Our ministry during the month of March brought us to Kalkota (Calcutta), India. Within the first few hours, I saw what may have been the largest need for the Lord and His servants that I have seen since I left the United States. The city was filled with empovrished people. The lame, homeless and hungry line the streets day and night, some begging, while others just simply go about their daily lives.
Instead of working with a contact, we went into the city seeking the Lord and asking Him to guide us to various ministry opportunities. Fortunately, we found dozens of opportunites within the first week. After seeking the Lord in prayer, our team found two ministries that we felt called to. My teammate Dennis and I felt the Lord leading us to work with Missionaries of Charity, a ministry set up by Mother Teresa and the rest of the team felt the Lord calling them to work with a ministry that cares for street children in the Kalkota commnity.
The Mother Teresa Home in Kalkota prvides a variety of homes in which to volunteer. I personally felt called to work in Prem Dan (House of Love), a home for men and women in need of long term care. For two weeks, I worked in this home from 7 o’clock in the morning until about 12:30 in the afternoon. Our schedule consisted of handwashing laundry, making beds, serving tea and snack, arm,leg and back massage, painting toenails, serving lunch, feeding the women who were unable to feed themselves and helping them to bed for an afternoon nap.
I can’t begin to express the joy that overflowed from my heart each morning as I spent time with the lovely ladies at Prem Dan. The Lord taught me a great deal about what it means to truely be a servant to those in need and to our friends and family as well. I met the Lord not only in the women, but also in the other volunteers. The Lord blessed me with several opportunites to share my faith with each and every person I met.
Missionaries of Charity has numerous homes around the world. I highly recommend finding time to volunteer at least a week of your time with them at some point in your future. It is a truely humbling and rewarding experience.
