Missionaries of Charity

As a teenager I wanted to be a missionary, but after reading several books on the subject, I decided they worked too hard. So, I got on with my life.

After Frank died, I stayed home a lot and started reading and watching television. One day, I came across a movie about Mother Teresa. I was overwhelmed by her charity work and her strong business sense. She worked among the poor, but she also founded the Missionaries of Charity.

A month later, I ordered one of her books and once again felt inspired. I wanted to go to India and help out. I was retired by this time and ready for a new adventure. However, I did not have the money to travel to India. I decided to set this dream aside, but I never stopped wanting to join the Missionaries of Charity.

I spent the next few years writing books, and I settled into a nice routine. I had everything I needed and thought I would just coast through the rest of my life. Unfortunately (or maybe not), this was not meant to be.

In 2019, I got in financial trouble and got evicted from my apartment. Suddenly, I was homeless for the first time.

Being homeless was a traumatic experience, but at least I had a car. Eventually, I found a room in a church to live in, but I never forgot about what it felt like to be homeless. This led to a great desire to help the homeless. From this point on, I made a point of stopping to talk to the homeless. I learned a lot. When I asked one man if he needed some money, he replied, “No, I just need your prayers. I also need your energy. I am depressed. Everyone turns away when I try to talk to them.” This made me sad, and I told myself, “Someday, I will do more for the homeless.”

Meanwhile, while attending an A.A. meeting, I met John. I was happy to find a kindred spirit who believed in the Holy Spirit. John revealed to me that he was studying to be a Catholic. I asked him if I could accompany him because I remembered that Mother Teresa was Catholic.

Somehow, I managed to get baptized, confirmed and take my first communion as a Catholic. After being baptized, I was walking out of the church, and I noticed two nuns. I recognized them right away by the clothes they wore. They were from the Missionaries of Charity. I was delighted and nervously approached them.

I opened up to Mother Superior and told her how much I had always wanted to go to India and help out with their charity. Mother Superior replied, “Why travel so far to help out. We have a convent right down the street.”

I then confessed that I was too weak to do much. She replied, “We feed the homeless in Berkeley only once a week. I am sure you can manage that.” “Yes,” I replied. “I would love to do that.” She smiled and said, “I am glad we ran into each other. I don’t think it was an accident.”

Tears ran down my face and I replied, “No, it was not an accident. It was just one of the many miracles in my life since finding God and Jesus Christ.”