Wednesday, 27th August 2008
Helping the needy in the missions
I am a Maltese missionary in Pakistan where our ministry is mainly in the fields of education, health and social work.
We visit families to strengthen their Christian faith, help children with their homework and promote women, who, in this country, are still considered as second-class citizens.
Our work is just a drop in an ocean of needs. The greatest wound is illiteracy. It is common to see children running about in the streets, working or collecting garbage from skips.
Often, these children are not paid but instead are given a daily meal. Although they are not a financial help to the family, they become less of a burden as they come around the table ... if they have one!
As we believe that education will save the human person, we try to invest most of the donations we get by offering the possibility of educating these children, with the hope of opening new horizons for their future. It's impossible to help them all because we lack the financial means. But we do what we can.
I would like to thank the Mission Fund for its untiring work in fund-raising activities so that they'll be able to help Maltese missionaries. I would like to thank them for the donation of €1,200 they gave me this year.
I would also like to express my gratitude to the Maltese who respond generously whenever they are called to contribute to charity. We might be the ones working directly in the field but without your help, we can do little. I encourage you to continue to offer your donations, send used stamps and phone cards to the Mission Fund and help in any way possible.
May the Lord, who rewards every glass of water given to the needy, fill your heart and your household with every kind of blessing. You are in our daily prayers.
RSS
Comments
But she did stress that her motivating force was her faith and she worked within the church.
Her nuns and many others from various congregations have been looked at with suspicion particularly in countries of strong religious feelings. It is very understandable. But immature if it stops there.
So what would I do if I had strong feelings about religious matters and/or/but on the other hand appreciate social work ?
I would question, first and foremost myself, get first hand information, better still, dare get first hand experience. Then I would comment, pass judgements make staements -still, not even then, would make sweeping statements.
Mother Theresa would have be proud too.
There is much we can do and learn. Charity begins at home and we can start by being charitable with someone we know, such as Sr Abela and her mission. We can inpsire others with our approach towards charity and this lives on much longer than any small gift.
In Malta for generation people have grown amongst generous and charitable groups, but we have slowly become blind and immune and feel we are special and so deserve all God's gifts. But we must learn again how to live and how to apply charity to all.