By virtue of the time I spent in India, the comparison to - the now beatified Blessed Teresa of Calcutta - but more commonly known Mother Teresa, seems a little far fetching. Herself, a citizen of India, founder of the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata and winner of numerous awards and recognitions for her humanitarian work including the 1979 Nobel Peace prize.
And as for me, I live within the life of the Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission, home for destitute and orphaned children in Northern India and Nepal. The work I do in cooking, playing and spiritual teaching does not feel like a world saving contribution, however as Mother Teresa came up in our dinner conversations this week, I was particularly encouraged by one of her most famous quotes,
if you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one.
In cooking for the staff and volunteers, playing with the nursery kids, taking small girls Bible Study, teaching the weekly Youth Group and simply spending time with the older girls, I take heart in knowing that I am either impacting each of these people's lives or allowing them to do work which I can not do, and thereby allowing them to further impact others.
It is a truly humbling experience. Last night as I sat on my bed reading Psalm 100, I was reassured that it is because I know I am working for my God that I am able to do this work, that I have received such generous support and that I have gone from my home under blessings.
Particularly verses 4-5 which read,
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise;give thanks to Him and praise His name.For the LORD is good and His love endures forever;His faithfulness continues through all generations.
I am confident in what I am doing, because I know the work is of and for God. And He is good.
Do they have art supplies at this mission? Any Picassos?
ReplyDeleteIn all seriousness though, sounds like great work and a valuable place to be.
haha... they do have some, you can get varying qualities in India, but the best we have were brought from the west. some amazing artists, one in particular who is a wonderful painter... maybe indias up and coming picasso! you never know :P
ReplyDeleteit is a great place to be and easy to encourage people to support, but i guess you get to a stage where you feel so humbled by their faith and hard work that you don't feel like you're doing much at all. always good to get some Godly perspective.