"Love and Serve"

"Love & Serve" is the motto of Saint Thomas Hospital in Chennai ~ more about this amzing place later!

The day commenced with Rubina (my Australian Nurse colleague) & I going to Assisi Ilam Orphanage & Day Care Center, run by the Franciscan Sisters of Saint Joseph. (Sister Rose is the ever-smiling, cheerful Sister-in-Charge) The orphanage is 3 years old, and was built thru funds raised by children in a Catholic parish in Luxembourg. Assisi House is a bright, well-maintained & cheerful place & the children appear to be very well cared for. The Sisters treat the orphans as "their own" & consider them all siblings. (Some of the oprhans lost both parents in the 2004 Tsunami; another was left at the doorstep of St Thomas Hospital...)

Rubina & I had what appeared to be at first the simple task of taking 2 groups of 5 kids(ages 3-5) each & teach them songs, alphabets, colors, numbers, etc. Clearly, Rubina is the more talented teacher, as 2-3 of "my" kids wandered over to her side of the room! It was a fun & lively experience & 1 kid was able to count to 10 at the end of 2 hours! After the kids ate lunch,
it was nap time for them, so Rubina & I had the pleasantly mindless task of folding laundry!

Later in the afternoon, we went to another orphanage run by the Sisters, called Saint Joseph's Home. We met Sister Backiyam, who started the home 23 years ago; sadly, due to illness, she is confined to her room, but she has a lovely sparkle in her eyes, and smiles brightly. The kids put on a musical performance for us, which was quite lively~ they are a talented bunch, esp the 2 drummers!

In the evening, Rubina & I went to Saint Thomas Hospital (www.stthomashospital.org) Words can not describe this place. Run by the Franciscan Sisters of Saint Joseph, it was started by their Medical Superindent, Sister Rexline, a physician. It was originally a small clinic & dispensary & has evolved over the years into a multi-specialty hospital with many village clinics.

Upon meeting Sister Rexline, who's probably no more than 4'5", you realize that you are in the presence of someone special (she was friends with Mother Teresa & there's a photo of the 2 of them, over Sister's desk) Her colleague, Sister Agnes, a nurse in the operating room, gave us tour of the entire complex..what an amazing place. Can't wait to go back!