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Thursday
February 9, 2012
10:18am EST


Content Rating Notice:  Recommended for Readers 18 Years and Older Only
  >> Book >> Cultural >> ID #1160426  |   Show DetailsPrinter Friendly Page Tell A Friend
Notes from Underground
Notes from Underground is my personal blog for exploring ideas.
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Entry #466814, added on 11-05-06 @ 5:59 pm EST
   Entry Access Restriction: None.
All Saints SundayEntry #466814
Today was "All Saints Sunday" at my church, and we were each given a candle and the opportunity to speak about a person who has passed on who had an impact on our lives. I chose to talk about a young man I met in the Peace Corps.

His name was Robert Bock, from West Virginia. He served as a water sanitation volunteer on Panay island in the Philippines, and I was an education volunteer serving on the island of Mindanao. His group preceded mine by a few months and his group often looked down on my group, saying that they get their hands dirty and reflect the "real Peace Corps" and us teachers did not.

One day I was stuck in Manila after a brief trip there for a conference. My group members had already left, and members of the other group were arriving for their mid-service conference. Robert Bock, who I had only met once before, was nice to me and went out of his way to talk with me. I remember that he had a new safety razor and was saying how delighted he was with the simple pleasures in life, which included a new safety razor. I had been frustrated with how things were going at my site and told him so. He told me that he was never really able to do the work he was supposed to at his site due to problems, but he went outside of that and was finding many things he could do to help people. He was happy about helping a family start a piggery and he was getting information on piggeries to help.

I went back to my site refreshed and with a brighter outlook.

About two weeks later, a teacher informed me that there was a report that a Peace Corps volunteer was shot and killed on Panay island. It turned out to be Robert Bock. Later, I saw a news photo taken where he was killed, and I saw, next to the vehical he was riding in, books and papers on piggeries laying on the ground. I also heard that all the people he served at his site came together and had a prayer vigil for Robert, and they said that he was a great hope to them.

Later, I wrote an article about the day I spent with Robert for our volunteer newsletter, and in that article I referred to him as my brother, since all of us who serve are brothers and sisters in a sense, and it is another volunteer who really understands what we are goihng through. I heard that many of the volunteers from Robert's group were touched by my article. I was happy to help bring our groups together.

For Robert Bock, a Saint in my eyes, may God bless you wherever you are.

© Copyright 2006 Mandi (UN: amandag580 at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Mandi has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.
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