The last days I spend in Calcutta in the Missionaries of Charity, the Mother Teresa foundation, orphanages, old people’s homes, nursing homes, single mother hostels, hospices, and with women – victims of trafficking.
There is so much I want to tell you, but first I will concentrate on Saint Mother Teresa.

Mother Teresa was always my role model, my compass in this world, leading to the right understanding of our mission here, in this world full of contradictions.

I’m so thankful to God that he allowed me to visit this place in Calcutta. Mother Teresa’s home, her private places, sisters, who every day continue the mission, small children and the poorest people, ill people and dying people, who are under their constant care and love.

She lived extremely modestly in a place which is surrounded by absolute poverty.

She had one clothes, weaved by the lepers who are rescued by Missionaries of Charities nuns, one dish, and one shoe, which she has taught other Sisters to prepare.

Mother Teresa took care of the people who were left hopeless.
They were born in places without hope and often were dying on the streets without anyone to hold their hand.
She took care of the abandoned children and gave them love and a future.
She did everything to remain the dignity of every human being.
Those who were dying on the streets were taken, washed, cleaned from the bugs, and surrounded by unconditional love and understanding till their last moments.
She did everything possible to relieve their pain.
When you are surrounded by so much pain and despair, how strong in faith do you have to be to go to the slums every day?

Mother Teresa once said: “The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved.”
“Poverty was not created by God. It is we who have caused it, you and I through our egotism.”

I spoke with those who worked with her and today continue her mission, given by God to be among the poorest of the poor.
They create schools and support the poorest women by creating for them decent work.

To understand Mothers Teresa’s mission,
to understand how extremely important is what the Missionaries of Charity work today, we should all visit Calcutta because that place is beyond any imagination.
The endless landscape of slums was much worse at the time of Mother Teresa, but still, it’s one of the poorest places in the world, where the suffering of people disarm all those who feel equal to judge.

All those who worked with Mother Teresa told me that she never judged anyone. Her unconditional love and understanding were endless.

The quote that shaped my mission and humanitarian work many years ago and become the most important word for me:

“I was once asked why I don’t participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I’ll be there”.
– Mother Teresa

I wrote that text very quickly, at 5 am, but soon I will write and publish much more. I always hope that examples of those who I present on my website and materials, quiet heroes from different parts of the globe, may inspire you to find deep meaning in your life and serve others.

Angelika Jarosławska Sapieha