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MY JOURNEY FROM PERAVOOR TO PAKDILPUR

When I was studying Philosophy in Peravoor, I have heard the word “mission” many times! I did not really understand the term then! During the course of my life in Peravoor, I used to think, rationalize and reflect every single day about mission. I always wondered how I will be as a missionary in the future. With the solid background in Philosophy and Eagerness to put what I learned in the classrooms to practice in real life situation, I moved to the next stage of Formation – Regency. 

I arrived in Pakdilpur mission on 15 June 2022. I began my regency with enthusiasm and relying on the providence of God.  Br.  Ajit Kerketta took me to one of biggest village in that locality which is Raipur Slum. It is almost 5-km from our friary.

When, I began my Regency in this village, I met the people first and I witnessed the plight of people. I thought to myself that I must do something for this people. I was deeply moved by the misery, sad faces, rejected, lonely etc.  They were like the sheep without the shepherd waiting for their hunger and thirst to be satisfied. I admire the hard work and commitment of our friars who have worked here since the beginning of the Mission and also those working presently. The friars have set the activities into motion!

On 1 July2022, Br. Ajit Kerketta and I began the tuition classes for the children and began to converse with their parents to motivate them to send their children for the special coaching.  As the days went on, I began to see a few changes in the slum area. With my daily visit to the village, I learned for myself that I should live my life holding back nothing for myself, but giving all the good things to God, because all good comes from Him as St. Francis instructs us in the Admonitions.  
It is my experience that it is not so easy to live among them as their economic condition challenges my way of life. There is a caste system that divides the people etc.  In spite of all that, God is present among them revealing Himself as simple and poor. 

Once it so happened that when I went for the tuition classes alone, it began to rain suddenly. Once the rain stopped, I came across a family eating food sitting beside the dirty and gutter water flowing. This sight disturbed me a lot. My heart wanted to do something for them but I was helpless at that moment. That night I could not sleep.  The Spirit of the Lord, however, impelled me to go again to sow the seeds of love, mercy and compassion. As Jesus said:  A Sower went to sow the seed, some seed fell on the good soil, and some fell on the path, and other fell on the rocky ground. (Matthew 13: 1 – 9). God has sown the seed in each one of us from our childhood. It is our duty to sow the seeds. The seeds are our talents and the abilities. When we use those talents and abilities for good, God brings plenty of harvest. Christians are called to sow the seeds of peace, Justice and   love all over the world.

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