FOCUS Missions radically challenge staff and students to know Christ, serve His people, and build His kingdom.
India...
Dates: May 12th - June 18th
Cost: $3000
Trip Director: Kristen Fausey
FOCUS Staff: Eric Clark, Lucy Jones, Joel LaLiberty
Spaces Available: No more space available.
"Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work." - Mother Theresa of Calcutta
"Things will happen in my every day life and it will remind me of my experience in India. It changes your whole perspective about things. There are a lot of things I could work to be better at, but I just don't. When I was at the orphanage in Kolkata there were these little kids that have absolutely nothing and they're handicapped. They have to do their exercises every single day. I have everything and I can't motivate myself in one aspect of my life to do my very best. These little kids that have nothing are my motivation, every single day, to do my very best." - Kristen Feldmann (India Mission 2007)
This summer join us as we embark on a life changing journey to work alongside the Missionaries of Charity in the slums of Kolkota, India. When Mother Theresa received her "call within a call" nearly 50 years ago to found the Missionaries of Charity, not even she could have envisioned what God had in store. This summer you have the chance to be not only a first hand witness, but a participant. In the chapel of the Mother House, there is a sign that indicates what a Missionary of Charity is:
+ A carrier of God's love, especially to the poorest of the poor, setting all on fire with love for Him and for one another
+ A healing touch of God that cures diseases
+ A soothing smile of God that warms all hearts
+ God's own language of love that all hearts understand
We will spend most of our four weeks in Kolkata working alongside these sisters in many of Mother Theresa's original homes for the poorest of the poor. The intense immersion among the poor will make this trip challenging but the challenge will be magnified by the extreme climate conditions and the strong spices of India cuisine. This mission is not for the faint of heart. A missionary on this trip will learn how to pray and draw near to Christ ("Lord, when did we see you hungry...").
During our time in Kolkata we will attend Mass every morning at the Mother House, join the Sisters for Adoration every evening, and have the chance to pray daily at the tomb of Mother Theresa. One of the greatest opportunities on this mission trip will be our attendance at the Final Profession of Vows of the Missionaries of Charity. Additionally, we may have the chance to visit the Leper Colony at Titagarh, run by the Missionary of Charity brothers. Titagarh is a hive of activity: men and women busily work at their thread wheels or looms weaving the saris and towels used by Missionaries of Charity homes across the world. Children are in the classroom learning "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" in four languages.
As there is still a serious stigma in India of having leprosy, these people would be unable to get jobs on the outside. Titagarh allows them to belong, to have purpose. Titagarh is a place that restores dignity. Since its opening over 65,000 people have been treated for leprosy. Those are 65,000 people that received some level of respect, grace and love. All of the Missionary of Charity homes are working to ensure that God's people receive this same level of respect, grace and love. We will be joining their endeavor to bring a sense of dignity to a group of people that have never known their worth.
In addition to our time in Kolkata we will have a chance to visit Darjeeling in the hill country of the Himalayas for a mid-mission retreat. At the end of our mission we will be traveling to Goa to visit the tomb of one of the world's greatest missionaries, St. Francis Xavier. Please consider joining us for this life changing opportunity! God Bless you.
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