Thirteen missionaries walking in an alley towards the hospital/orphanage, nervous and a little shy. They have no idea what to expect or even where the next bend in the alley will take them. Down a staircase, and a door opens and they see a room full of cribs with tiny babies. IVs hang from the ceiling, a bunch of toddlers standing up with their arms crossed, listening to staff workers and a Missionary of Charity directing their morning prayers and blessing the day…a 20 minute prayer and not one cry!
After the Amen is said, breakfast time! The missionaries are handed a bowl of oatmeal – time to find a baby and start feeding them! I wish you could have seen their faces… thoughts of “what do I do next”, “how do I clean this mess”, faces of surprise. “Paola, this baby needs a diaper change.” So change it! “Paola, what do I do; this baby won’t stop crying and I’m already holding one” Carry two! “Paola, this kid peed all over the Legos.” Clean it up! Thirteen hearts eager to learn, to serve, to give, to love!
Midday comes and we all head to the chapel to celebrate Mass and to do the Missionary Consecration with the imposition of the Missionary Cross. Again, thirteen hearts saying yes to Christ: yes, this spring break I will be your feet, your mouth, your tongue, your eyes, and above all, YOUR HEART!
At the end of the day we all raised up to heaven a thanksgiving prayer: Thank you Lord for giving us a open heart and willing body to serve; thank you for allowing me to see Your face in the faces of the babies; thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve… Hearts full of gratitude!
I have been doing missions for quite a while and I never stop being amazed at what young hearts are full off. All we need to give them is the impetus to pour it out! And… this is just the first day!
Please keep all of the missionaries in your prayers, and be assured of ours.
