HELPERS TELL THEIR MISSIONS' STORIES

Sheep without Shepherd

Jesus says to Peter “Do you love me?” and he answers “Lord you know everything, you know that I love you.” Jesus says to him, “Feed my sheep.”

Humming the invitation of Jesus, Helpers reached Sariakata to be guides and shepherd for the children there, feeding them with the seed of knowledge, hope, joy and love, lifting them up from their critical situation, as children of God.

Gradually when we came to know the families’ situations and their needs, it became clear that they lack many things, but mainly they lacked motivations and ambition. They did not even think that their children should grow up in knowledge and wisdom as educated persons. We tried to motivate the parents in this direction.

The lockdown of the schools made children forget what they had learned: we found out that most of them were very weak in studies, and many of them couldn’t read and write their own language. That is why at the Tuition Centre we then opened, we give classes two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon from Nursery until class X kids. In addition, we also teach extracurricular activities like rhyming, dancing, singing, meditation, spoken English, manners & discipline, sports etc.

At the beginning, the tuitions were given in a private house, but the place was congested; so, the parents came together to clean an open land, uproot the deep roots of the trees, cut down and bring palm trunks from the jungle, to build a broad hut with their own hands. They did this hard work to give a good place where to hold the classes, only for the bright future of their children.

I was overwhelmed to see the interest, cooperation and collaboration of the parents, especially of the mothers, to erect this “mud hut - tuition centre” as their children’s study space.

Finally, I express my joy and gratitude to God, by seeing the changes that have been taken place after building the new centre. Its opening has brought unity not only among the children but also among the parents. The cleanliness of the children has improved a lot. I feel that this mission impacts some changes among the people of Sariakata.

So, I consider myself blessed if I can offer myself whole heartedly for the betterment of these poor children.

Sr. Babita Baidya sa - Barasat, India

Parents building the hut for the Tuition Centre at Sariakata village

Children Studying

Sr. Babita with the children

Visiting families and giving lessons

at the brickfield....

Sr. Manila Tirkey is a very practical woman, particularly gifted at mingling with people....

I visit families three times a week, not only Christians, but also several Hindu and Muslim families. At first, some accepted me, but others did not.

One day I went to visit a family I did not know. However, they were very happy to see me. They started asking me, "Where are you from? What are you doing?" I answered, and after sharing my life, they opened up a lot to me. We had a long conversation. At the end they offered me a glass of water and some cookies. They are a childless couple and are now in their old age. There is no one to take care of them. The floor of their house is damp and the walls are falling down, but they are very happy. They said, "You see. Our house is ruined, but we believe in God. God is providing for us, only we pray to him. He will take care of us." Listening to them, my heart was moved. They gave me a testimony that God is there for us. The way they keep faith in God is so touching!

In addition to visiting families, I recently started going to tutor children who live in the brickfield near our house. Their conditions are very pathetic: their parents are not really interested in their education, so at first it was very difficult for me to keep them focused to teach them: they were not guided properly because their parents are busy with their work.

After a meeting with them, with some clarifications from me, now the parents are very happy with the lessons, because at least their children come together to do something useful.

I feel very happy with them. May God bless each and every one of them!

Sr. Manila Tirkey sa - Barasat, India

Accompanying women

in their quest for dignity

Sr. Marsa Ekka is a seamstress and social worker: her skills and abilities are at the service of tribal women in the interior villages of West Bengal.

I am Marsa Ekka, a member of Bolpur community. We are 5 sisters there: each one is involved in different mission fields.

I am the bursar of the community and cooperating in our Study House, where 12 Santal Girls are accommodated and helped in their studies. Besides these services, I have another mission: to offer tailoring courses to housewives in the villages around Bolpur. I reach them at their places, in four different villages. I usually go there three or four days a week. Normally, there are 8 - 9 women attending the classes.

Usually, they are mainly busy with their housework and children; when the growing season comes, they work in the fields, nothing else. So, my main motivation in offering them tailoring classes, is to help them become financially self-sufficient. The background of the villages in the Bolpur area is poor. The people's livelihood depends only on crops. They struggle to raise their children and give them a good education. Through tailoring classes, these women gain new skills and become able to earn for their families. In the villages where I started the first courses, they are now able to sew their own clothes; some of them have bought a sewing machine for their work. I teach them how to make Salwar suits, pants, skirts, baby clothes, blouses, and other types of Indian garments.

I am happy to see them gaining new skills and growing in dignity while earning something for their families. I am aware that I can help improve the tough conditions of these women through my talents. I am grateful for this opportunity and feel God's presence in this work.

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It just so happened that one day I received a call from one of my "students" asking me to accompany her to look for a tailoring job. I went with her, then, in search of a piecework opportunity: around Bolpur there are small manufactures that sew bags. We went from door to door looking for someone to provide orders for homemade bags. It was very tiring, but eventually we met a kind woman who was ready to give work to my student. Now, thanks to her work, she has an income for her family.

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It gives me so much joy to see God's work in these women. I am just an instrument in His hands. I am happy to help them and listen to them as they share their stories. I pray for them every day.

Sr. Marsa Ekka sa - Bolpur, India

Sr. Marsa in the village

Standing by Tribal Mothers and Children in a rural hospital

Sr. Nimanti Majhi is a multi-skilled health worker: for the past 6 years, she has been putting her abilities to work serving people who do not have easy access to health services.

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I am Nimanti Majhi. I live in the community of Bolpur. For the last 6 years I have been working in a small rural hospital run by an NGO called "Shining Eyes". It is founded by a lady, who is a doctor. This organization is especially dedicated to mothers and children of tribal origin living in the villages of Bolpur area. My work consists of various tasks, for example, measuring the weight of the children, assisting the doctors when outside patients come for a check-up; sometimes - when a foreigner doctor comes -

I also have to translate from Santali to Bengali or from English to Bengali. In addition, I take samples for pap smear tests, do EEG (electroencephalogram), and give physiotherapy to differently able children.

I am happy and it gives me joy to serve these people who are in great need of support for their health problems. Especially when I see the sick or malnourished children grow and their health improve, I feel God's presence in them.

By God's grace I am able to offer my help to these mothers and children, and I can feel that God is working with me and through me.

Sr. Nimanti Majhi sa - Bolpur, India