FINDING HOPE
Gina Basile
Gina, a young Madonna reader, took time out to work with orphans in Thailand. ‘My experience’, she says, ‘has revealed to me the value of such a publication, whether one is working in rural Thailand or living a busy city life in Australia.’
The year 2002 was a time for dedicating my life to the Lord. Having been involved in various volunteer works for numerous years, I felt I had a calling to go one step further.
I decided to dedicate my time and gifts to a Catholic mission in Thailand, where I lived in an orphanage which provided support for children whose parents had died of AIDS, many infected by HIV themselves. In Thailand, over one million people suffer from HIV/AIDS. The disease affects both children and adults, the children often disowned and adults commonly ostracised by their family and community.
The Redemptorist mission, headed by Fr Shea, houses over 80 toddlers and boys and girls up to 15 years of age. It can be found in a tiny rural village situated along the stunning Mekhong River. The landscape is green, with the surrounding tobacco, rice and fish farms making a beautiful tranquil scene. In a country that consists of 95 per cent Buddhists, Viengkhuk has a small but devoted Catholic community.
Mass was always held first thing in the morning to beat the oppressive heat. The congregation prayed in a modest church found at the local Catholic school, only a stone’s throw from the river. The church bells chimed without fail before each Mass and a multitude of little sandals, belonging to the mission children, soon piled up outside the front entrance.
The format of the Mass in Thailand was similar to that in Australia; however, not all the churches within this region had modern facilities. Some churches were without the luxury of seats. Others celebrated the Eucharist underneath the verandah of a farmhouse. As in many developing countries, the incredible faith of the poorest of poor is an amazing thing to see, feel and experience.
One of the challenges I faced was the difficulty in following the Mass in a foreign language. In Australia, I relied on regular attendance at Mass to strengthen my faith and relate the Word of God to my daily life. This source of support was suddenly restricted in Thailand. Madonna helped to fill that gap. Each day I spent time in prayer guided by the daily readings and reflections provided in Madonna. It was a great source of spiritual food and encouragement.
As a foreigner in Thailand, I was continually faced with the challenges of cultural change, as well coping with the suffering of the poor and sick around me. At times I felt isolated and lost, but the Word of God reassured me that I was not alone.
The church on the mission also proved to be a safe refuge. It was a place of silence and deep prayer where I could discover and discern the movements inside me. I was able to open up to the Lord and discuss, as one does with a friend, the things that were happening. Through these meditations, I came to an understanding that my role as a volunteer called for me to be open, accepting and Christlike in my loving. The Gospel stirred me, and in response I was able to go out and touch the lives of the children by sharing myself and meeting them in love.
In return, I discovered that the children had a profound way of touching the hearts of everybody they met. Despite their hardships, they were full of laughter and enthusiasm for life. What a gift from God these children truly are!
Living on the mission taught me about the sense of hope that one can find being in an environment of love, care and prayer. I thank God for this incredibly humbling experience, where this group of 80 orphaned children has taught me so much about life and, most importantly, love.
