Maria Andrawis
Posted on December 31st, 2006 by info
“Lord teach me to seek to comfort rather than be comforted…” This prayer, prayed by the sisters of the Missionaries every morning, has spoken volumes to me in the past two days. Yesterday and today I have spent my afternoons at Prem Dan (”gift of love”), a home for the poor who require long-term care. The patients range in ages, although most are elderly, and suffer from both mental and physical disabilities. Yesterday Prem Dan represented everything that frustrates or scares me. Today I saw the gospel. When Eddie and I arrived yesterday, I was overwhelmed by the amount of empty faces I saw–it was as if all the people I had avoided while walking through the streets of Calcutta had all gathered in one place, and now I had to look back and provide for all their needs. I hated feeling so incompetent since I couldn’t speak the language, I didn’t know the routine of how things were done at the house, and all I could hear around me was “Aunty! Aunty!” (the term of endearment used for the volunteers by the patients). Feeding a woman who was completely paralyzed terrified me, as I didn’t know if I was doing it right, if I was choking her, or when she would be full. I never realized how difficult it is to smile at someone who can’t smile back at you, or to stay and listen to someone who sounds distressed but you can’t understand a word they’re saying. By the end of the first day the thought of coming back for more the second day was not exactly appealing.
But then as I did Quiet Time this morning, I felt God calling me to be faithful in the job He had given me. And then it hit me today as I gave a woman a cup of water: I just gave a cup of water to Christ! I fed the hungry, clothed the naked (women who had soiled themselves and therefore needed a change of clothing), and visited the sick. These were all actions that Christ specifically said that if we did to the least of his brethren we did it to Him! I really started trying to see Christ in every face I looked at, and to feed each woman or fetch each cup of water as an act of worship to Him. I literally became a servant of Christ, doing the exact things servants do.
One particular woman was giving me an especially difficult time. Her skin was parched and full of wrinkles, she hunched over, was extremely skinny, and was yelling and throwing her body on the floor as an act of defiance to the sisters who wanted her to go outside for fresh air. I was trying to help her up and to speak to her. I forced myself to keep looking at her and to keep smiling, and in her I saw–something. I can’t explain what, almost a spark of the divine. Whatever it was, I couldn’t shake the idea of Christ in disguise after that.
It’s true–there is an immense amount of suffering in these homes that is very difficult to stomach initially. But as we force ourselves to abandon the voices that are telling you this is disgusting, this isn’t worth it, this is beneath you, the spirit of service is freeing. In serving these women, I saw people hungry for attention, hungry for affection, and in them, I think I also saw Christ.
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Hey Maria!
It would be so inspiring for your Sunday School kids to hear about your experience. This is a wonderful gift you give to those in need. I trust that the Lord will richly bless every step you take…we can’t wait for your safe return on Saturday.
Hi Maria,
We missed you so much. Wow! Thanks for sharing parts of your amazing experience. I can’t wait to see you and hear it all when you come back safely.
Taunt Mona