OUR STORIES, OUR HISTORY

Melissa: I began my L'Arche life in L'Arche Kapiti in the North Island of New Zealand where I was an assistant for a year. I loved my time there, and when I came home to DC I was thrilled to be welcomed as an assistant in the L'Arche Greater Washington, DC community. I've been in the Ontario Road house for four years, both as an assistant and a Home Life Coordinator. After getting married in 2004, my husband Andre and I were blessed with the opportunity to be sent by the Greater Washington, DC community to be assistants in L'Arche Punla (Philippines). I've found that though the cultures in New Zealand, Washington, DC and the Phillipines are all very different, the spirit and mission of L'Arche is felt in very similar ways.

Valerie: I was introduced to L’Arche during my senior year of college, when I spent a week in the basement of the Euclid house as part of a service project called Spring Break Outreach. No amount of reading about L’Arche could have prepared me for the experience that I had. The overwhelming feeling was one of mutual respect and appreciation of each person. I felt almost immediately that I wanted to be a part of this community, and I was welcomed just 3 weeks after graduation. I have now been a member of L’Arche for over a year, and it has been a wonderful experience of service to others, as well as constant support for myself. I have grown in my appreciation of the unique gifts that each person brings to the community, and have felt affirmed in my own gifts and desire for growth.

Don: I have been in community for over 12 years. I first learned about L'Arche through the Eighth Day Faith Community. At that time, many assistants, core people, and the Community Leader were members of the Eighth Day church. My first role in L'Arche was as a volunteer helping Glen. In July of 1997, I became an assistant. Now, my role is Director of Quality Assessment. I am responsible also for a lot of the paperwork required by the DC and Virginia governments, and upkeep of the houses. Prior to coming to L'Arche, I worked with homeless people in a number of capacities. My wife Kathy and I live in the basement of the Ontario Road home and in March of 2004 welcomed our daughter Elizabeth into our family.