Agape is a Clinic that is all about Love. God's Love. The word Agape means love in Greek. The founding of the clinic was inspired by a pediatrician I met when I was in medical school. The doctor’s name was Dr. Robert Appleby and he practiced medicine in Connecticut. He had started a charity clinic in the Norwalk, CT area and also had a private practice. This appealed to me because I was a chicken! I wanted to do mission work but I was concerned about the health risks associated with going into areas of Africa where there are dreaded diseases that have no cures. I also wanted to raise a family of my own and give the wonderful suburban lifestyle I experienced growing up to my own children. After seeing how Dr. Appleby was able to combine a successful private practice with a fruitful volunteer activity, I thought I would follow in his footsteps and to do something similar in.....maybe my fifties! However, God had a different plan. I ended up starting the clinic before I even finished training. When my husband and I tried to have children, we ran into about three years of infertility. I became quite depressed. God told me to look outside myself to work through my depression. As I was obviously too old to be a candy striper by this time, I decided to try to be a volunteer doctor. I looked for a clinic opportunity in Dallas but could not find one. I was directed to Los Barrios Unidos Community Clinic in West Dallas. I offered my services as a volunteer doctor there but Horace Sarabia, the Executive Director, told me that they needed me to be on their board instead. If I worked as a volunteer it could cause them to receive less money from the federal government! I decided I had to be obedient and trust God, even though being on a board was not my first choice. I joined their board and within two months, I heard of the opportunity to start a clinic in Grace United Methodist Church in East Dallas at one of the board meetings! It turned out that THAT opportunity came from my OWN CHURHC, Highland Park United Methodist, giving funding to the East Dallas Cooperative Parish under Ruth Collins Sharp Altshuler’s leadership, but I had to go to West Dallas to hear about the opportunity in East Dallas that was funded by my church in North Dallas. I can just picture God laughing about trying to get me connected me to the right place where I was supposed to serve, but once it happened, the rest was easy. My pastor, Leighton Farrell, wrote me a check for $2000 himself, for plumbing and lighting improvements to the closet in the basement that just had a lightbulb hanging from the ceiling, and we opened on August 20, 1983. Now, decades later, we are in a 10,000 square-foot building across the street.
The most meaningful experience I’ve had at the clinic has been watching the organization grow and expand and change. I’ve learned to embrace changes and always be grateful for the experiences I have there.
I continue to volunteer there because (A) they still let me and (B) it’s so much more fun than documenting encounters perfectly for insurance companies; and (C) because I am a healer, and I get a thrill each time I feel I’ve helped someone even a little . A few weeks ago a lady brought in her expensive medication for arthritis and the usual person who gave it wasn’t there, so I gave it . Turns out YOU TUBE taught me how to operate the unique device in 3 minutes. She was so excited, because she had been putting the shit too close to her knee, and I showed her where it should go , and the shot didn’t hurt . She was bracing herself for severe pain and there was NONE. I wish I could give that to everyone . Health care without pain !!!
Volunteering has become some of the most important work of my life. I When I receive recognition for it, I feel guilty! There are many volunteers who come to Agape and love it but never get any real recognition or praise . Years ago, we had a party and gave out plaques, after I researched our handwritten encounter notebook to find out who volunteered the most , over the first 25 years. We had already had over 700 volunteers ! It’s so humbling to realize how many people bring their gifts and talents to the Lord every day. Serving has strengthened my faith. God is Good. All the Time ! Each person is one, only one. We are each unique and can find something to give to others. If we each give as we are able, and get out of God’s way, or maybe gets IN GOD’s WAY, hence surrounded by HIS love, we will have the opportunity to experience the high that comes from letting His love flow through us.
The most meaningful experience I’ve had at the clinic has been watching the organization grow and expand and change. I’ve learned to embrace changes and always be grateful for the experiences I have there.
I continue to volunteer there because (A) they still let me and (B) it’s so much more fun than documenting encounters perfectly for insurance companies; and (C) because I am a healer, and I get a thrill each time I feel I’ve helped someone even a little . A few weeks ago a lady brought in her expensive medication for arthritis and the usual person who gave it wasn’t there, so I gave it . Turns out YOU TUBE taught me how to operate the unique device in 3 minutes. She was so excited, because she had been putting the shit too close to her knee, and I showed her where it should go , and the shot didn’t hurt . She was bracing herself for severe pain and there was NONE. I wish I could give that to everyone . Health care without pain !!!
Volunteering has become some of the most important work of my life. I When I receive recognition for it, I feel guilty! There are many volunteers who come to Agape and love it but never get any real recognition or praise . Years ago, we had a party and gave out plaques, after I researched our handwritten encounter notebook to find out who volunteered the most , over the first 25 years. We had already had over 700 volunteers ! It’s so humbling to realize how many people bring their gifts and talents to the Lord every day. Serving has strengthened my faith. God is Good. All the Time ! Each person is one, only one. We are each unique and can find something to give to others. If we each give as we are able, and get out of God’s way, or maybe gets IN GOD’s WAY, hence surrounded by HIS love, we will have the opportunity to experience the high that comes from letting His love flow through us.
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