Serving as a regional helper for the Pacific Northwest has been found to be both an honor and a blessing (most days!). Our newest members, Andre Allen and Margarite Charney, as well as our departing members, Oswald Norton and Daniella Gleeson, share their thoughts on serving in this capacity. We are so grateful for Oswald and Daniella’s years of service in our dewan and so looking forward to working with Andre and Margarite. ~ The PNW Regional Helper Dewan
Daniella Gleeson – Departing Regional Helper
I have enjoyed my time as a regional helper for the PNW these last almost 5 years. There were challenges, of course, but mostly gifts of inner expansion, deepening of my latihan, and developing relationships that I normally would not have the opportunity to create. As a kid growing up in Subud and witnessing all the trials and tribulations of what I saw people I loved experience, I was never keen on participating in any role that involved more than just doing the latihan. Now, I’m so glad that I did and will definitely be open to it again once my life is less full. Thank you all for being so loving, welcoming, and kind. I am grateful for the incredible gift of being able to connect with so many sincere people on a deeper level. I also ask for forgiveness from anyone I may have offended or hurt unknowingly, whether it was inwardly or outwardly. I wish love and God’s blessings to you all, always.
Oswald Norton: Memories of regional helper work
- Visiting remote centers and making new friends.
- I remember fondly my trips to Boise, ID. We always stayed at the Brugger home, where Halimah was a fabulous host, creating selamatan events and inviting all the Subud members in Boise to attend.
- I recently also visited the folks in Spokane and had a great kejiwaan day with the men and women.
- Doing the work of the helper dewan preparing for both the regional kejiwaan and local events in Seattle and Portland.
- Not only doing the “work” part of becoming a dewan, but learning from each other what worked and what could work better.
- Doing testing with the members at regional and local events and witnessing the changes in our lives as we learned more and more how to bring the latihan into our lives.
Upon becoming a Regional Helper, Andre Allen
I am grateful to the Subud Pacific Northwest Dewan and the National Helpers for having accepted me as a Regional Helper for Subud PNW. Not only has this brought me closer to Subud brothers and sisters that I respect and admire, but it has also deepened my receiving of the latihan and has inspired me, after my opening 50 years ago, to go “back to basics” and review the wisdom that Bapak shared with us in his early talks. As a Regional Helper, I will do my best to serve God and Subud PNW during the next four years, and beyond.