Go Beyond

Kolkata, India

Every time I volunteer at Mother Teresa’s homes I make it a point to look for familiar faces — men I have cared for on previous visits. Because so many of these men are in frail health, I know that many of them will die before I have an opportunity to visit again. That’s one reason I want to do all that I can to comfort these men while I am here. My biggest wish is that I had the language skills to communicate with them in either Hindi or Bangla. And although a handful of these men speak a little English, most do not and some are so ill that they cannot speak at all. However, all of these men understand the common language of love expressed through a caring touch or a warm smile.

Yesterday afternoon, I watched a frail old man getting ready for bed. This man is among those who has lost the ability to speak. As he sat on the edge of his bed, he folded his trembling and wrinkled hands and began to move his lips in prayer. I could not help but smile as one of our guys walked over to pray with him. After the “Amen” the elderly man looked into the eyes of our volunteer and smiled. I don’t know if this man will still be alive when I visit again, but I am glad for the way in which our team members have taken the initiative to do small things with great love for this man and the others at Prem Dan.

This week, two of the men that we have cared for at Prem Dan died quietly in the night. It was sad to walk past their empty beds where in previous days we had massaged their limbs and helped to feed them. Because of the Missionaries of Charity and the volunteers who come to serve beside them, these men died with dignity. Mother Teresa said that she wanted for “people who lived like animals to die like angels — loved and wanted.” These men, neither of whom could speak, were fortunate that they did not have to die alone on the streets but instead died in a place steeped in love.

Whenever I volunteer at Mother Teresa’s homes I also make it a point to visit with some of the Missionaries of Charity that I have befriended on previous visits. One of my favorite nuns was Sister Olinda, an Indian lady from Darjeeling, who served at Kalighat (home for the dying). She spoke several languages, including Spanish. We always enjoyed sitting and conversing in Spanish about Jesus and about the beauty of serving the poor. I inquired about her yesterday and learned that she died on March 28 at about ten in the morning at Mother’s House. My heart was saddened by this news. In addition to the many languages that she spoke, Sister Olinda was fluent in the language of love, a requirement for caring for the least of these. I will miss her but am grateful for the time we were privileged to spend together serving the least of these at Kalighat.

Today is our last day to serve at Mother Teresa’s homes. Our team will head back to the United States tomorrow. Each of our students and adult sponsors will return home much more fluent in the language of love because of their service here. Thanks for your prayers for our team as we have served the least of these and the oppressed in Kolkata.