This morning it was pouring rain outside. I hit my snoozed button and some how it never came back on so by the time I checked it was 5:50am... and I was going to be late to mass. So i took my time this morning and made my way out towards mother house around 6:40. Corina still wasn't feeling up to par so she took another day off. She's looking a lot better and is able to get up and walk around more, from what I see.
I had a guitar bag that was full of medicine, hygene/grooming products, some clothes and sheets. The bag was packed full and barely zipped shut. This bag was things I've accumulated for donation, from friends, myself, and buying stuff on the streets that I thought some of the sites may need. I stepped outside into the rain and to my suprised it was ankle high water in some parts of the streets but I began to trud through.
I got to Mother house and told Sr. Karina I had some donation, she was excited to see the bag so packed but even more so, she was excited when I told her I'm donating the guitar bag also. There's numberous guitars all over the sites; at Mother house, 2 or 3 at Daya Dan, some at Kalighat, etc. What they really need is maintence things for the guitar, like new strings, picks, new bags. And so Sr. Karina was excited when I gave her a sturdy Yamaha bag that I bought in the states. Afterwards I had breakfast and headed to Daya dan.
At daya dan I arrived early and started making Mongol's lesson plan. I picked out a few words he learned when I worked with him last tuesday. It's so hard to give the children a good education, when all i get with them is an hour a day, monday through friday except for thursday because it's volunteer's day off! Saturday is art class. So in reality it's only 4 hours a week that the children are actually in class! I wish I can have more timie with them ... like 4 horus a day minimum. Well this wednesdsay we didn't have class because of independence day so I had to remember back to tuesday... and I started a new book with mongol. I choose out some words that we read on tuesday and made them into sentences with fill in the blanks. I also used those words and had him draw a line to word that was most similar in meaning to it. After that lesson we continued reading a few more pages, and than I read to him. By the time we finished an hour had already pass and Sr. Johana Fa wanted the children downstairs to have choir practice for Mother Teresa's Memorial mass in September. I joined Sister because there was no guitar player. Sister wanted me to help figure out some of the guitar chords for the music. We sang and I fumbled through chords trying to figure out the matching chords for the vocals, surpisingly I did fairly well and figured out all the songs that we sang today on the guitar and wrote them down for the guitarist in September... which as of now, we're still looking for one. After an hour of choir practice all the sisters, masis, and children left and one MC sister stayed back with me and helped me figure out the other songs. She had SUCH and amazing voice! It was so beautiful and pure! I loved hearing her sing in bangali and really wish I knew bangali to sing along. The songs were so beautiful and I was so excited that I was able to figure out the chords to the songs and ontop of that... it was just an BEAUTIFUL SONG!
When I finally finished figuring out as much as I could,in the amount of time Sister was able to be there and help me out befor her afternoon prayer/lunch/nap time, I went down to the first floor and continued painting what was left. It seems to me as if there's not much progress. I was hoping that I'd finish one of it by today but with corina sick yesterday and today it was a set back. Along with not having blue paint for the water and sky... it was a major problem. So until I find a store to go pick up some blue paint, I can't do much more with my ship scene. I finished painting everything that I could on my ship scene today... the people were all finished, the boats, and sails... I'm just waiting on the ocean water. So Today I started the other painting, the ones with animals playing in the water. I was tired and it was getting later in the day, the kids were waking up and the second shift of volunteers were coming in, so I painted as much as I could which meant I only finished painting two monkeys. The children and Masis stood staring, they really liked it.
Well in a couple of hours I'm headed up north to Darjeeling with Corina for the weekend. So I may not blog for a while but pray for our safe journey. PS... we're going to take the toy train up to Darjeeling, where Mother Teresa had her "Call within a call" and go to the Catholic church in darjeeling at 9am on Sunday! I'm excited! Plus, Darjeeling is just so beautiful anyways! It's amazing. Pray for our safe journey.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Thursday, August 16, 2007
painting day
Today I woke up and grabbed breakfast at Tirupati. A bananan pancake of course. Corina wasn't feeling all too well this morning and although today was a thursday, a day off for volunteers, we were planning on going to Daya Dan to continue painting. Corina didn't look too well so I told her to stay back and get some rest, while I went to paint today.
I arrived at Daya Dan and it was interesting coming there on a thursday, only the masis were with the kids and although when I arrived all the sisters were together hanging out with the children, the majority of their day they spent in prayers. I actually only saw them for about 30 minutes out of the day today and the rest of the day they were praying or doing something else on the second floor. Which is pretty intense if you think about. I started to sketch out a boy sitting on the moon and fishing, than began painting. Mongol stayed with me for awhile while I was painting and kept me company. I finished painting the moon, the boy that was fishing and a fish he caught, and the sail of my other ship and the faces on the two people on that ship. I took a break sometime in between and had lunch made by the masis, then continue on painting. Later in the afternoon Megha came downstair and kept me company. I gave her a bottle of aroma therapy lotion that was citrus scented and she absolutely loved it. "oOOI, Very nice. I like, this is very nice uncle. You're a very nice uncle. " hahaha. She's so funny I love that gal. She loves a lot of girly things so it's easy to get her gifts that she'll love. Actually all the kids love things that smell good. Mongol loves Johnson Oil and I got him some, I've been meaning to give it to him but keep on forgetting to give it. His face lights up everytime I mention it or when he ask about it.
Well the MC sisters were extremely nice and courteous to me today, like always, but they kept making sure I had everything I needed. And gave me the greatest compliments on the paintings. When I was finished with painting they made me a cup of chai... chai is where it's at. I seriously am going to bring back Tea Time when I get back into the states. We're totally missing out.
Well, I got back on sudder and Corina was still in bed. So I encouraged her to get something to eat since she haven't had anything since breakfast. So we went out... I had my dinner and she had her lunch/dinner, which was only a slice of toast and 7up. I'm going to cut this blog short because I need to run back and check up on her and also since I was working all day today at Daya Dan I haven't had the chance to do laundry and I need it done before I leave this weekend to Darjeeling for 3 days. I don't know if anyone is still reading these blogs but continue keep us in your prayers and pray for Corina's wellbeing if you have the time today. Thank you and God bless.
I arrived at Daya Dan and it was interesting coming there on a thursday, only the masis were with the kids and although when I arrived all the sisters were together hanging out with the children, the majority of their day they spent in prayers. I actually only saw them for about 30 minutes out of the day today and the rest of the day they were praying or doing something else on the second floor. Which is pretty intense if you think about. I started to sketch out a boy sitting on the moon and fishing, than began painting. Mongol stayed with me for awhile while I was painting and kept me company. I finished painting the moon, the boy that was fishing and a fish he caught, and the sail of my other ship and the faces on the two people on that ship. I took a break sometime in between and had lunch made by the masis, then continue on painting. Later in the afternoon Megha came downstair and kept me company. I gave her a bottle of aroma therapy lotion that was citrus scented and she absolutely loved it. "oOOI, Very nice. I like, this is very nice uncle. You're a very nice uncle. " hahaha. She's so funny I love that gal. She loves a lot of girly things so it's easy to get her gifts that she'll love. Actually all the kids love things that smell good. Mongol loves Johnson Oil and I got him some, I've been meaning to give it to him but keep on forgetting to give it. His face lights up everytime I mention it or when he ask about it.
Well the MC sisters were extremely nice and courteous to me today, like always, but they kept making sure I had everything I needed. And gave me the greatest compliments on the paintings. When I was finished with painting they made me a cup of chai... chai is where it's at. I seriously am going to bring back Tea Time when I get back into the states. We're totally missing out.
Well, I got back on sudder and Corina was still in bed. So I encouraged her to get something to eat since she haven't had anything since breakfast. So we went out... I had my dinner and she had her lunch/dinner, which was only a slice of toast and 7up. I'm going to cut this blog short because I need to run back and check up on her and also since I was working all day today at Daya Dan I haven't had the chance to do laundry and I need it done before I leave this weekend to Darjeeling for 3 days. I don't know if anyone is still reading these blogs but continue keep us in your prayers and pray for Corina's wellbeing if you have the time today. Thank you and God bless.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Happy independence day INDIA
Today was an amazing day because not only was it Independence day for India for their 60th year since partition but it's also the feast of the Assumption of our Blessed Virgin Mother! Of course it was going to be a good day... how can it go wrong.
Mass was great like always and at breakfast it was pretty jammed packed of volunteers many of which i don't recognize anymore. When I arrived at Daya Dan all the kids were dressed in matching clothes! It was adorable, the girls had on their matching red dresses and the guys in their blue shorts and white shirts. Everyone was so happy and cheerful and Daya Dan was decorated with India's flag and colors.
In the classroom, the other teachers and I, helped prepare the class to make India's flag by tracing out the flag and having the students color in the flag and matching the colors to the specific spots. It was a great activity for many of the students, Mongol and megha who were able to draw it themselves without a pre traced drawing also were able to enjoy the flag making activity. We decorated our classroom with all the flags the students made after they were finish. We had a volunteer that is from Kolkata come talk to the students about Independence day and about freedom fighters of India. I've been telling the students that I'll bring in a movie as soon as I can find a lap top and today was Blanca's last day, she's been here since September 2006 and she brought in a friend's laptop so our class can watch a movie. Briana brought for me my external hardrive when she came and on my external harddrive there were some movies saved on. I plugged in the adapter and than plugged it into the electric input. It turned on for a second and then thge lights shut off. It blew a fuse! Or at least I hope that was the only problem, but it wasn't working. The same thing must had happened to my rechargable batteries that was also sent over. It would recharge here. The waltage here in India delivers much more than what is usually used for the eletronics in States. Frantically, I searched the room if there was any way I can play a movie for the children. At this time the children were still working on their flags. I figured the USB/external hard drive is finish and out of the question... i must find a dvd. So I left the students with the rest of the other teachers and went out to search the streets. It was nearly impossible to find a store that sold DVDs, VCDs, VHS or any type of movie format. Luckily the last sense of hope, I stumbled across a small stand that sold vcds! I bought a burnt copy of Harry potter and Pirates of the Caribiean. It was the only movies remotely close to children movies, all the other movies that was sold was some type of romatic drama.
I rushed back and by the time I got back the students were finished and were headed out of the classroom for a party! All the children came upstairs and we celebrated independence day with all the MC sisters at Daya Dan and masis! It was so much fun! We raised the flag, and Sr. Joy (the newest arrived Sister) gave a speach, we did a march around Daya Dan and than we party and DANCED! It was great! I pumped up some music on the speakers at Daya dan in Bangali and everyone was dancing! There was some indian's sweets that went around and everyone was just having a great time.
After the our party, one of the masis brought out a TV with a DVD player, they played a movie in Bangali. I thought to myself.... all the work, and they were going to play a movie all along.
At this time, it was late in the day morning shift was finished and the volunteers have left. The Masis made us lunch and it was sooo delcious! It's only of my favorite Indian meals... i love it all but this dish is pretty high up there with the egg masala dish. The Masis made us Chicken Braiyani. It's so good with some potatoes! ummmm! Well, anyways I went downstairs and began to paint what I sketched out yesterday. My goal was to finish painting both by today. One corner was of boats and the ocean while the other corner was of animals in the pooling. Corina and I started on the boats. There's only 4 boats drawn on the wall in that corner. I drew two and she drew two... It was a long process painting and after hours, I only finished painting one complete boat with a boy in it and the sail and boat of my second ship. Cornia finished painting her two boats but we haven't even begun painting the ocean or the sky, the moon, the stars... there's still much work to be done! We had couldn't do much more today because around 3:30 the children were getting up and they started coming over and touching the paint. It was such a hassel to try to keep them away from the paint..... and from LICKING it!
Well, that's the gist of my day today, tomorrow .... i'll probably be painting all day. It's voluteer's day off tomorrow because it's a thursday and it's the MC sisters day of prayers and day off. But I got permission from Sr. Johana Fa to come to Daya Dan and continue painting. I may go traveling with Corina for 2-3 days this weekend, otherwise Corina won't have a traveling partner or she won't be able to see any other part of india while she's here. So we're going up towards Darjeeling since the last time I went, I only spent a day there and it was by far the most spectacular, refreshing and peaceful town I've seen. So we're going to do fully days tomorrow and friday and leave for the weekend. Which is perfect with my teaching schedule because saturday is art class and sunday there's no class. Anyways, I'm not sure what I have planned for tonight. It's Independence day here... I think Corina and I may just go see what's happening on the streets tonight, maybe go out to the bars, and find a nice place for dinner since today we worked from 8 this morning and now just got back to sudder and it's 5:15pm. So, we're GOING OUT tonight! There's a lot of platforms set up , PA systems on the street and all sorts of fun all over Kolkata. Their be dancing on the streets tonight so ... it'll be exciting.
Well I'm getting excited to come home and miss everyone tremendously! I hope all's going well in States! God bless you now and forever!
Mass was great like always and at breakfast it was pretty jammed packed of volunteers many of which i don't recognize anymore. When I arrived at Daya Dan all the kids were dressed in matching clothes! It was adorable, the girls had on their matching red dresses and the guys in their blue shorts and white shirts. Everyone was so happy and cheerful and Daya Dan was decorated with India's flag and colors.
In the classroom, the other teachers and I, helped prepare the class to make India's flag by tracing out the flag and having the students color in the flag and matching the colors to the specific spots. It was a great activity for many of the students, Mongol and megha who were able to draw it themselves without a pre traced drawing also were able to enjoy the flag making activity. We decorated our classroom with all the flags the students made after they were finish. We had a volunteer that is from Kolkata come talk to the students about Independence day and about freedom fighters of India. I've been telling the students that I'll bring in a movie as soon as I can find a lap top and today was Blanca's last day, she's been here since September 2006 and she brought in a friend's laptop so our class can watch a movie. Briana brought for me my external hardrive when she came and on my external harddrive there were some movies saved on. I plugged in the adapter and than plugged it into the electric input. It turned on for a second and then thge lights shut off. It blew a fuse! Or at least I hope that was the only problem, but it wasn't working. The same thing must had happened to my rechargable batteries that was also sent over. It would recharge here. The waltage here in India delivers much more than what is usually used for the eletronics in States. Frantically, I searched the room if there was any way I can play a movie for the children. At this time the children were still working on their flags. I figured the USB/external hard drive is finish and out of the question... i must find a dvd. So I left the students with the rest of the other teachers and went out to search the streets. It was nearly impossible to find a store that sold DVDs, VCDs, VHS or any type of movie format. Luckily the last sense of hope, I stumbled across a small stand that sold vcds! I bought a burnt copy of Harry potter and Pirates of the Caribiean. It was the only movies remotely close to children movies, all the other movies that was sold was some type of romatic drama.
I rushed back and by the time I got back the students were finished and were headed out of the classroom for a party! All the children came upstairs and we celebrated independence day with all the MC sisters at Daya Dan and masis! It was so much fun! We raised the flag, and Sr. Joy (the newest arrived Sister) gave a speach, we did a march around Daya Dan and than we party and DANCED! It was great! I pumped up some music on the speakers at Daya dan in Bangali and everyone was dancing! There was some indian's sweets that went around and everyone was just having a great time.
After the our party, one of the masis brought out a TV with a DVD player, they played a movie in Bangali. I thought to myself.... all the work, and they were going to play a movie all along.
At this time, it was late in the day morning shift was finished and the volunteers have left. The Masis made us lunch and it was sooo delcious! It's only of my favorite Indian meals... i love it all but this dish is pretty high up there with the egg masala dish. The Masis made us Chicken Braiyani. It's so good with some potatoes! ummmm! Well, anyways I went downstairs and began to paint what I sketched out yesterday. My goal was to finish painting both by today. One corner was of boats and the ocean while the other corner was of animals in the pooling. Corina and I started on the boats. There's only 4 boats drawn on the wall in that corner. I drew two and she drew two... It was a long process painting and after hours, I only finished painting one complete boat with a boy in it and the sail and boat of my second ship. Cornia finished painting her two boats but we haven't even begun painting the ocean or the sky, the moon, the stars... there's still much work to be done! We had couldn't do much more today because around 3:30 the children were getting up and they started coming over and touching the paint. It was such a hassel to try to keep them away from the paint..... and from LICKING it!
Well, that's the gist of my day today, tomorrow .... i'll probably be painting all day. It's voluteer's day off tomorrow because it's a thursday and it's the MC sisters day of prayers and day off. But I got permission from Sr. Johana Fa to come to Daya Dan and continue painting. I may go traveling with Corina for 2-3 days this weekend, otherwise Corina won't have a traveling partner or she won't be able to see any other part of india while she's here. So we're going up towards Darjeeling since the last time I went, I only spent a day there and it was by far the most spectacular, refreshing and peaceful town I've seen. So we're going to do fully days tomorrow and friday and leave for the weekend. Which is perfect with my teaching schedule because saturday is art class and sunday there's no class. Anyways, I'm not sure what I have planned for tonight. It's Independence day here... I think Corina and I may just go see what's happening on the streets tonight, maybe go out to the bars, and find a nice place for dinner since today we worked from 8 this morning and now just got back to sudder and it's 5:15pm. So, we're GOING OUT tonight! There's a lot of platforms set up , PA systems on the street and all sorts of fun all over Kolkata. Their be dancing on the streets tonight so ... it'll be exciting.
Well I'm getting excited to come home and miss everyone tremendously! I hope all's going well in States! God bless you now and forever!
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
A home in Vietnam
this morning was so freak'n awesome! first off I was able to wake up... which is always a good thing because usually i feel as if I'm walking around asleep all day. But after mass I got to witness 5 child get adopted! It was so beautiful, I couldn't stop smiling! AHHH! These five child were being adopted to italian families and it brought much hope to me, for all the other children.
I grabbed breakfast and headed went upstairs and asked for sr. Collette. She came out with a greatest smile and we sat and talked for over an hour. Sr. Collette made her final vow in 1958 along with Sr. Nirmala. Sr. collette told me many things about the order and how the struggle for religion was in india and all the other part of the world where Catholism isn't looked highly upon. Sr. Collette told me about the persecution that was going on in Vietnam. She was over in North vietnam for 2 years with Mother Teresa and 3 other sisters. Sr. Nirmala was also with her. She has orders from Mother Teresa to start an MC house with these 3 other sisters in Vietnam. Catholism isn't really looked highly upon in northern vietnam because they're afraid that the christians will take over. Everything is looked over by the government. Even the ordination of the priest must be excepted and approved by the government otherwise the priest would be imprisioned. Sr. Nirmala told me about three types of catholics in Vietnam... one that follows the vatican and also askes permission by the government to do certain things that may not be excepted by the communist government, which was what the MC sisters were working with while they were in vietnam, another group that calls themselves catholics but aren't following the vatican and only ask permission from government in fear of persecution, and than there's the underground catholic group that follows the vatican and speaks out against the government, many of which are martyrs or imprissioned when caught. Sr. Collette told me how the government wouldn't let them have mass service whenever they wanted only after 11:30. The MC sisters weren't able to have daily mass and so every sunday when they recieved communion they carried with them in the tabernacle locket (I don't know what it's really called) but they would keep enough for them to recieve every day for the week and than come back every sunday. They were placed by the government apart from all that they wanted to be by and was given strict orders. The MC sisters weren't allowed to care for the orphanges as they do here in Kolkata and as they wished. The children that were mentally challenged or suffered from retardation was looked down upon and was casted as less than human. This was the orphange the sisters worked at and even then they weren't allowed to give these children mattress.. they slept on beds made of wood and when the sisters bought them mattress the government took them away. The children when the Sisters first came where terrified of the sisters and wasn't use to someone caring for them the way the sisters did. Sister told me they use to just throw cold water on the children for their baths and so when the MC sister bathed them with warm water and cared for them loving it took them a while to get use to but within a month or so they became more comfortable with the sisters. The sights and area the MC sisters worked at they weren't allowed to take pictures but one of the locals took pictures for Sr. Collette and she was able to get some pictures of the sights, community, and families. She sat and told me stories about all the pictures. How in this one catholic church a girl wanted to join the Missionaries of Charity order and it was not permitted so by the government , so Sr. Collette advise her to move to America than from there join the order. It really suprised me how much of a struggle it was for the sisters in Vietnam. They only had one translator that barely spoke english but helped them throughout. I saw many pictures with Sr. Collette, Mother Teresa, and Sr. Nirmala with the orphans, local parish, and local bishops (that weren't allowed the title of bishop by the government and is only allowed to be referred as administrator). The bishop (aka administrator) of the area she worked at up north was imprisioned for many years for speaking out against the the distortion of the government and about churchs teachings that the government didn't want preached. Numberous times was he imprissioned but he still remains strong fervent in faith. All of what Sr. Collette was telling me really excited me because I never heard about all this, I've only heard about South Vietnam and about my family life in vietnam. Sr. Collette wanted to introduce me to Sr. Nrimala, but she wasn't busy at the time. It was such a blessing talking to Sr. Collette, she was so full of wisdom and God's love truly illuminated through her. She still writes to vietnam and its still her mission and order to try to get a house started in vietnam. She told me after 2 years of being in Vietnam with Sr. Nirmala and 2 other suisters up north and 4 MC sisters down south, they were kicked out of vietnam. The reason was because they were evangalizing. Mother Teresa told she cannot do social work without evangalization because she is not about social work but spreading the news and love of Christ and if that is through evangelization than that is what she's about. She did not want to change her ways but the government did not allow for the missionaries of charities to have a house in Vietnam. Sr. Collette told me because of this, Mother Teresa was stricken with sadness and soon after became her spiral of bad health and illness. The denial of a home in Vietnam had made mother really sad.
I'm keeping in contact with Sr. Collette when I'm back in states. It's been years since she's worked in vietnam. The MC sisters was there in 94-95'. But it is still Sr. Collette mission to get a house in vietnam for the orphans and poor. Sr. Collette said she wants to write to me during christmas and easter and try to keep in touch with me. She said if she gets permission from the government of vietnam in her lifetime she'll let me know. She wants me to be there to help when they first start a house in Vietnam. I felt a great previllage to be asked so... I don't know what the future has in stored for me and I don't know if during Sr. Collete's or my life time the Missionaries of Charities will be able to enter vietnam to start a house, but I pray that I get the strength, opportunity and protection ... that if I'm called to ever do so, that I can be a part of something that Mother Teresa desired so strongly in her life to see but never got to see her House in Vietnam. Sr. Collette talked to me about the great faith of those that were Catholics... how they'd come to mass an hour early from all over, near and far, and pray the rosary together, recieve reconciliation and than enter into the celebration of the mass. This faith is something I see still strong in my family's tradition and in my relatives. It is a devotion that is so beautiful but their is still much work of love that needs to be done in the community, for the orphans and the poor. This is something the sisters are still trying to get started in vietnam.
I arrived late to Daya Dan and was sent with a message from Sr. Karina to Sr. Johana Fa. There was 231 new volunteers this week on top of the 500 or so volunteers. It's strict orders from Sr. Karina that the cards must be checked and if the volunteers don't have AM or PM shifts or is at the wrong sight they get sent back home to their hotels. This is great news but also very sad! It's great to hear that so many people are inspired to come and serve the poor in Kolkata and work alongside the Missionaires of Charity but it's also sad because, many volunteers will now only be able to work only one shift and probably don't get the opportunity to choose where they want to work. There's so much work to be done and there is actually many MC homes in India. There's many work to be done all over the world for a matter of fact, we just have to have the eyes to see the need of those of the poor. Poverty isn't only the lack of materlistic items but it's the marginalization of what is human, it is the lack of love, poverty is those who suffer from being dejected and abused. There is poverty all over the world, many of us suffer from a poverty ourselves... it's a goal to find Jesus in the poor and that's in the disguise of those around us. It's within the poverty that is in our neighbors that Jesus seeks and calls for us to satiate his thirst through others. This is how we live a life of charity.
In the classroom today I taught mongol we started a new book and didn't get far but class time has been cut shorter each day because we're starting too late... I came extremely late but when I arrived nobody started yet. There's a shortage on teachers and the children are starting to loose focus of the importances of their education. It's become more of play time than a privillage to be in the classroom. We're changing up a lot of things as of tomorrow. It's been slacking way too much since the day I came back from travels. Given there are a fewer teachers and 2 new teachers but today I suggested Corina since she'll be here till september and is English-speaking. There's been too many in and out teachers and many of them don't speak english very well. So it becomes harder for the students to progress in the studies.
Music time today was still a struggle. mongol was very frustrated again with the lack of participation. I'm not sure what's going on but everywhere... upstairs and downstairs there's be a lack of enthusiasim in the children and volunteers. I swear, the volunteers has forgotten why they're here. Which really frustrates me because I had Megha asked (in the microphone) twice today that the volunteers please clap along, sing along, OR try to envolve the children. Nothing.... they just sat there by themselves totally bored and even worst off the children sat their bored or ran around and found their own thing to do. I'm not sure what I can do but I think tomorrow morning I need to talk with the volunteers before music class. I didn't realize how important it is until working with children for this long of a period of time that by how we act or express ourselves the children surely will follow. I have to do the DUMBEST dance moves that I'm thinking in my head..." I look like an idoit right now" but... the childern laugh because I'm laughing at myself and the children copy me and dance with me! And that's so important. They only have music time once a day and all other time of the day they are eating, in their cribs or sitting around somewhere maybe with a volunteer. This is the one hour of the day they get to express themselves in dance and songs!
After music class and after all the volunteers left, I stayed back and began to sketch out the drawings on the wall for the painting that needed to be done in the newly constructed/remodeled room. In one corner Corina and I drew out ships and boats and on the other side of the room in the corner we drew a bunch of animals taking a bath! It was all fun cartoon drawings and today was just the sketch... we'll start painting them tomorrow. The days are honestly starting to get longer and my free time A LOT shorter! I come home and eat and sleep... that's about all I do. Somehow I manage to find time to blog. But honestly this is my only free time. So please continue to pray for Corina and I. Things are picking up and it seems like there'll be another volunteer's day that i may be helping at right before I leave. So that might mean choir practice on top of my long day. So.... prayers prayers prayers! Thank you so much everyone! I love you all dearly!
I grabbed breakfast and headed went upstairs and asked for sr. Collette. She came out with a greatest smile and we sat and talked for over an hour. Sr. Collette made her final vow in 1958 along with Sr. Nirmala. Sr. collette told me many things about the order and how the struggle for religion was in india and all the other part of the world where Catholism isn't looked highly upon. Sr. Collette told me about the persecution that was going on in Vietnam. She was over in North vietnam for 2 years with Mother Teresa and 3 other sisters. Sr. Nirmala was also with her. She has orders from Mother Teresa to start an MC house with these 3 other sisters in Vietnam. Catholism isn't really looked highly upon in northern vietnam because they're afraid that the christians will take over. Everything is looked over by the government. Even the ordination of the priest must be excepted and approved by the government otherwise the priest would be imprisioned. Sr. Nirmala told me about three types of catholics in Vietnam... one that follows the vatican and also askes permission by the government to do certain things that may not be excepted by the communist government, which was what the MC sisters were working with while they were in vietnam, another group that calls themselves catholics but aren't following the vatican and only ask permission from government in fear of persecution, and than there's the underground catholic group that follows the vatican and speaks out against the government, many of which are martyrs or imprissioned when caught. Sr. Collette told me how the government wouldn't let them have mass service whenever they wanted only after 11:30. The MC sisters weren't able to have daily mass and so every sunday when they recieved communion they carried with them in the tabernacle locket (I don't know what it's really called) but they would keep enough for them to recieve every day for the week and than come back every sunday. They were placed by the government apart from all that they wanted to be by and was given strict orders. The MC sisters weren't allowed to care for the orphanges as they do here in Kolkata and as they wished. The children that were mentally challenged or suffered from retardation was looked down upon and was casted as less than human. This was the orphange the sisters worked at and even then they weren't allowed to give these children mattress.. they slept on beds made of wood and when the sisters bought them mattress the government took them away. The children when the Sisters first came where terrified of the sisters and wasn't use to someone caring for them the way the sisters did. Sister told me they use to just throw cold water on the children for their baths and so when the MC sister bathed them with warm water and cared for them loving it took them a while to get use to but within a month or so they became more comfortable with the sisters. The sights and area the MC sisters worked at they weren't allowed to take pictures but one of the locals took pictures for Sr. Collette and she was able to get some pictures of the sights, community, and families. She sat and told me stories about all the pictures. How in this one catholic church a girl wanted to join the Missionaries of Charity order and it was not permitted so by the government , so Sr. Collette advise her to move to America than from there join the order. It really suprised me how much of a struggle it was for the sisters in Vietnam. They only had one translator that barely spoke english but helped them throughout. I saw many pictures with Sr. Collette, Mother Teresa, and Sr. Nirmala with the orphans, local parish, and local bishops (that weren't allowed the title of bishop by the government and is only allowed to be referred as administrator). The bishop (aka administrator) of the area she worked at up north was imprisioned for many years for speaking out against the the distortion of the government and about churchs teachings that the government didn't want preached. Numberous times was he imprissioned but he still remains strong fervent in faith. All of what Sr. Collette was telling me really excited me because I never heard about all this, I've only heard about South Vietnam and about my family life in vietnam. Sr. Collette wanted to introduce me to Sr. Nrimala, but she wasn't busy at the time. It was such a blessing talking to Sr. Collette, she was so full of wisdom and God's love truly illuminated through her. She still writes to vietnam and its still her mission and order to try to get a house started in vietnam. She told me after 2 years of being in Vietnam with Sr. Nirmala and 2 other suisters up north and 4 MC sisters down south, they were kicked out of vietnam. The reason was because they were evangalizing. Mother Teresa told she cannot do social work without evangalization because she is not about social work but spreading the news and love of Christ and if that is through evangelization than that is what she's about. She did not want to change her ways but the government did not allow for the missionaries of charities to have a house in Vietnam. Sr. Collette told me because of this, Mother Teresa was stricken with sadness and soon after became her spiral of bad health and illness. The denial of a home in Vietnam had made mother really sad.
I'm keeping in contact with Sr. Collette when I'm back in states. It's been years since she's worked in vietnam. The MC sisters was there in 94-95'. But it is still Sr. Collette mission to get a house in vietnam for the orphans and poor. Sr. Collette said she wants to write to me during christmas and easter and try to keep in touch with me. She said if she gets permission from the government of vietnam in her lifetime she'll let me know. She wants me to be there to help when they first start a house in Vietnam. I felt a great previllage to be asked so... I don't know what the future has in stored for me and I don't know if during Sr. Collete's or my life time the Missionaries of Charities will be able to enter vietnam to start a house, but I pray that I get the strength, opportunity and protection ... that if I'm called to ever do so, that I can be a part of something that Mother Teresa desired so strongly in her life to see but never got to see her House in Vietnam. Sr. Collette talked to me about the great faith of those that were Catholics... how they'd come to mass an hour early from all over, near and far, and pray the rosary together, recieve reconciliation and than enter into the celebration of the mass. This faith is something I see still strong in my family's tradition and in my relatives. It is a devotion that is so beautiful but their is still much work of love that needs to be done in the community, for the orphans and the poor. This is something the sisters are still trying to get started in vietnam.
I arrived late to Daya Dan and was sent with a message from Sr. Karina to Sr. Johana Fa. There was 231 new volunteers this week on top of the 500 or so volunteers. It's strict orders from Sr. Karina that the cards must be checked and if the volunteers don't have AM or PM shifts or is at the wrong sight they get sent back home to their hotels. This is great news but also very sad! It's great to hear that so many people are inspired to come and serve the poor in Kolkata and work alongside the Missionaires of Charity but it's also sad because, many volunteers will now only be able to work only one shift and probably don't get the opportunity to choose where they want to work. There's so much work to be done and there is actually many MC homes in India. There's many work to be done all over the world for a matter of fact, we just have to have the eyes to see the need of those of the poor. Poverty isn't only the lack of materlistic items but it's the marginalization of what is human, it is the lack of love, poverty is those who suffer from being dejected and abused. There is poverty all over the world, many of us suffer from a poverty ourselves... it's a goal to find Jesus in the poor and that's in the disguise of those around us. It's within the poverty that is in our neighbors that Jesus seeks and calls for us to satiate his thirst through others. This is how we live a life of charity.
In the classroom today I taught mongol we started a new book and didn't get far but class time has been cut shorter each day because we're starting too late... I came extremely late but when I arrived nobody started yet. There's a shortage on teachers and the children are starting to loose focus of the importances of their education. It's become more of play time than a privillage to be in the classroom. We're changing up a lot of things as of tomorrow. It's been slacking way too much since the day I came back from travels. Given there are a fewer teachers and 2 new teachers but today I suggested Corina since she'll be here till september and is English-speaking. There's been too many in and out teachers and many of them don't speak english very well. So it becomes harder for the students to progress in the studies.
Music time today was still a struggle. mongol was very frustrated again with the lack of participation. I'm not sure what's going on but everywhere... upstairs and downstairs there's be a lack of enthusiasim in the children and volunteers. I swear, the volunteers has forgotten why they're here. Which really frustrates me because I had Megha asked (in the microphone) twice today that the volunteers please clap along, sing along, OR try to envolve the children. Nothing.... they just sat there by themselves totally bored and even worst off the children sat their bored or ran around and found their own thing to do. I'm not sure what I can do but I think tomorrow morning I need to talk with the volunteers before music class. I didn't realize how important it is until working with children for this long of a period of time that by how we act or express ourselves the children surely will follow. I have to do the DUMBEST dance moves that I'm thinking in my head..." I look like an idoit right now" but... the childern laugh because I'm laughing at myself and the children copy me and dance with me! And that's so important. They only have music time once a day and all other time of the day they are eating, in their cribs or sitting around somewhere maybe with a volunteer. This is the one hour of the day they get to express themselves in dance and songs!
After music class and after all the volunteers left, I stayed back and began to sketch out the drawings on the wall for the painting that needed to be done in the newly constructed/remodeled room. In one corner Corina and I drew out ships and boats and on the other side of the room in the corner we drew a bunch of animals taking a bath! It was all fun cartoon drawings and today was just the sketch... we'll start painting them tomorrow. The days are honestly starting to get longer and my free time A LOT shorter! I come home and eat and sleep... that's about all I do. Somehow I manage to find time to blog. But honestly this is my only free time. So please continue to pray for Corina and I. Things are picking up and it seems like there'll be another volunteer's day that i may be helping at right before I leave. So that might mean choir practice on top of my long day. So.... prayers prayers prayers! Thank you so much everyone! I love you all dearly!
Monday, August 13, 2007
Hide and seek
This morning at breakfast, Candis one of the long term working came up to me and said one of the sisters are looking for me... Sr. Collete. Sr Collete is one of the older senior MC sister. very well respected by all the other MC sisters. She never comes downstairs into the volunteer room and Candis told me she came into the volunteer room today and asked specifically to talk to me. I was parshly busy at the time and didn't go straight up to see her and was introduced to some Japanese girls that needed me to take them to Daya Dan because it was their first day and they didn't know how to get there, than I got another tap on the shoulder. This time it was Sr. Druscilla and she said... Sr. Collete wanted to talk to me and she came downstairs into the volunteer room. She said, "Sr. Collete never comes into the volunteer room so you must go see her." Then I turned around and Sr. Collete had came back downstairs and was at the entry of the volunteer room. She looked over at me with a great smile. She's old and frail but expresses great enthusiasm, joy, and love through her smile and eyes. She said "I don't know if you remember me, My name is Sr. Collete, I talked to you before I left on my trip and told you I wanted to talk when I come back." I diffinately remember her, I met her about 3 weeks ago for no more than 5 minutes and she was headed out to go outside Kolkata to help with something. Sr. Collete told me she's been thinking about me and if I find time that I can come to Mother house anytime and she'll be here and just ask any of the Sister for Sr. Collete. She rushed me out the door because she noticed that it was minutes before work and that a group was waiting for me to go with them to Daya Dan.
I couldn't believe that she even remembered telling me she wanted to talk when she gets back and even more so being so persistent about it. She told me she visited Vietnam and stayed there for 2 years and would love to talk to me about her experience. It is one of her most favorite place.
When I got to Daya Dan I was the only teacher that showed up, and I showed up about 20 minutes late. The room was full of kids and so i thought to myself... I guess its another day of art class. I started teaching Mongol a game. Where there are many of dots and you have to take turn to draw a line and try to make a square but you don't want the other person to get any squares. It was a really good game for Mongol because it made him think about future actions; if he was to place a line here or there what would it cause and would I be able to gain multiple squares or just one square because of the move he made. Mongol really enjoyed the game and picked it up quick. I played easy with him the first few times and made sure he won by a few so he would get some confidences to keep on wanting to play. Blanca, one of the other teachers, came in minutes after I did and than after here Nick came, and than Hidi. Everyone was late. It was raining hard today so the could of been a major reason but by the time all the teachers was there Sr. Johana Fa from downstairs had asked for Mongol, Megha, and Raul to come downstair to start preparing music for Mother Teresa's Feast Day/ 10 year Memorial. I stayed in the classroom and helped out with whatever I could and then also took some time to go meander from physical therapy, into the bedrooms, kitchen, and main gathering room. When 10am rolled around I went downstairs and led music class. It was a little rough today because there were many new volunteers downstairs and it was a break for them or something because the kids were off the wall and many volunteers just sat there entertained by music time rather then trying to keep the kids from running around or being envolved with the music. The kids weren't singing much today and Mongol was really frustrated because he felt as if nobody cared. Which I could understand his frustration because it was pretty chaotic today during music class.
After music class it was feeding time, and then all the volunteer left because it was the end of the first shift. I stayed back to watch the kids in the classroom during 12-3. During this time the MC sisters took time for themselves; prayers, lunch, and nap. The masis did the same. Many of the children were in their crib and napping but some kids were able to stay up and that was Megha, mongol, neisha, raul and a couple other kids that came in and out of the class room. We played the square box game for a while. mongol is getting better and better at it and played a long game with Corina because she stayed back with me so we could start drawing the paintings on the wall this afternoon. Megha and Divya played the game with me and they were a little more confused on how the game worked but it was still fun. Mona, one of the masis (divya's mom) made Corina and I lunch. There was some spicy pickle/pepper thing and mongol and megha wanted it and so I gave it to them. Corina is horrible with spicy stuff and gave hers too. They said the love it and it was so funny to watch them eat it. It must had been extremely spicy because their face cringed as they ate it and they were breathing pretty hard, but usually when something is too hot, people would stop but not Mongol and Megha they kept at it. I told Mongol why don't you stop if it's too hot and he replied to me " I asked if, I could have it... so I should finish." He was such a sport and those words amazed me. How often is my stomach bigger than my eye and I pile too much food on my plate or order too much at a resturant and let a lot go to waste. Here Mongol taught me such an incredible lesson which, of course I knew in the back of my mind but made it so much more real being here in Kolkata. Finish everything... there's so much we waste and so much that people need! We're blessed with what we have and when we ask for more and recieve... make use of it! Don't waste and throw it away.
After lunch Corina and I took Mongol and Megha in their wheel chair to play hide and seek. They absolutely love the game and always love playing it at the park which they haven't done in a long time but today for the first time they played it at Daya Dan! We were hiding all over each floor. It was so much fun because I took Mongol down to the bottom floor on the elevator and after 20 minutes+ megha and corina came looking for us... we saw the elevator coming down and hid around the corner from it... they got off the elevator and went around the other corner and as soon as they did.. we rushed back into the elevator and went back to the top floor and hid in the classroom... the room they were counting from. It was pure genius and it took them forever ever to find us! Then it was the other way around, I took Megha to go hide and Mongol was being certain that he could find her in less then 20 minutes so I told him ok... we'll make it easier for him and only stay on this top floor and still give him that 20 minutes. I took megha and put her wheel chair in the kitchen and carried her and sat her in the closet where the shoes and backpack was by the physical therapy room. All the masis were laughing because they were watching the whole thing and seeing Mongol and Cornia passing by it so many times. It's a very remote closet that gives you and outside view, not many volunteers even know that there's a closet there. I snuck out a couple of time from the closet and had Megha wait for me there... mongol and Cornia would see me walking around but had no clue where Megha was. I took tried to go in and out of many rooms and doors so they didn't know which door was I mainly coming from. It really threw them off and the Masis got a kick watching the confusion. Well 20 minutes passed and they finally found Megha sitting criss crossed in the closet. She laughed hystarically and was so happy. The Masis were laughing and everyone had such a great time!
It was now 3:30pm and there was still no sign of any MC sisters. I went downstair and waited for Sr. Johana Fa. We wanted to start drawing and painting but realized that we were never told which picture did she wanted at which spot on the wall. So we waited for her to come. After a while I went to the floor where all the sisters stayed and asked for her and she came out totally suprised that I was still there. She felt so sorry and told us sorry for making us wait. She was worried we didn't get any lunch and told us we can head home and start tomorrow since she made us wait so long today. Well... there's much work that needs to be done. The painting that needs to be done takes up a big part of the wall and along with that there are many places she wanted us to paint. She also wanted to make pictures for the offertory but I'm not sure if that'll be finished in time along with these other paintings and she said the priority will be placed on the walls of Daya Dan. Well .... it seems like I'll be taking on 3 shifts a day now... 1st shift from 8:30-12, 12-3, and 3-5:30! It's going to be rough but sleep will be amazing each night. I already am taking naps each day I come home from work and still feel so exhausted during the morning and during the day. So pray for my strength to carry on strong!
I couldn't believe that she even remembered telling me she wanted to talk when she gets back and even more so being so persistent about it. She told me she visited Vietnam and stayed there for 2 years and would love to talk to me about her experience. It is one of her most favorite place.
When I got to Daya Dan I was the only teacher that showed up, and I showed up about 20 minutes late. The room was full of kids and so i thought to myself... I guess its another day of art class. I started teaching Mongol a game. Where there are many of dots and you have to take turn to draw a line and try to make a square but you don't want the other person to get any squares. It was a really good game for Mongol because it made him think about future actions; if he was to place a line here or there what would it cause and would I be able to gain multiple squares or just one square because of the move he made. Mongol really enjoyed the game and picked it up quick. I played easy with him the first few times and made sure he won by a few so he would get some confidences to keep on wanting to play. Blanca, one of the other teachers, came in minutes after I did and than after here Nick came, and than Hidi. Everyone was late. It was raining hard today so the could of been a major reason but by the time all the teachers was there Sr. Johana Fa from downstairs had asked for Mongol, Megha, and Raul to come downstair to start preparing music for Mother Teresa's Feast Day/ 10 year Memorial. I stayed in the classroom and helped out with whatever I could and then also took some time to go meander from physical therapy, into the bedrooms, kitchen, and main gathering room. When 10am rolled around I went downstairs and led music class. It was a little rough today because there were many new volunteers downstairs and it was a break for them or something because the kids were off the wall and many volunteers just sat there entertained by music time rather then trying to keep the kids from running around or being envolved with the music. The kids weren't singing much today and Mongol was really frustrated because he felt as if nobody cared. Which I could understand his frustration because it was pretty chaotic today during music class.
After music class it was feeding time, and then all the volunteer left because it was the end of the first shift. I stayed back to watch the kids in the classroom during 12-3. During this time the MC sisters took time for themselves; prayers, lunch, and nap. The masis did the same. Many of the children were in their crib and napping but some kids were able to stay up and that was Megha, mongol, neisha, raul and a couple other kids that came in and out of the class room. We played the square box game for a while. mongol is getting better and better at it and played a long game with Corina because she stayed back with me so we could start drawing the paintings on the wall this afternoon. Megha and Divya played the game with me and they were a little more confused on how the game worked but it was still fun. Mona, one of the masis (divya's mom) made Corina and I lunch. There was some spicy pickle/pepper thing and mongol and megha wanted it and so I gave it to them. Corina is horrible with spicy stuff and gave hers too. They said the love it and it was so funny to watch them eat it. It must had been extremely spicy because their face cringed as they ate it and they were breathing pretty hard, but usually when something is too hot, people would stop but not Mongol and Megha they kept at it. I told Mongol why don't you stop if it's too hot and he replied to me " I asked if, I could have it... so I should finish." He was such a sport and those words amazed me. How often is my stomach bigger than my eye and I pile too much food on my plate or order too much at a resturant and let a lot go to waste. Here Mongol taught me such an incredible lesson which, of course I knew in the back of my mind but made it so much more real being here in Kolkata. Finish everything... there's so much we waste and so much that people need! We're blessed with what we have and when we ask for more and recieve... make use of it! Don't waste and throw it away.
After lunch Corina and I took Mongol and Megha in their wheel chair to play hide and seek. They absolutely love the game and always love playing it at the park which they haven't done in a long time but today for the first time they played it at Daya Dan! We were hiding all over each floor. It was so much fun because I took Mongol down to the bottom floor on the elevator and after 20 minutes+ megha and corina came looking for us... we saw the elevator coming down and hid around the corner from it... they got off the elevator and went around the other corner and as soon as they did.. we rushed back into the elevator and went back to the top floor and hid in the classroom... the room they were counting from. It was pure genius and it took them forever ever to find us! Then it was the other way around, I took Megha to go hide and Mongol was being certain that he could find her in less then 20 minutes so I told him ok... we'll make it easier for him and only stay on this top floor and still give him that 20 minutes. I took megha and put her wheel chair in the kitchen and carried her and sat her in the closet where the shoes and backpack was by the physical therapy room. All the masis were laughing because they were watching the whole thing and seeing Mongol and Cornia passing by it so many times. It's a very remote closet that gives you and outside view, not many volunteers even know that there's a closet there. I snuck out a couple of time from the closet and had Megha wait for me there... mongol and Cornia would see me walking around but had no clue where Megha was. I took tried to go in and out of many rooms and doors so they didn't know which door was I mainly coming from. It really threw them off and the Masis got a kick watching the confusion. Well 20 minutes passed and they finally found Megha sitting criss crossed in the closet. She laughed hystarically and was so happy. The Masis were laughing and everyone had such a great time!
It was now 3:30pm and there was still no sign of any MC sisters. I went downstair and waited for Sr. Johana Fa. We wanted to start drawing and painting but realized that we were never told which picture did she wanted at which spot on the wall. So we waited for her to come. After a while I went to the floor where all the sisters stayed and asked for her and she came out totally suprised that I was still there. She felt so sorry and told us sorry for making us wait. She was worried we didn't get any lunch and told us we can head home and start tomorrow since she made us wait so long today. Well... there's much work that needs to be done. The painting that needs to be done takes up a big part of the wall and along with that there are many places she wanted us to paint. She also wanted to make pictures for the offertory but I'm not sure if that'll be finished in time along with these other paintings and she said the priority will be placed on the walls of Daya Dan. Well .... it seems like I'll be taking on 3 shifts a day now... 1st shift from 8:30-12, 12-3, and 3-5:30! It's going to be rough but sleep will be amazing each night. I already am taking naps each day I come home from work and still feel so exhausted during the morning and during the day. So pray for my strength to carry on strong!
Sunday, August 12, 2007
music at mass
I got to sleep in a little today because I was planning on going to mass at Daya Dan which starts at 9, although sister Joahna fa wanted me to be there at 8 am. Either way I slept in till 6:30am which felt good since I was so dead tired last night. We grabbed breakfast to go since we weren't headed to mother house for breakfast and went out towards the metro, when I arrived at the metro it was closed... I thought to myself "It's pass seven, why isn't it open?" Then I remembered the metro doesn't open on sunday till 2 or 3 pm. I've been having the worst luck with the metro in the morning towards daya dan. Well, I found a taxi on sudder street and checked if he had a fare chart and hopped on in. I've become fairly familar with the streets in Kolkata and can drive myself there if I had a car so I told him where to go and ran it by the meter. It felt nice to be familiarized with the crazy streets of Kolkata and was able to tell the guy to take the turns that headed back on the streets when he took a wrong turn to try to take me on a detour to run my meter. I was able to tell the taxi driver by street names and show him directly to daya dan and it felt amazing! I fare was almost 60 Rps so I tipped him a little extra because out of all the taxi drivers I've taken besides my own hotel taxi driver, he gave me the least problems.
I got to Daya Dan and sister put me straight to work, setting up the mass and bringing up the mics/stand , reciever, and speakers. I ran a quick music rehershal with all the downstairs children or all the parts of the mass that was going to be sung. It was so adorable with all the kids dressed in matching colored shirts. I love it so much! Mongol and Megha led singing for me during mass and I only played the guitar. It was really nicely done. Raul played the drums today.
The priest gave an amazing homily on service and fighting for life and how the service we do is a service to perserve life and at the end of time how God will thank us for perserving his children when all has lost hope, dignity and respect for life.
After mass, I helped get the children to where they needed to be; whether it was upstairs, downstairs, in the feeding room or sitting in the main eatting room. Today i helped feed Sanju in the feeding room. He's a lot older then some of the children there and a little more difficult to feed but today was was amazing! He finished his food without a fight. I'm always so suprised at how much food the children finish. The masis always give me a plate with an immense amount of food, twice as much rice as I would eat on my biggest meal and they top it off with curry. Than once the child finish that they would fill up my plate with mango juice and a side of apple sauce! It's insane but I can understand why they give them so much in one sitting. The children are only fed 1 and 1/2 meal a day and it's a really tough task to get all the children fed, especially without a lot of masis or some volunteers.
When the day was finished I was headed out and was stopped by Sr. Johana Fa and was asked to do more drawings; she wanted Corina and I to draw some (and when i say some I mean A LOT) pictures for an offertory for mass on September 2nd, a big mass for the feast day on the 5th. She wanted a painting of our holy father, of mother, of Sr. Nirmala, all the MC sister and fathers, the volunteers, children and the poor! This is on top of painting the icons on the walls. Sr. Johana Fa keeps looking and asking me when I'm going to return when she already know that I've told her I'm leaving Kolkata the 27th because I need to be back for my sister's wedding. She adds in... can't you just stay? You can come back. She really wants me to be here so they have a guitar player for the 2nd of September, the 5th and the 8th of September. All of which are important dates for the society. I'm really sad that I won't be able to make it for Mother's 10 year memorial and won't be here when Sr. Nirmala comes, but at the same time I'm excited that I'll be home soon although it hasn't really kicked it. It seems a little surreal if the time would ever come. Leaving India seems weird to me now. I've become so use to the fact that home is so far away that coming back seems like a fantasy or wishful thinking but realizing my time is coming to an end really makes me want to put as much as I can into my day! My blogs are getting a little more tidious and possibly shorter because my daily work is the same but only if I was able to convey my experience with everyone who reads this ... you would understand each day is an encounter and meeting with Christ in disguise. I seriously find some of my happiest moments with the kids at Daya dan and feel so filled by the love of Christ through their smiles, their tears, their laughters and their comfort.
Prayer:
My dear sweet Jesus, you've given me your everything; our daily bread, the air we breathe, and the world's beauty, through your creation you have given us all. You've gave to us your beloved Mother Mary at the foot of the cross, so we may be guided by the Mother of the Most High only to your sweet embrace. When much is given, much responsibility is expected and you've given me more than I ever can dream and ask for, but yet my Lord, I suffer from my laziness. I take the things you've given me for granted and am slothful with my time. May you take my life and mold, conform and transform it to become a messenger of your love, voice, and message to others. Make use of me your servant and help me learn to serve as you have serve to those of the poorest of the poor. To those that were dejected and unloved. Teach me oh Divine master... I place myself in your hands.
I got to Daya Dan and sister put me straight to work, setting up the mass and bringing up the mics/stand , reciever, and speakers. I ran a quick music rehershal with all the downstairs children or all the parts of the mass that was going to be sung. It was so adorable with all the kids dressed in matching colored shirts. I love it so much! Mongol and Megha led singing for me during mass and I only played the guitar. It was really nicely done. Raul played the drums today.
The priest gave an amazing homily on service and fighting for life and how the service we do is a service to perserve life and at the end of time how God will thank us for perserving his children when all has lost hope, dignity and respect for life.
After mass, I helped get the children to where they needed to be; whether it was upstairs, downstairs, in the feeding room or sitting in the main eatting room. Today i helped feed Sanju in the feeding room. He's a lot older then some of the children there and a little more difficult to feed but today was was amazing! He finished his food without a fight. I'm always so suprised at how much food the children finish. The masis always give me a plate with an immense amount of food, twice as much rice as I would eat on my biggest meal and they top it off with curry. Than once the child finish that they would fill up my plate with mango juice and a side of apple sauce! It's insane but I can understand why they give them so much in one sitting. The children are only fed 1 and 1/2 meal a day and it's a really tough task to get all the children fed, especially without a lot of masis or some volunteers.
When the day was finished I was headed out and was stopped by Sr. Johana Fa and was asked to do more drawings; she wanted Corina and I to draw some (and when i say some I mean A LOT) pictures for an offertory for mass on September 2nd, a big mass for the feast day on the 5th. She wanted a painting of our holy father, of mother, of Sr. Nirmala, all the MC sister and fathers, the volunteers, children and the poor! This is on top of painting the icons on the walls. Sr. Johana Fa keeps looking and asking me when I'm going to return when she already know that I've told her I'm leaving Kolkata the 27th because I need to be back for my sister's wedding. She adds in... can't you just stay? You can come back. She really wants me to be here so they have a guitar player for the 2nd of September, the 5th and the 8th of September. All of which are important dates for the society. I'm really sad that I won't be able to make it for Mother's 10 year memorial and won't be here when Sr. Nirmala comes, but at the same time I'm excited that I'll be home soon although it hasn't really kicked it. It seems a little surreal if the time would ever come. Leaving India seems weird to me now. I've become so use to the fact that home is so far away that coming back seems like a fantasy or wishful thinking but realizing my time is coming to an end really makes me want to put as much as I can into my day! My blogs are getting a little more tidious and possibly shorter because my daily work is the same but only if I was able to convey my experience with everyone who reads this ... you would understand each day is an encounter and meeting with Christ in disguise. I seriously find some of my happiest moments with the kids at Daya dan and feel so filled by the love of Christ through their smiles, their tears, their laughters and their comfort.
Prayer:
My dear sweet Jesus, you've given me your everything; our daily bread, the air we breathe, and the world's beauty, through your creation you have given us all. You've gave to us your beloved Mother Mary at the foot of the cross, so we may be guided by the Mother of the Most High only to your sweet embrace. When much is given, much responsibility is expected and you've given me more than I ever can dream and ask for, but yet my Lord, I suffer from my laziness. I take the things you've given me for granted and am slothful with my time. May you take my life and mold, conform and transform it to become a messenger of your love, voice, and message to others. Make use of me your servant and help me learn to serve as you have serve to those of the poorest of the poor. To those that were dejected and unloved. Teach me oh Divine master... I place myself in your hands.
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