Daniel Zündorf brings new perspective to Highland House

by Bethany Keener

Daniel Zündorf decided a long time ago that he didn't want to carry a weapon.

When it came time for him to either enter Germany's compulsory military service or find an alternative, he chose L'Arche Greater Washington, D.C. Daniel became L'Arche's newest assistant at Highland House in January.

Prior to coming to L'Arche from Meldorf, Germany, Daniel took a weeklong class with thirty other young men who were training for alternative service assignments with people who have disabilities. Each one spent a day using a wheelchair and having one of their classmates assist them with eating, brushing their teeth, and navigating at the supermarket.

"You gain a sensitivity because you understand what it means to let someone in to your privacy," Daniel said. He noticed that people did look at him differently when he was using the wheelchair, but they moved out of the way or asked if they could help.

Caroline McGraw, L'Arche's Virginia program director charged with Daniel's three-month training and orientation, said Daniel is "learning about L'Arche in his second language, but he's smart and perceptive and unafraid to ask for clarification if he needs it." For her, finding ways to explain words like "seizure" and "hyperthyroidism" in more basic terms has been a fun challenge, and a bit of an education.

"Our community benefits when we have people from other cultures live with us," said Melissa Javier-Barry, recruitment coordinator at L'Arche. "It helps us grow in our appreciation of the world outside our borders and allows us to get to know someone from a country where we have many sister communities."

Melissa spent time in L'Arche communities in New Zealand and the Philippines where she learned one of the fundamental gifts of L'Arche - that one's presence, not what one can "contribute," is what matters most.

That gift was one that Daniel noticed immediately. Though he left his home and friends in Germany, Highland House warmly welcomed him. "I was greeted nicely by everyone and it was like a new family," he said.