The House Light on the Hill, affiliated to the Fraternidade – International Humanitarian Federation,
carried out last Saturday, January 30, another journey of free therapeutic assistance to the community of Carmo da Cachoeira, Minas Gerais, Brazil. This time the voluntary group service was rendered in the headquarters of its educational unit, the House of Art and Education.
Eight thera
pists, one doctor and three monks of the Grace Mercy Order more than 40 people, among them children who concur to the House of Art and Education, their family members and acquaintances. In several cases, it was a continuation of previous consultations.
“Many already know our services and they like it because we try to give to each one an individualized treatment, always aiming at awakening the connection with the soul of each being. To each one we dedicate all the time they need, we create the necessary confidence so that they open themselves and collaborate”, explains Miriam Galvão, the coordinator of the the therapeutic services offered by the House Light on the Hill. This Fraternal action is performed approximately every three months and the patients that come back always report improvements in their conditions.
The service on Saturday was divided in two groups: in one sector the adults were assisted and in another the children. The former had a previous interview, in charge of the monks and a therapist, and then they were referred to the most appropriate kind of therapy. These moments of dialog are opportunities in which the patients liberate themselves from many emotional charges and start to open themselves to a deeper cure. The minors, in the meantime, underwent treatments fitting their ages, such as acupuncture with seeds and brief footbaths with water specially prepared with medicinal leaves, essential oils, magnesium sulfate, among other elements.
To the young ones the looming room, with a hammock for the massage therapy and two bowls, with chairs for the footbaths. The place, with doors and windows closed, was pervaded by a tranquilizing scent originating from the strategically activated essences. Elizete, one of the therapist present there, points out that they were working the subtle bodies of the children with aromatherapy. With the footbaths they treat the energetic and physical aspects. “We prepare the children with symbolic treatments so that they get in touch with alternative and spiritual therapies, with their souls, with their internal being. We explain to them that the angels are present during the treatments to help them”, she says. The kids entered two by two and while their little bodies were treated with a lot tenderness and respect by the masseur Janete, Elizete was responsible for giving them, in a simple way, instructions about health and life. In the yard, a noisy group of seven children awaited their turn to enter.
In an adjoining room, the handicraft room, an acupunctor applied Chinese, Japanese and Korean techniques to alleviate pains, tensions and physical discomforts of some of the adult patients. They also receive practical guidance about how to use some auxiliary elements, such as big and small magnets and others. Both adults and children present many symptoms of anxiety, according to Miriam. “In the adults cases of depression are also observed, as well as bone problems such as rheumatism, backache, arthosis and arthritis”, she completes.
Hanna, 12, has been a part of the great Family of the House of Art and Education for four years. She suffers anxiety and is treated in the talking service, and in the following therapy, which in her case consists of acupuncture with needles. She considers the treatment “very good”; she says she feels “better” and that the improvement is also in the physical aspect, as she already has a bone surgery in her right leg. Another minor, Fernanda, also considers “cool” the therapies that are performed in these volunteering journeys.
Last week, the group of volunteers of the House Light on the Hill also rendered services in Alfenas and Boa Esperança, both cities in Minas Gerais, Brazil. In the first case, 12 volunteers worked with the support of the dental van and the ophthalmological van (vehicles equipped for these kinds of assistance). The ones benefitted were adults and children, devotees of the Virgin Mary who use to participate in the pilgrimage to the Marian Center of Aurora, located in the rural area of Carmo da Cachoeira. This journey was organized by a volunteers of the Network-of-Light in Alfenas.
In Boa Esperança, the work was performed at the headquarters of Vida Viva (Life Alive), organization that supports patients with cancer and their family members. Here, ten volunteers with the dental van renders therapeutic, psychological and spiritual assistance.
