MY LAST LETTER TO SPONSORS IF YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO READ ON SCREEN! Deja Letter No. 3
"Francis of Assisi died in a shack.
He died without owning anything.
When the earth is nothing, everything was the sky.
The less attached to things of this world, your heart is light.
Francis had no children, so no need to focus on material goods.
On land, it must be that the parents earn money to help their children grow. They must always be attached to things of this world.
I asked myself the question: "What Francis gave to others, since he himself had nothing? "
was the example of wealthy people who create foundations, open hospitals, clinics, schools.
What can a poor offer? Sometimes
necessarily empty-handed.
And if we could also offer its poverty? The
material deprivation can sometimes dig the incredible riches of the heart.
A heart of poor can be so rich that an overflow of spiritual wealth incomparable value.
The poor of Assisi could give that money does not do. When men or women were in distress, it was for them the words of a true comfort.
He consoled.
Money does not console us.
When our heart is hurt, we need the love that is given a heart to heart. Francis knew
offer tenderness.
animals approached.
It is said that birds liked brushing. His presence
was filled with the spirit of God.
It was a comfort to all living beings, human or not.
He offered the part of the sky that lived in his soul.
We too often forget - we can give not only what one has, but what we are.
When I arrived at the slum, I had nothing to give.
I was penniless. The media did not know me and not interested in me. I had no money to distribute.
I was neither a doctor nor a nurse.
I was talking bad Arabic and I was sixty-two years. I learned too
wealth of poverty.
I realized that because they can not give what I had, I could give what I was. Give the best of myself as speaking in prayer, in relationship to God.
There is incredible depth in this self-giving.
When we believe we have nothing to give, they are mistaken.
can still give what one is. "
Sister Emmanuelle -" My spiritual testament "
Dear family,
Dear friends, Dear
sponsors
is my third letter which I hope finds you in shape. Forgive me for not giving you more news. I have no excuses, except here as elsewhere time is passing too fast and leaves hardly tame!
In nine months of the mission, I begin to better understand the soul of this country, to know the realities, the best as the toughest and now that I can manage in Romanian, I learned to love the language. And then the ties with the people around me and the girls have become strong enough that I draw all the strength and faith I need each day.
Point Heart is an NGO very different from all others and far removed from our concept of progress. There is no comparison since our action takes place in a completely level, that of Man and the health of his soul and his heart. Already as a nurse, I found that it took a prominent place in my work because if I stopped at the single execution of technical care, I could not do my little patient and even his parents.
Here, as in France, it is not strictly necessary, which is most lacking, by cons loneliness is one of the greatest sufferings that we encounter. What people ask us most often is: "When are you coming?" "When will you return?" "Why do not you come more often? ... "
Here is an excerpt from a text by Father Thierry, the founder of Heart, which clearly explains this thirst
" Many men hide their hunger. Many play with their hunger. Others even betray one day we discovered dead by suicide or anorexia. In countries with abundant money, hunger - all hunger - has become a disgrace, as if gold was the result of annihilating it. That is to misunderstand yet on what hunger. It is by no means a disgrace. It is dynamic. It is open to what is given. It is a spring tended toward communion.
[...] If our Western countries recognize that one is hungry like an admission of leprosy, it is not the same in most countries where the Heart's installed. Here, hunger is bare. Hunger is too glaring for us to hide it. Rather it is sufficient to direct it. Rather it is sufficient to make him the next level. Then she demean older who suffers, but the student and helps him regain his dignity as a man, the son of God. "
While here I learned the simplicity and solidarity, I try to offer in exchange for the dignity, of hope, an opening to something else.
Each country's history and its problems. Here, the consequences of communism are everywhere. It has of course slowed the development of the country and plunged in corruption, but he also attacked in his humanity, his soul, his inner being.
The first thing that one notices immediately is that beauty has disappeared as the country and has been forgotten. Heritage is not always kept. In town, the concrete blocks have replaced traditional houses, the countryside is dotted with places of factories sometimes immense, which are decaying and have polluted the country well, beautiful sites like the mountains are numerous but very little known and popular of the Romanians. The interiors of houses are often in bad taste and there are few traditional items, handicrafts and furniture family.
Their isolation, however, allowed them to retain some fine traditions and customs: dancing and regional clothes, their respect for elders, their way of burying their dead, their hard work on the land ...
Communism has also been the effect of breaking their trust, their hope. Expressions of Romanians express a certain fatalism, like resignation: "What can we do? "That's life." "Thus is the situation."
Finally, communism has killed the freedom of individuals and therefore their sense of initiative or sense of responsibility. They did not used to commit or take a stand.
But in the end, the hope is they are looking and if someone is there to offer them a project they meet present and available.
So, we who have been fortunate to grow up differently, we can contribute to help them regain what they have forgotten or lost.
Already they are very touched to see us leave everything to live in their country and amazed when they see how we are attached while here, however, many depart. Whether Gypsies, Hungarians and Romanians, all have family in Italy, Hungary, Germany, France, Spain, England, Canada or the USA.
Yet it is true that our core curriculum is not the most ambitious since these friendships. But this friendship, we want real and meaningful and it is not so simple after all!
For this, it must initially be anchored in everyday and in response to individual needs. Here
jumble a few examples of recent weeks:
In these days of good weather, we like to take some kids and take them to the park or at home for activities that are fun and educational and trying them are not usually home. This allows them to leave their family or their neighborhood and see something else. In small groups, we can bring them more attention and find the hardest normal behavior.
When a child needs more attention, we try to do more things with it and adapt to its difficult to help. For example, we noticed a small three-year lives and our neighborhood is already very violent and does not listen much. He comes to us from time to time and recently, it was his mother who has noticed the behavior of his son who came to seek help.
Similarly, we appeal to the neighborhood children (the gaps for them are more in education or the family in physical conditions) to help us some work from home: harvesting fruit, gardening, making cakes ... So, we share good times together through these activities that can help too.
When a birthday, we try to celebrate. Have been present this week to Anouchka Tanti, who celebrated his eighty-six, seemed important to her. She loves and needs someone around him. Similarly for Renata celebrating her sixteenth birthday and who seems so sad and lonely sometimes. This is our little neighbor and her family life is not simple.
And then we went to the doctor several times with Aunt Margaret, our lovely neighbor who knows Heart's by heart! She can not move alone.
Sometimes we also often take the time listen to one or the other, share family albums, collecting the experiences of our former neighborhood, learn with them ... Romanian cuisine
In our address book, there are all kinds of people, it helps us keep an open mind on all the realities, not just those in poverty or that of the Gypsies. And even this may allow us to help the weakest of our friends. I think Elisabeta with his heart so big and fragile. The world of work it is not suitable. We talked with the member and his wife who have listened with great seriousness and seeking knowledge from their work that would suit him.
As for the city hospital, I know him well, having made numerous visits and even having spent a night with Aunt Victoria who had just made a stroke. There is also
Marcello who was married and invited us. He came the first time Heart's demand for money. Gradually, he understood our refusal and we became friends. He has traveled a long way since now he is very proud to present its brand new apartment, his job ... and all that, he got it with dignity, working, climbing and folders by inspiring confidence in people, including the mayor of his town, invited to the wedding. He became someone.
We are also quite affected by a group of young Romanians that we met at church. They are in the minority since the Hungarian Catholics. Initially, they did not know and had their separate ways. In addition, parents are Orthodox or non-practicing. So we want to offer them different activities that can unite them, give them marks for their lives and help them in their choice. I certainly have the opportunity to get back to you!
In recent weeks, piles of watermelons juicy flourished in the city. The growers come from Oltenia for sale in town all summer. We met with those from our neighborhood: a mother and daughter. They sleep in a tent on the sidewalk, eating cold and simple and the mother can not leave his booth. So we talk and play with Ana and share coffee.
Finally, we want available to all who pass by our house. Among others, we had several young French or Romanian curious to see what we were doing.
And for the anecdote, we even board at this time a wounded bird made by a neighborhood child! This friendship
therefore passes first through things very concrete and discussions every day. Thus, a real bond and a trust is created.
Secondly, I see that our attitude to our friends is extremely important and very much, although I am not aware.
Here is an excerpt from a letter by Fra Angelico for his friend at Christmas:
"Friend,
There is nothing I could offer you that you already have, but there are many things I can not give and you can take. "
Sister Emmanuel says:" There is nothing I could offer you that you already have "; it is essential to realize this truth. Otherwise the risk is great to crush others with what is believed to provide. The best way to enrich the other is to help discover its hidden treasures that do not know. "
To discover its riches for the other it reveals itself and becomes a person according to his destiny. That despite the hardships, he can stand firm and remain confident, calm, happy, not fleeting joys but deeply happy.
Itsu is for me the perfect example of what kind of people who have such a life force in them that leaves them, though happens, a light heart. Anton, her husband eventually died, two months ago (see previous letter) peacefully in his sleep despite his condition ... In response to his complaints, demands and repeated requests to die (in recent weeks he had subsided), it has remained at once sweet, tolerant, but firm with him. And now, despite the loss of a loved one, and other events that have not been spared, she continues her life and even reinvents enjoying the free time she had more. She left her family that she did see not seen for nine years, she visits her friends in the city center where she did well, she rearranges her house ...
Our visit, she calls and gets us like queens, but she does not know how precious his friendship for us is always a pleasure to push the door and happy that we leave the house (especially when we served beer or liquor traditional Romanian!).
In fact, what I'm here full time is a "work" valid at any place and any time with everyone. During my schooling, I could train my head a little in the garden of my grandparents and my scouts able to train my hands, school nurse, my practical mind. Here I can, away from my routine, a little away from a society that considers critical and easily (it seems our reputation and one of the observations I've done seen here), and too often forget that suffering is unfortunately part of this world, so far the framework within which I have my brand, I find myself disturbed and thus learn to train my heart and eyes of my heart as ever.
And look, surprise, sometimes the gift of personal transformation. Anton which suspended its complaint to listen to us sing and finally smiled. Constantine, a boy of eleven years sometimes very hard, but becomes gentle as a lamb and covers the qualities of childhood by the attitude that one has to face him. These grandmothers stand up starting with their health on a fatalistic tone but let us go a big smile on his lips (I must say that if the family around them well, medicine leaves them very difficult days). There are also these men a bad reputation as the husband of Elisabeth who will open their heart. I also think the beggars who do not hesitate sometimes to lose all human dignity for pennies or even for a song sandwich and change at all when everything speaks to them and we care about them or if we play when it comes to children. Thus, they can "take a bearing" as the Father said Thierry. So
work of a lifetime that I learn, work endlessly changed my life because it allows me to see things and people differently. It's as if my humanity awakened and aroused another.
Is this that today I seem to find treasures, gold nuggets among the people I meet.
And conversely, the eyes of others on me is essential and keep me out of myself. The girls are pretty good at it, Marguerite with her humor, her kindness with Monette and Martha with her patience. And then when it's us it's not going well, they are our friends who take us back to reality. This community life is a bit of a miracle because I can tell you that with our different characters, cultures, education and age, it's not always easy but it works since, after these few months, we are as a family where we know well, look out for each other, and when one missing, the boat is unbalanced. This unit is very important to be able to go outside and be able to offer others.
Finally, I admit that you help me as well, primarily because without your financial support, I would not be here and also because without your spiritual support and all your expressions of friendship, I'd probably already Fall!
aware that people here are grateful and the Heart's and Francaises (this is part of our nicknames despite our different nationalities and our excellent Romanian!) Has a lot to them (they're the ones who teach us the history Our Heart's Home).
So a big thank you to all of us.
And if you want a closer look at what a Heart's on your holiday, there is one who serves coffee in Paris, another Pastis Pignans (very nice village near Toulon), as at Old Mill, near Compiegne, tell me!
I embrace you and keep you in my prayers. Mathilde
Mathilde Collier
Strada Victor Babes nr 18 Deva
330 118
