It is a good facility. The whole surroundings are dotted with
greeneries. And, it is clean almost sterile to a point. I would say it is
better than some Government Facilities. Most importantly, the patients
both adults and children are well looked after by the medical staff and
personnel. The resident management is the Missionaries of the Poor.
The Missionaries of the Poor are based in Jamaica. And the
missionaries come from different parts of the globe.
Last January, they had help from a twenty-people-team from
Sydney, Australia: The Maronites. They stayed for a two-week-mission.
I interviewed the leader of the team, George Nasr. He told me
about their noble cause. The Charity Mission was founded in 2012 by eight
people and it more than doubled as of the present. The volunteers are estimated
to be about five hundred people. It is a privately funded pursuit and a
non-profit organization.
They have missions in Lebanon, Iraq, India, The Philippines, and
in their home country, Australia. They have varied projects for each country
for instance in Iraq they constructed a playground.
In the City of Naga, they focused on five major aspects in their
extensive and intensive mission. They conducted medical, dental,
constructions, food packs, and logistical supplies. At the Nazareth Preparatory
School being managed by the Missionaries of the Poor, they helped with a
multi-sensory therapeutic facility for children with disabilities.
When I observed the mission, the volunteers were busy feeding the
children. They also helped the apostolate of Occupational Therapists who assist
full-time the children and adults with disabilities.
Mister Nasr was proud to report that one of their success stories
is the patient Bernardo (not his real name), a nine-year-old boy at the start
of the therapy who was caged due to being out of control. After patient,
loving, and intensive medical support by way of medicines and chemicals and
therapy, Nasr shared that he is now free to roam around with supervision.
I wanted to see Bernardo to check up on him. I approached and was
assisted by a lady volunteer. She helped me locate Bernardo. She told me now he
is twelve years old. I saw Bernardo with a male volunteer. He seems perfectly
happy to me. I mean to qualify it I saw no need for him to be in solitary
confinement anymore. He may be playful and uttering indistinguishable sounds
but it is okay. I even gave him a pat on the head. But of course he needs
supervision still and looking at it from a practical viewpoint that is much
better than being in a cage.
I saw a glimmer of hope and happiness in his eyes. I am impressed.
Indeed, he is a success story.
Talking about logistic supplies the mission provided extra
mattresses among other things.
The Maronites are determined with their noble cause and
conviction. They do not have any plans of stopping rather they want to expand
and do more. They want to continue spreading love around the world. Nasr
further explained how much gratitude most of the volunteers feel after seeing
the people they helped. They appreciate their blessings all the more and the
little things that are taken for granted like water and electricity are seen in
a new light with humility and significance. Their value is priceless.
On the home front, in Queensland, Brisbane, and other places in
Australia: they also helped the needy. True enough Charity begins at home.
To be able to raise funds to finance their programs they sell
tickets for a charity dinner for around seven hundred
guests annually. It has auctions and raffles to further increase
monetary support. They love doing charity. Nasr shared that it changes the
lives of the volunteers for the good and the impact that they have in
their projects are heavenly.
Nasr added that there are also anonymous donations to help their
Charity Organization. He emphasized that what they are doing are not just for
the needy but the worthwhile time and efforts by the volunteers help them grow
spiritually and drive their loving hearts closer to their purpose which is to
help change the world.
It was a team effort from different nations; Bangladesh,
Australia, and Jamaica to name a few, and together with the Filipino hosts,
observers, and volunteers.
Heartwarming, touching, and inspiring, I am lost for words though
I should not, wordsmith that I am it made me realize the commonalities
that we do have as human beings. Working together in harmony instead of
focusing on the differences that only make the whole world polarized.
Hope, Faith, and Love; these virtues I felt working actively as
the two Charity Missions work shoulder to shoulder to give, to teach, to build,
to help, to feed, to educate, to make one place a little better in The City of
Naga.
Their world-wide missions are worthy of high respect and
recognition when amidst the hardships, pains, and, sufferings in the world
today, there are people who talk the talk and walk the walk. They are not only
dreamers but doers.
To ask you a question now, were you aware that The Missionaries of
the Poor and The Maronites even exist?
To be honest, I only see the van and the truck of the Missionaries
of the Poor. I was able to converse with an African Missionary at the grounds
of the Basilica. Other than that I know nothing more.
The Maronites? I did not know about them at all. Now that I do
know that they exist I am glad and grateful because I see the Altruism in the
world working its goodness silently but forcefully. Aren’t you glad and feel
the same way?
If only Charity Organizations like these would multiply and
flourish, perhaps the world would be a more wonderful world.
May you be inspired by the Holy Spirit and God Bless!
-bob
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