I decided to include voluntary work in my future travels. So when I met a lady at a homeless shelter in Montreal who had worked at the Home of Compassion in New Zealand, I seized the opportunity and contacted Sr. Margaret Ann at once. After finishing a work contract and getting the necessary papers together I was meeting Sr. Margaret Ann a year later at Wellington airport.

I have been in the restaurant and hotel business for many years so I was quite happy to start at the soup kitchen a few days later. I would serve the soup in the morning and than help Chefs Kim and John with the various chores involved in the preparation of the meals. I find cooking very creative and the Chefs would do wonders with what was at their disposal, this being possible with the generosity of businesses, suppliers and people of Wellington.

They would concoct healthy and colorful meals; our reward was the anticipation of pleasure in the eyes of the guests as they took their plates. With time you learned the names of the guests and could greet them on a more friendly basis. Let’s not forget that people at the Soup Kitchen are there for food but most important food for the soul. A smile and a word of encouragement can brighten someone’s day, even the most ferocious.

The atmosphere was always serene at Compassion Centre. And it never felt like work to me. It was so exciting to be part of a New Zealand community, to get to know its members and contribute to make the life of the less fortunate a little easier. The kitchen was a happy place, full of laughter. Lunch was a time to converse and exchange ideas. The kindness of Father Rob who joined us after mass was a great source of inspiration for me. Desmond and I would share our mutual interests for the Arts.

I had the chance to go to Wanganui’s Home of Compassion for a week to give a hand to the residential therapists. To see the devotion and compassion expended there gave a true sense to the joy of giving. Again the Sisters were very supportive and it was great fun to help Sister Mary with her French lessons; by the way she makes the best cheese scones in Aoteaora!

Thursday was a very special day! That was when I would go to the Home of Compassion in Island Bay to translate some French letters and recipes from Mother Aubert that were left from the huge translators work. It was fascinating to get to know Suzanne Aubert and New Zealand history through the vision of this unique woman. My bonus; I got to meet most of the Sisters, and I have learned something from everyone of them.

Not only did I meet and got to know fantastic people at the Soup Kitchen but I also enjoyed the great culture the city has to offer. Te Papa is on my list of favorites places in the world. Sisters Catherine, Ema, Rachel and Victor who I lived with, were always attentive to my well-being and my discoveries. It was home and they were my friends. After my work in Wellington I had the chance to visit the country for several weeks. I was overwhelmed by the Maori heritage in the North Island and the grandeur of the wilderness of the South Island.

Needless to say I was heartbroken when I left Wellington but I have all that I gain from this experience growing in my heart and I am working on my next volunteer project.

In conclusion I can find no better words than those of Desmond Ang in his message in the Annual Magazine-2008:

“ ...no better way in giving a soul to the world than by bringing compassion into it. It is love that changes the world.”

Amen.

Ginette Gauvin