Buntong: A Journey with the Community Service Centre
Reflections from Buntong: A Journey with the Community Service Centre
By: Rolandez Sounam
I’ve been with Good Shepherd Services (GSS) for quite some time now and have had the opportunity to be involved in most of the areas GSS is working on, such as residential care, projects, programmes, and more. However, there was one area that I had yet to experience: the Community Service Centre (CSC) in Buntong, Ipoh, Malaysia.
Finally this year, I had the chance to be part of the core team and witness firsthand the work being done at the Community Service Centre (CSC).
Although I spent a short time in engaging the community, yet I had a deeply meaningful experience. Everywhere I went to connect with people, I often received small but wonderful gestures of a kind word, or a story that re-ignited my passion to serve. I remember visiting a priest at one of the churches, and he said, “This centre has my support.” That simple sentence is music to my ears. It affirmed that the mission of the Good Shepherd, started by St. Mary Euphrasia, is seen and valued by many.
I also had the opportunity to conduct home visits to several children’s homes around the area, where the children are recipients of our Good Shepherd Education Fund. The way the children interacted with me, and how eager they were to keep the conversation going, made me feel like I am one of their good friends; someone whom they could talk to and feel heard. One moment that truly touched me was when we visited a grandmother who proudly showed us her grandchild’s collection of certificates of achievement. I was very happy to be accepted as one of the people who could say to her and her grandchild, “You did great!”
Through my time here, I’ve developed a deep desire to help CSC become better known and appreciated by the wider community. I want people to smile when they hear its name, know that it’s a place of peace and comfort. I believe this is possible because other mission partners share this vision with me.
As I write this reflection, I recall my interactions with many people in positive dialogues that were incredibly impactful. St. Mary Euphrasia’s “Just love” are two simple words, which I could resonate powerfully today. I hope to live by the values she taught us, and to bring more joy to the community service centre and the people it serves.
