Mother Teresa House

Two days ago, I went to the Mother Teresa House to volunteer. It was incredible and eye opening. The facility we went to was called "Home for the Dying." It is a place where people who are to poor to be hospitalized and can not be taken care by their family come to die. Although, many of them in fact recover and return to normal daily life, which really isn't very normal by our standards. There are about 100 or so patients, around 25 volunteers, and a few doctors.

The patients (I don't think they call them that) can barely take care of themselves. They are very emaciated and look as though they have stepped out of pictures that were taken during the worst part of the holocaust. Most of these people can not walk on their own. Many have diseases, broken bones, deformities, or infected wounds. Many are in pain. Some are very out of it as they are on the brink of death. However, it is clear that they are all very appreciative of the help that the Dr's and volunteers give.

(This is the way it really is. I am not exaggerating this or making this into sensationalism. In fact, this description is softer than it should be.)

So, basically the volunteers bath them, dry them off, cloth them, give them medicine, and give food. We also carry them from place to place whether it is to the bathing room or to their beds. We clean the dishes and eat lunch upstairs. It is very taxing on the mind and the body, as I have never experienced anything like this. We have all seen pictures and heard stories. But, to actually experience it is difficult if not impossible to accurately describe

There are volunteers from all of the world, predominantly from Europe and Asia. Naturally, The volunteers were very fascinating to talk to as we were all very different in our appearences, languages, backgrounds, and so forth. Yet, it was clear that we shared something in common and that was this indescribable experience.

The first day was incredible and it is becoming obvious why certain people end of giving their lives to this kind of work in one way or another.

[I would take photos to share with you all. But, they explicitly do not permit this as someone could ultimately use it against them for the wrong reasons.]