Volunteering at Mother Teresa Mission in Kolkata

October 23, 2010

This morning I went to the Mission of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Where she lived and prayed and where she was dead. I decided to go because 3 of the 4 girls that share my room are volunteering there. Woke up at 5.20am, because at 6 there’s Mass. It’s not compulsory, but I didn’t know where the place is exactly, so I preferred to go with them. But I didn’t like it much. The homelie was about suffering, that is needed to be purified from sins. The priest said that sometimes he is asked why children suffer, if it’s because of their parents’ sins. Or for sins from previous lives. I didn’t understand what he replies. I guess he doesn’t know the answer. Because of this idea the monks whipped themselves. What’s the point in doing so? Suffering to be saved? Because you don’t want to go to hell? So someone should behave properly so that he/she doesn’t end up burning? One should do it because he/she knows that it is the right thing to do, not because he is afraid of consequences. In my opinion.

Anyway, I’ve just eaten a crepe with banana and chocolate. Not a bad life.

I went to the mission because I wanted to see how it works. They sent me to a place that hosts people with disabilities, physical and mental. For the first hour I washed clothes (have they enquired what my favorite hobby is?), not something I like, but it wasn’t difficult, I had to rinse them. Then they sent me to wash the floor of the room where the guests sleep. They throw water to the floor, with bleach, and sweep with a broom. Then ather buckets of water to rinse, and again the broom. I finally used one of those Asian brooms, that have always fascinated me since the first time I visited China.

At 10am little break with chai and biscuits, then we went to the room where they eat. I helped an elder lady to eat her curry rice with a baked apple. It reminded me of the apples my grandmother cooked for me. She didn’t talk, so I told her some stories. When I tried to sing some songs she reacted strangely, probably she didn’t enjoy my singing, so I stopped, afraid that she would fall to the floor screaming and tossing and turning to show me her disappointment.

Now I’m here, near my hotel. I don’t feel like doing anything. Well deserved relax. Mosquitos are at work. I don’t know if I’m going back to Madre Teresa Mission tomorrow too. I shall see how I wake up. Have a nice Saturday Night.