster the mission of L’Arche Tahoma Hope.

Bridges connect our community across growing divisions, and where fear, weakness and vulnerability become our strengths and offerings to create a more understanding world.

Volunteers can donate the most precious commodity in our universe, the gift of time.

All who enter feel loved, safe and that they belong.

New beginnings are celebrated—with patience in the chaos and hope in the unknown.

We can dance, sing and be silly.

Our lives are celebrated.

We can learn more sign language.

New friendships are built — to both draw people into our community and to launch some of us out into the community around us.

May the Welcome Center inspire…Creativity, growth and fun engagement.

Discovery of interests and passions that have lain dormant.

Nourishment for our bodies and our spirits and improvement in our cooking skills.

Growth in listening — to self, to others, to the whole.

Sparks of new growth in our community.

Possibility!



May this labyrinth remind us of our own spiritual paths toward wholeness, wisdom, belonging and connection.

The Welcome Center is so much more than this building. We know that true welcome, hospitality, love and belonging rest within each of us... those who have dreamed, envisioned, funded and built this space, and those who will abide here and make it home. Whether it is here or somewhere else, may we all find places of welcome in our lives — places we can be whole, places in which we are loved truly and fully, places where we are known and celebrated — places where we belong.

May the offices here offer open doors where those with differing experiences can grapple together in the search for common ground.

May the Welcome Center be filled with the joy and laughter of our core members, and may their joy and laughter spill over into every corner of the L’Arche Tahoma Hope Community.

It was a bit of an audacious idea, this plan to bring together the five L’Arche communities of the Western Region of the United States, PLUS Community Leaders and Board members from L’Arche communities across the Country, PLUS national staff, PLUS the national inclusion team, PLUS the L’Arche USA Board, PLUS our international leaders, PLUS special guests from emerging communities. We’re talking a giant sleepover with 220 friends, many of whom had never been to the Tacoma area before.

But we did it! In June, L’Arche Tahoma Hope was the proud host of a combined L’Arche USA National Assembly and Western Regional Gathering, held just up the road at Pacific Lutheran University.

National Assembly conducted some significant business in our two mornings together. We voted to approve revised L’Arche USA Constitution and Bylaws, as well as adopting a brand new Membership Agreement and Policy Manual. These foundational documents will guide how we will work together on our shared goal of living and growing the mission of L’Arche in the United States.

Regional Gathering engaged in storytelling, art and music. Each community found a creative way to tell the story of significant events in their community life that empowered people to make a difference.

In the afternoons, the groups spent time together, exploring Tacoma, hanging out, visiting the Welcome Center and the Farm, or simply resting. Meals together were joyful reunions among people who had not seen one another in a while or were meeting for the first time. We also found time to explore a variety of ways to share spiritual experiences. And, of course, we experienced an epic talent show and spirited dance party!

Of all the L’Arche communities in the United States, L’Arche Tahoma Hope is the only one with a Farm, and one of only a handful to have a facility like the Welcome Center. Our friends from across the country and our international leaders reminded us over and over: we have much to be proud of here. We are a sign of hope, not only in the greater Tacoma area, but also to other L’Arche communities around the world.

Hosting L’Arche Friends From All Overby Laura Giddings


Our Doors Are Open!

The August cooking class in our new Welcome Center kitchen involved a favorite summer treat: homemade ice cream! The class made 2 batches of ice cream—coconut milk, and vanilla with cow’s milk. The coconut milk ice cream was made without dairy, gluten or sugar, allowing those with dietary restrictions to enjoy it.

Cooking class provides participants a chance to learn cooking skills and participate in each aspect of the class. We start each class reviewing kitchen safety—washing hands, taking extra caution when handling anything sharp or hot, and waiting until the food has finished cooking before tasting it.

The next step involves breaking down the recipe and assigning various tasks—some crack the eggs, some measure the milk and sugar, while others wait patiently to whisk it all together. It’s fun to see individuals succeed at cracking eggs or opening cans for the very first time!

When the custard has come together, it’s time to pour it into the ice cream maker. Now is when the fun begins. We utilized electric power of one ice cream maker and let the motor do the work. However, the other batch was made fully by hand. Each of us took turns churning and churning and waiting for the ice cream to thicken. Finally, the anticipation was over, and each of us got to try the ice cream. Chocolate raspberry bits and candy added color to the bowls, and all indulged in the tasty treat.

During the class, whether first time participants, students from a nearby university, local friends or L’Arche residents, we all had a chance to get to know one another and enjoy each other’s company. While we cooked, participants talked about their favorite ice cream toppings. Hot fudge, cherries and Oreos were among the most popular. In addition, participants shared hopes for future cooking classes: cookies, pancakes and brownies. Whatever is on the menu for our next class, we hope you’ll come and join us to meet some new friends and try out your cooking skills!

Cooking 101 at the Welcome Centerby Inga Rohde, Outreach Coordinator

Become a Welcome Center Member!First 50

Annual Members will

be listed on our donor wall and

receive a handmade gift.

SIGN UP TODAY!

SOCIAL MEMBER$300 Annually

3 social events/mo

SOCIAL + CLASSES$600 Annually

3 social events + 2 classes/mo

ALL INCLUSIVE$960 Annually

Unlimited events and classes

Go to www.larchetahomahope.org/membership or call (253) 535-3178 for more information and to sign up now.

Choose the level that’s right for you or your family (all levels are family memberships).

CHECK OUT OUR

EVENT CALENDAR

Memberships renewed quarterly or annually. Monthly payment plans available.


Mutual Relationships Underwayby Inga Rohde, Outreach Coordinator

We know from our history that mutual relationships lead to personal transformation, and that is what we hope for our participants. We wanted to ensure that the invitation to the wider community is both to the activities and also into relationship – both with L’Arche staff as well as with one another.

The cooking class adventure called “Chocolate Zucchini Cake” is a great example of our hopes being realized. Most of the participants had gathered for class, and we were waiting on a young woman named Megan. Pat went to the

October Events *L’Arche Dance! Oct. 5th, 6:30 - 8:30pm COST: $10/participant or $25/family

Cooking Class: Oct 9th, 1:00 - 3:00pm COST: $15/participant

PC2 Event: Oct. 10th, 5:30 - 7:30pm Join L’Arche and PC2 for a fun evening with pizza and pumpkin activities. COST: Free with RSVP by October 5th

Art Class: Oct. 12th, 10:00am - 12:00pm Pumpkin Painting COST: $15/participant

*Inclusive Yoga: Oct. 15th, 10:30 - 11:30am COST: $10/participant or $25/family

*Game Social: Oct. 16th, 3:30 - 5:30pm COST: $10/participant or $25/family

*Halloween Movie Night: Oct. 19th, 6:30 - 8:30pm COST: Free! “The Nightmare Before Christmas”

Art Class: Oct. 23rd, 1:00 - 3:00pm Alcohol Ink Tiles COST: $15/participant

Cooking Class: Oct. 24th, 10:30am - 12:30pm COST: $15/participant

*Denotes an activity where families are welcome.

CONTACT INFORMATION: To ask questions or RSVP to events, call (253) 535-3178 or email [email protected].

S

S

S

S

S

C

C

C

C

S C= Social Event = Class

• All events are located at the Welcome Center: 12302 Vickery Ave. East, Tacoma WA 98446• RSVP in advance for each activity. • Scholarships are available for up to 80% of the program cost. We never want cost to be a barrier. • Visit our website (www.larchetahomahope.org) to view all events on our calendar and subscribe to

receive Welcome Central, our programming eNewsletter.• FREE FIRST CLASS OFFER and MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNT available. Contact us before the class

for more information.

(continued on pg. 8)


10.

In Memory of Richard Andrews Viola Marcoe David Rothrock & Gloriose Sakubu-RothrockIn Honor of Joan Balfe Todd & Kristin BoffeliIn Memory of Peter Barnard David Rothrock & Gloriose Sakubu-RothrockIn Honor of Sharon Beale Chuck & Eve SchottIn Memory of Berk Borne David Rothrock & Gloriose Sakubu-RothrockIn Memory of Ann Clinton Viola MarcoeIn Memory of Joseph “Mike” Connelly David Rothrock & Gloriose Sakubu-RothrockIn Honor of Betty Corrigeux Patsy & George BrannonIn Memory of Janet Drangstveit Lucretia DrangstveitIn Honor of Mark Drangstveit Ed & Betty ReidIn Honor of Erin Flagstad & Sara Nau Rebecca JanningIn Memory of Aunt Gloria Rick Samyn & Glenda UmipegIn Honor of Barbara Gugger Ann Gugger & Parke BurgessIn Memory of Robert Guthrie Viola MarcoeIn Honor of Ginny Heffern Kevin & Annie Meirose

In Memory of Martin Holdener Frances HoldenerIn Honor of Sue Hudacek Gennyn Dennison & Jim KnightIn Memory of Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen David Rothrock & Gloriose Sakubu-RothrockIn Memory of Richard Kirk Julie KirkIn Memory of MaryLee LeCocq David Rothrock & Gloriose Sakubu-RothrockIn Honor of Carol Meirose Kevin & Annie MeiroseIn Honor of Chickie Morrisey Hakan & Susan SezginIn Memory of Margaret O’Brien David Rothrock & Gloriose Sakubu-RothrockIn Memory of Edwin Plumb Joan JacksonIn Honor of Joanne Schott Chuck & Eve Schott Hakan & Susan SezginIn Memory of Mary Bea Sleeth David Rothrock & Gloriose Sakubu-RothrockIn Memory of Mary Ann Toohey Jerry TooheyIn Honor of Jean Witte & Shann Dell Charles & Kathy Brocato

Fr. James Boyle Endowment FundClaire Foley

Tribute Donations

parking lot and found Megan and her mom, sitting in their van. Megan was very upset, as her mom was planning on dropping her off and having Megan take the Pierce Transit Shuttle home. Megan didn’t think she was ready to ride the shuttle home from this new place and knew she didn’t want to go the class. That is, until Pat said the magic word: “Chocolate!” That word caused Megan to nearly leap out of the van and race into the Welcome Center. From that point on, Megan was overjoyed to be at the cooking class. She helped crack eggs, measure flour and mix it all together. Megan’s friend, Jenny, also attended the cooking class. Jenny was a bit more hesitant to dive into the class, hanging back with her mom. Megan was not about to let Jenny get away with that, so before long Megan started chanting, “JENNY! JENNY! JENNY!” and encouraged her friend to come over and help make the cake. The combination of Megan’s enthusiastic support and her mom moving to another room allowed Jenny to take a deep breath, roll up her sleeves and help incorporate the dry with the wet ingredients.

Each participant may have come to the class with their own challenges and hurdles, but the moment they bit into the sweet chocolate treats, all those worries left them. The only thing remaining was excitement and hopes of more cooking classes to come. And, at the end of the class, Megan boarded the Shuttle for her first, fully-independent ride home!

Mutual Relationships Underway (continued from pg. 7)

Listed below are tribute donations made since spring of this year. We are grateful both for the person being honored/memorialized and for the generosity of the donors.



In the Community Weekly Markets

Weekend Events

November 17th - 18th St. Leo Parish Fair Trade (Nov. 16th-18th) Chapel Hill Festival of Hope (Nov. 16th-18th) Community Thanksgiving (Nov. 17th)

November 24th - 25th Holy Disciples Parish Fair Trade (Nov. 25th) St. Marks Lutheran by the Narrows Fair Trade (Nov. 25th)

December 1st - 2nd Bethany Presbyterian Church Fair Trade (Dec. 2nd) Redeemer Lutheran Church Craft Show / Wreath Sale (Dec. 2nd) Urban Grace Church Fair Trade (Nov. 30th - Dec. 2nd)

Broadway Market: Thursdays through OctoberProctor Market: Saturdays through December15th

Holidays on the Farm

Wreaths and Swags ($15 - $25)

Holiday Cards and Ornaments

Wonderful Wreath Workshop

November 12th - December 14th ORDER EARLY; QUANTITIES ARE LIMITED.

Saturday, December 1st (10am - 3pm)

How to order...• Email us with your order: [email protected].• Message us on Facebook.• Visit us at a Holiday Fair Trade Event (see above).• Come out to the Farm to place your order.

For the most recent Farm information, visit

www.larchetahomahope.org/subscribe

to receive our monthly eNewsletter.


Community Vacations

Whether it’s a baseball game, dinner out or a relaxing afternoon on the beach, community vacations give us a chance to enjoy life’s simple pleasures together.


Living Our Best Lives - #GivingTuesday is Coming!by Jonathan Ross, Development Director

This #GivingTuesday — 11.27.2018 — we invite you to participate in joy-filled stories of adventure from L’Arche Tahoma Hope. L’Arche core members challenge stereotypes and limitations in order to experience a full life. In overcoming barriers, core members share their gifts with all of us and with the world. Cost, however, can be a barrier to transformative experiences like going to camp, enjoying a night on the town, or even covering the cost of daily essentials.

Follow us on Facebook and tune in on #GivingTuesday for live streams from L’Arche Tahoma Hope. You’ll hear stories of summer camp shenanigans, adventures around T-town, reflections from assistants, and examples of how personal limitations shouldn’t prevent us from living our best lives — in other words, our L’Arche lives.

Our mission to share the gifts of individuals with intellectual disabilities calls us to support core members to live their best lives. While our government funding provides for basic care, it’s your generosity that provides the resources for us to live L’Arche. Proceeds from this year’s #GivingTuesday will ensure access for core members to more amazing journeys. See you on November 27th!

Tuesday, November 13, 2018 in Tacoma (location to be announced)

“My life-journey has been one with wonderful and amazing people, some of whom were disabled, and all of whom shaped my transformation. They demonstrated that love is possible, God’s forgiveness is essential, and we are called to walk together on earth.”

Join L’Arche Tahoma Hope for a conversation with Sister Sue Mosteller, international speaker, author, friend of Henri Nouwen, and leader in community-building for over 40 years.

Sue’s life was profoundly impacted in her youth when she met Jean Vanier, founder of the International Federation of L’Arche communities. In 1972, she began working in L’Arche in Canada, eventually serving in leadership in the Toronto community of Daybreak, where Henri Nouwen lived, worked and wrote for the last 10 years of his life.

Among other roles, Sue became the first leader after Jean Vanier of the International Federation of L’Arche, leading L’Arche through a period of significant expansion in the 1980’s. Sue has published four books, the latest being Light Through the Crack: Life after Loss.

After the death of Henri Nouwen, Sue learned to her surprise that she had been designated by Henri as Literary Executrix of his estate. Sue has established the Henri Nouwen Archival Collection at the University of Toronto St. Michael’s College, and she remains deeply engaged in all aspects of the Nouwen Literary Legacy. Sue has received several Honorary Doctorates that honor her life and leadership.

You can also hear Sue at a public event in Seattle, to be held in the Student Center at Seattle University on Monday, November 12 from 7:30 – 9:00 PM. President Fr. Steve Sundborg, SJ will introduce Sue, who will share lessons learned from her many years of living in L’Arche and through her close friendship and collaboration with Henri Nouwen.

For more information on these events, please contact the L’Arche Tahoma Hope office.

An Evening with Sue Mostel ler

SAVE THE DATE


Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDTacoma, WA

Permit No. 1126

Soundings is published three times a year, Spring, Fall and Christmas. L’Arche Tahoma Hope is a non-profit organization. Your donations are tax-deductible.

Farmhouse11716 Vickery Ave. E.

Tacoma, WA 98446(253) 535-3171

Anawim616 East 45th St.

Tacoma, WA 98404(253) 474-5618

Ananda12306 Vickery Ave. E.

Tacoma, WA 98446(253) 537-5126

Farm & Gardens11716 Vickery Ave. E.

Tacoma, WA 98446(253) 537-7871

Hopespring12319 - 36th Ave. E.Tacoma, WA 98446

(253) 537-6936

w w w . l a r c h e t a h o m a h o p e . o r g e-mail: [email protected]

Day Support12302 Vickery Ave. E.

Tacoma, WA 98446(253) 537-7540

Office, Outreach12302 Vickery Ave. E.

Tacoma, WA 98446(253) 535-3178

L’Arche Tahoma Hope Community12302 Vickery Avenue EastTacoma, Washington 98446

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

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invitation through story - l'arche tahoma hope

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