By Chelsea Flynn, Staffing Coordinator
at SteppingStones Recruitment.
I would like to share a
recent, personal, life-changing experience I embarked upon whilst working and
living with the Brothers of the Missionary of the Poor (MOP) in Jamaica
Kingston. With Easter soon to come and as it is Lent for many Catholics all
over the world, I could not refuse when this opportunity was presented to me by
my RCIA group at St Ignatius parish. Having always been keen to take up a
challenge, help those less fortunate and deepen another side of me (a spiritual
one), I decided to leave my iPhone, iPad, watch and designer handbag behind –
this was no easy feat!
I had no idea of what to expect. From
the minute we were shown to our university-style dorms and picked our bunk-beds
to the minute we were first introduced to the Brothers, I was in awe. Admittedly,
I felt worried, concerned about the feelings of guilt that I knew would be bestowed
upon me for thinking that it life was hard, having to leave my iPhone, iPad,
watch and handbag behind would be the worst thing ever. Upon arrival and
following an induction from a Brother named Elijah – a humorous fellow, with
funny hair and a big wide smile, we were put to work. Missionaries of the Poor
was set up by Father Richard Ho Lung, in 1981, to “build family and community
among the poor and disadvantaged” and they have several centres in which the
homeless, destitute and aged could be sheltered, fed, clothed and cared for by
the upcoming priests and religious brothers.
Walking into the first centre –
Bethlehem. An ocean of sadness hit me. Crib after crib after crib after crib featured
a different child, with different disabilities. After sadness came anger – why are
they here? Why are they not with their parents? Why don’t their parents want
them? This came with frustration. However, looking over I locked eyes with a
beautiful, young Jamaican child almost falling out of her crib with arms outstretched,
making grabbing gestures. Making a bee line for her, she grabbed onto me like
her life depended on it and refused to let go. After approximately 20 minutes
of holding her (her face was all lit up until I had to pull back to spend some
time with the other children), she began to cry, at the top of her lungs. “Mummy,
mummy!” She shouted. “Mummy, Mummy!” I looked at one of the caregivers in
astonishment: “why is she calling me mum?” Turns out, she is actually a twin,
and the only medical problem she has is that she has involuntary spasms/fits –
epilepsy. In addition to this, she is a twin.”Where is her mother?” I asked.
The caregiver informed me that she was abandoned at the centre as the mother
only wanted to keep the other twin so this has not only had a negative impact
on her emotionally, but also on her with visitors. She just wants to be hugged.
Just wants to be close. It broke my heart. I left the centre that day feeling
terrible when one of the Brothers put things into perspective. “Don’t be saddened
by what you see here, remember if these children and adults, were not looked
after by the MOP, then they would be on the streets of Kingston Jamaica either
dying or dead.”
This realization inspired my joy. The
next few days I did nothing but dance, sing, play chat and be happy with these
people. It reignited the thankfulness in my heart and make me realize that even
though I am in the comfort of the lovely, Cayman Island, just an hour away
there are people suffering with great poverty. I would highly recommend undertaking
this or a similar journey if you get chance, whether you are religious,
spiritual or just curious and want to offer a helping hand! Alternatively,
perhaps make a donation, the MOP is a completely non-for profit organization and
it has now expanded to Philippines and the US. Visit their website for more
information: http://www.missionariesofthepoor.org/jamaica-kingston.php
www.steppingstonescayman.com
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