Home Sweet Mercy Home

Two years ago I read the book Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. I love to read, I read all the time, but this particular book stayed with me. It was one of those that you never want to end and you dread arriving to the last page. It is based on the life of the author and, trust me, he has led quite a life. I loved the book so much that I was a bit obsessed and was recommending it to anyone and everyone. OK, so where is this going? Well about a year ago I was talking with my friend, Sean, and he told me about work that his father, Mark, is doing with a certain women's shelter in India. I immediately wanted to go and volunteer and do anything really: help with construction, work in the kitchen, work with the girls. I was ecstatic when the priest, Father Francis, affiliated with the Mercy Home welcomed me with open arms. Everything just felt right. It has taken me longer than I expected, about a year, to make it to the Mercy Home, but the timing is perfect. I was planning on coming alone but when my friend, Trinea, wanted to join me I was glad to have the company (and now, being here, I am so grateful to have someone to talk to, laugh with, and simply not feel alone is such a far away place).

So we are finally here! It is not at all what I expected but it is wonderful. We live with the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in our own little room on the roof. The sisters, seven in total, that compassionately run the Mercy Home have dedicated their lives to helping these girls. They receive no direct funding from the Catholic Church...just what some sisters earn while working outside the convent as teachers/nurses and donations from the surrounding community and abroad. We do our best to help with the students, aka "the girls," as much as we can - we usually help with English and we also teach songs and dances. There are over 70 women/girls here that are either physically or mentally disabled, or both. Most have been brought here by families who are unable to take care of them. The families from the villages are either at or below the poverty line and most are unable to take care of a disabled child. There is also a common belief that these disabilities are hereditary which causes major problems for the family. The children are married off in succession, with the parents deciding the future spouse, so families with one disabled child often have trouble arranging marriages for their other children.

When we first arrived at the Mercy Home we were received with big hugs, flowers, gifts and even a little musical performance. We sat down for a nice meal, took a tour of the facilities and met all of the girls. It was a bit overwhelming but heartwarming to say hello to each girl and get a nice, big hug or handshake. I was taken aback at the age range of the girls...from 13 to 80! Because they are always described as girls, I guess that was what I was expecting but not all of them were brought as children. Some of the middle-aged women have no physical disability and look like someone you would meet on the street. It wasn't until I spoke to them that I realized they weren't totally present, mentally. I don't know all of their stories but the sisters have told us a few; one woman was engaged to be married but she had some kind of breakdown when the husband-to-be called it off, another had studied computer science and had worked in the outside world...I still don't know what happened to cause her to come here.

And what, ultimately, is the reason that I came? Basically, I am here to take part in the good work being done at the Mercy Home and to share that experience with other people, with you, in the hopes of bringing awareness to the needs in this country and, specifically, the needs of the Mercy Home. There are a lot of projects going on, which I will write more about later, and there is a sense of concern, of hope, and of faith for the fate of these girls.

I'll be putting pictures on a web album so feel free to check that. If you would like to see some videos and get more information about the Mercy Home Foundation please click here.