The Red Room editors have featured
a new podcast on the homepage
this week. My fellow Red Room
author Judy Jones interviewed me not
long ago, along with her co-host, Christina Blodgett.
I hope you enjoy it! .........Dr. Maya Angelou
Click on Player Below to Enjoy Interview!!
The Poorest of the Poor
by Judy Jones
from
'Catholic Voices in a World on Fire'
Anthology
A copy of the book is in the
Blessed Mother Teresa Center; Rome, Italy
Complete Article; 'The Poorest of the Poor'
may be purchased at:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback_book/catholic_voices_in_a_world_on_fire/179794
Washington, D.C. was having one of its worst blizzards. Determined to get to Mother Teresa's house for homeless men and women dying from AIDS, I asked the bus driver to let me know when we got to my stop. "What street is that?" he asked. "I have driven a bus in D.C. for twenty years and have never heard of it." Someone on the back of the bus yelled out, "I know where it is. I'll let you know when we get to your street."
Thank goodness, I thought. Living in California had not prepared me for snow and freezing temperatures. The day before, I had tried to get to Mother Teresa's orphanage for newborn babies located in the Chevy Chase section of Washington D.C. When I asked people on the street for directions, one said defiantly, "We don't have orphanages in our neighborhood." Unfortunately they do and I did find it along with five of the most beautiful newborn babies you have ever seen. Mother believed in small things with great love, not numbers.
Climbing in almost waist-deep snow, the white house at the top of the hill was huge. Perhaps a senator or congressman had once owned it before Mother Teresa made it a home for the dying destitute of Washington D.C. Knocking on the door I was apprehensive. Having only volunteered with homeless men suffering from AIDS in the past, I wasn't prepared for what I was about to see.
"Hello, come in, please," said the Sister at the door. "Will you be able to come every morning this week and help us get the elderly women out of bed and into baths?" "Elderly women?" I asked, thinking the home was only for homeless people with AIDS. "Yes, we have six homeless elderly women and they can't get out of bed by themselves."
As Sister took me downstairs to the basement where the women's beds were, I heard screaming. Walking up to the woman screaming, I said, "Whats wrong, may I help you?" She appeared to be in her nineties, all shriveled and tiny. "Please, please help me up." As I started to lift her she looked into my eyes and in an almost angelic voice said, "I'm as heavy as a sack of bricks!" Laughing I assured her she wasn't quite that heavy.
"We found her in the snow, she was dying." said the Sister. "In the snow?" "Yes, people call and let us know about certain ones dying outside, alone."
"Please help me," a voice etched with pain said behind me. A young woman in her early twenties was sitting on the side of her bed. She was dying of AIDS and was homeless. "Would you please put some cream on my legs, they hurt so badly." Reaching for the cream on the dresser beside her bed, I gently rubbed some on her legs. "Oh thank you, God bless you," she said. Her name was Rose.
by Judy Joy Jones
Complete Article; 'The Poorest of the Poor'
may be purchased at:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback_book/catholic_voices_in_a_world_on_fire/179794
The Poorest of the Poor
by Judy Jones
from
'Catholic Voices in a World on Fire'
Anthology
A copy of the book is in the
Blessed Mother Teresa Center; Rome, Italy
"Catholic Voices in a World on Fire'
Complete Article; 'The Poorest of the Poor'
may be purchased at:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback_book/catholic_voices_in_a_world_on_fire/179794
