Back in the UK again at my "home away from home" - Sue and Terry's. It still amazes me that they so willingly have me and I have never felt so welcome. Their generosity knows no limits and I feel very loved and blessed. In fact, I can't even think about the time when I will leave and have to say goodbye to them....
My last hours in India were amazing. I had dinner on Wed night with a new and dear friend and then spent Thursday getting ready to leave. I went to Holy Thursday Mass at Mother House and, once again felt the profound presence of The Holy Spirit. The singing and prayers and the love pouring out of each person there was so beautiful. After Holy Thursday Mass and the washing of the feet, it is tradition to sit in vigil until midnight and after confession I sat for a while in silence and prayer with the sisters and other worshipers. It was so peaceful...I never wanted to leave. I felt the Holy Spirit so fully, so completely and I felt wrapped in love.
I met a couple of fellow volunteers afterwards to bid them farewell then hailed a cab (not easy) and headed to my hotel. It was about 9:00pm and I had not eaten so decided to go to the all night cafe around the corner and have a snack. I ordered some Indian food and while I was waiting for it, I noticed an older Indian gentleman at the next table. He smiled at me and asked me where I was from. I sensed something in him that compelled me to speak with him and ended up moving over to his table. Turns out he lives in the USA and was visiting family in Kolkata. He was born in Kolkata but moved to the states nearly 60 years ago! His wife had died only a couple of years ago and he told me how much he missed her. I just sat and listened to him, which was all he really wanted. He then asked me about me and was amazed that I had been travelling for so long by myself, saying how brave i was. He told me about his daughter, about the same age as me and said i would really like her. He was such a sweet man. A very staunch christian, Baptist, he spoke openly about his faith and quoted the bible several times. I told him i was catholic and about the gift of being with the sisters at Mother House. He wondered why I wasn't married, I just laughed (how else to respond?!). he said he hoped I didn't mind him saying, but he found me very beautiful and the way he said it reminded me so much of my Dad who always told me that. I think he was sent to me to remind me of my Dad. I still miss him so much. Beauty is, indeed in the eye of the beholder
I only write about this because I want to remember these things that have touched me so deeply on my travels. People I have met who I have forged new friendships with, some, I know I will see again some day, and some I know I will never see again. When you feel instantly comfortable in someone else's presence and you can spend a few hours with them and not run out of things to say...you know it is the beginning of a special friendship.
I keep saying how blessed I am.
I really, really am!
