Louis The Scooterer: SAR-EL: believe it or not...you better believe it

There was a time way back when "I knew little" and altho' I was a successful smalltime window fixer I knew little about "living in Israel" and nothing about "volunteering in Israel"..

And then one day I heard about Sar-El, and that was the beginning of a changing of my life.
 
When I first was given a pamphlet I couldn't tie up a meeting with other earlier volunteers to ask about. Eventually I made a miracle phonecall, and was invited to attend a meeting; a sort of reunion
 
SAY no more. I immediately signed up and my first program flew towards me and in  October 1998, I was on an El Al jet, heading to my first SAR-EL program - only 2 of us from South Africa, heading to meet a group of volunteers from USA and Canada.
 
SO, Alfred and I were met at the old  Ben Gurion airport, and driven into Jaffa to stay at the Beit Oded (Sar-El Hostel) for a few days waiting for the group. We met our lovely madricha (leader)--Irit,  and were introduced to the idea of some discipline..

Like being at meals on time and learning to say "shalom and boker tov".. and at the meals to empty our plates and help wash the dishes.
 
 A few days later, Alfred and I, with Irit were on a big bus which collected the large group at the airport.

Suddenly the quietness of a threesome became an exciting noisy 50 people.
 
Never a quiet moment after that, as we arrived at our place of work to help the young female soldiers who fold and pack parachutes..and they repair and do many other jobs.

 
Well, we did dozens of different jobs and became experts at using a broom and a mop. I even covered books with plastic covers as well as making new friends with the other volunteers and with some of the regular soldiers.

 
After a daily breakfast at all the bases is the flagraising - a short ceremony done with respect, 

and also volunteers are included to raise the flag and then gather around for newstime from our madrichot.
 
Oh well, all of those soldiers could have been my children....
 
And the days fly by...
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My statement is that all bases where volunteers go, offers the same ambiance and friendship and a different variety of jobs and volunteers quickly "fall-in-line" and do what is expected.
 
My 2nd program was at a giant warehouse workshop where all sorts of damaged things from every other base are sent for repairs, so we scraped off the rust and applied some paint and put things into plastic packets and put other things into big boxes and the big trucks rolled in every day with new stuff to fix..and rolled out with the fixed stuff. 

Also at that base was a catering division where young male and female soldiers are taught to be cooks..And one night there was a party catered for by these learners..Buckingham Palace or The White House or even Hollywood don't get such a  magnificent spread as this party...what an honour that we volunteers were invited...and the stories mount..
 
And the days fly by....
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A couple of other programs I attended, were at medical supplies warehouses, and the jobs were also many and varied:
unpack stuff and repack in smaller packets and place in chests and label, and don't forget there are many young strong volunteers to lift anything heavy so the older volunteers need never strain...even unfold cardboard boxes and cut pieces of string.

Don't forget that every volunteer should have a chance at "kitchen duty", allowing to mix with the cooks and chefs and mess hall workers..

And the friendly broom and mops are waiting.
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On my birthday a few years ago I gave myself a birthday present, by joining a group that worked in an engine workshop,
I scooted to the base and was met as though I was the long lost brother.

Wow what a welcome, by the commander and his staff and the volunteers!
 
Unfortunately some  unexpected personal affairs needed attention and I was forced to leave before having a real chance for that experience...Still that one night everyone celebrated with me..A better birthday party I could not have had.
 
Oy vay ..and the years fly by...
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I also spent a one night stayover at a base as I was invited to "tell" the volunteers about my Sar-El experiences which incidentally, was the main reason that I made Aliya, (the names of those volunteers were on separate pages and stuck on the window so that every volunteer knew something about everyone else) and also describe what I have been doing since then.

 
That is..scooting all around Israel on my scooter...and also writing these little stories.
 
How the miles and kilometers fly by...
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My most recent program ended a few days ago (April 17 2008), at that same medical base and I made some great new friends, young and old from many countries...

One volunteer brought a trumpet to flagraise.

There will be thousands of individual stories, and many volunteers will come again..often, and always there are cameras clicking away.. taking pics.

I mention here that many volunteers are Christians, who do this for their love of Israel,  and they also make value friendships that last for years.
 
One pretty young woman wears a backpack that seems bigger than she is and she has already done several programs. Bless you Chana, I learned from you.
 
That was only a 4-day program..and it flew away..

And what hit me hard...IS !
 
 IS...all the soldiers could now be my grandchildren.
 
An important mention is that SAR-EL celebrated their 25 Years Anniversary which I attended in Jerusalem. That was another unforgettable event.

 
I'm sure I speak for thousands when I say..

THANK YOU SAR-EL... and a BIG THANK YOU, PAMELA.
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(Note..Alfred has done several hundred volunteering days over the 10 years, and still does. He returns every year for a few months, and I hope I will read his story.)
 
 
See my previous stories about Sar-El
 
http://cgis.jpost.com/Blogs/scooterer/entry/sar-el_what_is_it
 
http://cgis.jpost.com/Blogs/scooterer/entry/sar-el_25_years_young
 
 
Please email me louisdrinkingt@013.net I will answer all.