Believe it or not, we saw the sun for the first time today since being in India! It has been smoggy or cloudy since we have been here, and now I realize why it has been relatively cool recently. Still not too hot outside, but the sun makes a noticeable difference.
Anywho, who blogs about the weather? Today was my first day working at Kalighat (the home of the dying). Going into it, I was a bit nervous at the thought of my responsibility consoling someone so close to death. But morning prayer really helped with that. After mass, the Sisters say a set of prayers, part of which says that others may no longer see me, only Jesus. "The light that shines through me shall be only his, none of it will be mine." Going in with that mindset helped me a lot I think.
Nik and I went together to Kalighat with our new friend Kathryn from Mississippi. Our first task was laundry duty, so I spent most the time on the roof hanging sheets (reminder, sun is out today!). Then we had tea time with the patients. I helped as much as I could in the men's ward. Then then volunteers had our own tea time with chai, bananas, and biscuits (Nik had 6 and a half biscuits... just sayin).
After tea time, I decided to see if the women's ward needed any help. Just yesterday, they changed the women's ward and it is super small now. There are only 11 beds with 10 patients. When I came it, I began by giving women their vitamin water. The woman I worked with was literally skin and bones, so it took a while to get used to sitting her up. After that, I helped with cutting finger and toe nails. The ability of the women ranged from totally dependent to decently able to communicate what she wants.
Finally, we finished with lunch. I was assigned to feed two women. One was very young and in a very deep sleep, so I felt bad waking her up. She ended up refusing to eat and the Sisters did not force her. The other woman though, was the one I gave water to in the beginning. The entire time I was there she was kind of angrily yelling/complaining in a language I did not know. As I tried to feed her, she very much refused. The Sisters then came and tried to feed her by plugging her nose, but still no luck. Finally, we changed from beans, rice, potato, egg meal to bread and warm milk. Although it took about an hour, I fed her those two slices of bread by dipping them in the warm milk. At times she would just suck the milk from the bread. But she did a good job eating! By the end, she seemed a bit calmer... I don't know how you do it, warm milk!
Overall, it was a wonderful experience today. Please keep the prayers coming that I work with lots of love no matter the task! Laundry or lunch duty.
Finished the day with Adoration and mangoes. :)
Anywho, who blogs about the weather? Today was my first day working at Kalighat (the home of the dying). Going into it, I was a bit nervous at the thought of my responsibility consoling someone so close to death. But morning prayer really helped with that. After mass, the Sisters say a set of prayers, part of which says that others may no longer see me, only Jesus. "The light that shines through me shall be only his, none of it will be mine." Going in with that mindset helped me a lot I think.
Nik and I went together to Kalighat with our new friend Kathryn from Mississippi. Our first task was laundry duty, so I spent most the time on the roof hanging sheets (reminder, sun is out today!). Then we had tea time with the patients. I helped as much as I could in the men's ward. Then then volunteers had our own tea time with chai, bananas, and biscuits (Nik had 6 and a half biscuits... just sayin).
After tea time, I decided to see if the women's ward needed any help. Just yesterday, they changed the women's ward and it is super small now. There are only 11 beds with 10 patients. When I came it, I began by giving women their vitamin water. The woman I worked with was literally skin and bones, so it took a while to get used to sitting her up. After that, I helped with cutting finger and toe nails. The ability of the women ranged from totally dependent to decently able to communicate what she wants.
Finally, we finished with lunch. I was assigned to feed two women. One was very young and in a very deep sleep, so I felt bad waking her up. She ended up refusing to eat and the Sisters did not force her. The other woman though, was the one I gave water to in the beginning. The entire time I was there she was kind of angrily yelling/complaining in a language I did not know. As I tried to feed her, she very much refused. The Sisters then came and tried to feed her by plugging her nose, but still no luck. Finally, we changed from beans, rice, potato, egg meal to bread and warm milk. Although it took about an hour, I fed her those two slices of bread by dipping them in the warm milk. At times she would just suck the milk from the bread. But she did a good job eating! By the end, she seemed a bit calmer... I don't know how you do it, warm milk!
Overall, it was a wonderful experience today. Please keep the prayers coming that I work with lots of love no matter the task! Laundry or lunch duty.
Finished the day with Adoration and mangoes. :)
What an amazing opportunity Miss Stone. Thanks for this insight into the world outside of America that we so easily forget about.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great start to your time there! I appreciate you sharing your experience with those of us who are back here talking to a computer. You're like Batman… not really actually, but it would be pretty cool
ReplyDelete– Colin