Well I find myself with a really good head cold and sore throat.  I am thinking it might be partly due to my air conditioner as it is all or nothing so I turn it on, get cold, turn it off, wake up sweating, turn it on, and you get the picture.  Wednesday and Thursday are days of rest, hoping that I will be back to work on Friday. 

So did I tell you what happened when I left the I cafe on Tuesday night?  We take our shoes off for almost everyplace we enter and as I was putting them on and looking outside into the storm, right in front of me, a man chopped the head off a chicken!  My face must of been in shock as he said, "Come, and sit with me."  I don't think so!  Ew!!

On Wednesday morning I pulled out my laptop to organize some pics, and found one of my favorite emails about a journey on a train ride.  It always moves me to tears, and it did that morning.  I cried for the dead puppy I passed on the street; I cried for the children who work so hard to breathe, to swallow, to take a step, to survive; for the families living on the streets; and I cried for our little ladies and men who have lived their life and are now at the home to die peacefully. 

Kolkata is a very spiritual place.  Volunteers of all faiths show up to lend a helping hand and all are welcomed.  You can't believe how packed the chapel is every morning.  This chapel is about the size of a high school gymnasium and people spill out into the hallways.  There are no pews or chairs, only a few benches on one side for the elderly or handicapped.  Everyone else stands, sits and kneels on the cement floor.  As many of you know, Mother Teresa has said everything starts with prayer and is quoted "My secret is quite simple.  I pray."  There are inspirational quotes all over the Mother House and I believe in every Missionary of Charity (MC) home.  Sister Carina shared Mother's business card with us - it reads - The fruit of Prayer is Faith, the fruit of faith is Love and, the fruit of love is Service, and the fruit of service is Peace. 

Every morning before we leave the Mother House, we pray the following prayer:  Dearest Lord, the Great Healer, I kneel before You since every good and perfect gift must come from you.  I pray, give skill to my hands, clear vision to my mind, kindness and sympathy to my heart.  Give me singleness of purpose, strength to lift at least a part of the burden of my suffering fellowmen, and a true realization of the privilege that is mine.  Take from my heart all guile and worldliness that with the simple faith of a child I may rely on You.  Amen.  And then we all head out to our respective homes.  Once arriving at the home, we sing or pray together.  At Kalighat, we sing "Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me." 

Following every mass, Mother Teresa used to lead all the Sisters in the following prayers, and that tradition continues with another Sister leading the prayers:

Prayer for Peace
Lord, make me a channel of Your peace, that where there is hatred, I may bring love; where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness; where there is discord, I may bring harmony; where there is error, I may bring truth; where there is doubt, I may bring faith; where there is despair, I may bring hope; where there are shadows, i may bring light; where there is sadness, I may bring joy.  Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort that to be comforted; to understand than to be understood; to love than to be loved; for it is by forgetting self that one finds; it is by forgiving that one is forgiven; and it is by dying that one awakens to eternal life.  Amen.

Followed by the Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.  Body of Christ, save me.  Blood of Christ, inebriate me.  Water from the side of Christ, wash me.  Passion of Christ, strengthen me.  O Good Jesus, hear me.  Within Thy Wounds, hide me.  Suffer me not to be separated from Thee.  From the malicious enemy, Defend me.  At the hour of my death, call me, and bid me come unto Thee that with Thy saints I may praise Thee, forever and ever.  Amen.

Followed by Prayer of Pope Paul
Make us worthy, Lord, to serve our fellow men through out th world who live and die in poverty and hunger.  Give them through our hands this day their daily bread, and by our understanding love, give peace and joy.

And there is one more prayer for the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity that I can not find right now.  We are also invited back to the Mother House every evening to join the Sisters as they pray the rosary.  I can't help but think of Grandma Rose and Mom at every mass.

Thank you all for your many prayers and well wishes.  They mean everything!  Love you!

Oh, if you have a favorite quote, please send it to me along with the author.  And Yui, I will see what I can do with the chicken man.  He flies bye me every morning, and you will know if I get it. 

Comments

[Yui Chan]

Okay my dear, here’s my strategy....heh-heh. When you see the chicken-man zooming by on his bike, just run into the street, stop in front of his bike (I hope he hits the brakes), hold out your hands and scream out –STOP!!!!!!! If he hasn’t already run you over, give him your camera, tell him you are a nutjob tourist, get on his bike and ask him to take a picture of you. If he obliges then make sure you do good by him and buy a couple of his chickens!

[Susan Monteen]

Dear Sister....I am so sorry you are sad. I can't comprehend the sadness...I know you are their light and strength. Your smile will bring them happiness and peace.