INDIA/USA…RETURNING TO INDIA

Entrusting My Words to the Holy Spirit

Linda Mary Liotino

I am leaving for India on May 2nd for six months because of the Indian Visa Restrictions. I will be happy to return and I look forward to the continuing goals for P.R.E.C.I.O.U.S Mission of Christ. There is just one more hurdle in the daily living of India to experience, which is India Summer in Southern India. It gets extremely hot well past 100 degrees and it plays havoc on the electrical current. I leave here knowing all this and it will be interesting to find out how well I fair.

The time home was a mixed bag of seeing life in America that I was once so very much a part of in my daily living. A SIX MONTH step back from this lifestyle has made me see much clearly. It is easy to get embroiled in the ‘American” away of life and it is when you’re in it you do not know how much of a toll it is on you and so it was with me. It is a mixed bag of blessings and sadness. Being a country that everything is virtually at your finger tips and every modern convenience known to man can be found here comes with a price, for all of these conveniences. We have come to rely on them so much here in the states that when they break down we are in a function deficit until they are fixed. Technology has created the Nuclear Family and within this family are satellites of individual living under one roof. As an example of this I have found that within many families that there can be several people living under one roof such as husband/wife/grown children, grandchildren and perhaps one or more grandparent each having their own room where they watch TV, communicate through their commuters, cell phones and eat their meals. No one sits around a table not even once a week, share a meal, conversation and sadly even holiday gatherings are obsolete. I wish I could say these are isolated cases but alas it is not. Allot of families with children live this isolated existence within the family as I have stated before the child’s room is self contain to meet their needs minus the communication within the family. The child’s life is so self-contained outdoor activities with other children are readily discarded. The child’s life is the video games, cell phone, and computer.

Modern Technology has enable society to pick and choose what they want to read in the news. Print media held sway to the plight of the poor, oppressed, injustices etc. on the front page of the newspaper however, as modern Technology has become so advance it is making the ‘POWER’ of print media’s front page and print media as a communication a dying breed. Modern Technology has made it possible for the mass of society to ignore the plight of the unprotected child and the suffering in general by circumventing these plights by allowing a means to ignore them called pick and choose, which with “Modern Technology” places these plights easily on the back burner out of the sight and heart of most of us by ‘OUR” choice.

Modern Technology is so advance and we want the pleasure of these “things” in our lives that we are held in slavery to them to a point of desperation. This includes over spending on charge cards, working as many hours or jobs is needed to keep these “things” not to mention the slavery of the upkeep. Who suffers for this is us we impose this suffering on ourselves because we cannot do without. Basically many of us live beyond what WE can afford and the mentality keeping up with the JONE’S is still alive and breathing at a greater level then ever.

As Modern Technology grows society loses the human touch of hearts/souls/communication. We will become a society of Virtual friends/ family living a virtual existence. Modern Technology brings to a communication of virtual love, the huggy huggy/kissy kissy mentality. Modern Technology makes it easy for us to hide anything that we do not want seen and it allows for this false sense of who we really are. The question is do we want to live this kind of life and do we want our children to be so much apart of this life style, which should make us shutter to think what the next generation will hold as dear to them remembering these subsequent generations are our grandchildren and great grandchildren etc.

The most important lost would be the communication of the love of Our Lord in a very personal way of love, touch, smile and face to face communication. He instructed the Apostles to go out into the world and preach His Word.

Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me

19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age. “This world for many of us is within our own circle of friends and family. We cannot allow Modern Technology to rule our lives as to lose the human element of face to face encounter of one another.

Modern Technology has its place in Society and has open a venue of reaching many around the world however, it is our responsibility not to overdose on what it lends to our lives and make it the “god” of our journey here on earth. Use Modern Technology wisely but Modern Technology should never replace the face to face communication with one another or replace being vulnerable to one another. We will never experience the true beauty of life as Our Creator bought into being with the creation of Adam in conjunction with the lives around us with us living a VIRTUAL EXCISTANCE.

May the Hearts of Our Blessed Savior and His Mother Bless…YOU!

Copyright 2010 Linda Mary Liotino

http://preciousmission.webs.com/

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INDIA…BABIES HOME

On December 26, 2009 I was very bless to be able to visit St. Thomas Mount, Chennai where I live. The Franciscan Missionaries of Mary Holy Apostles Convent, where the Sisters and laity oversees to the care of about 55 children from infants to about six years old. The children’s part is called the St. Thomas Mount Babies Home.

The Convent sets high on a hill, where I had a breathtaking panoramic view of the city of Chennai. The first thing I notice was the 800 hundred year old Banyan Tree that is close to the entrance way of the Children’s Home. As I walked from the tree there is a statue of Mother Teresa, continuing the walk around the piazza I came to a statue of Pope John Paul II, which is erected where he stood and bless the multitudes in February 1986 and at the end of the piazza Our Lord Crucified with Mother Mary, St John and St. Martha standing below all painted in gold. There is a medal stand to the right where candles are lit for the prayers ascending to the heart of God. There is a chapel near the convent, where two very holy treasures connecting to the biblical era the first being a stone Bleeding Cross that was carved by St. Thomas himself. The last time the cross bled was 60 years ago. Second an original painting of the Holy Mother of God and her Son by St. Luke, which was bought to India by St. Thomas and then a gold painted statue of the Mother of God sitting and pregnant. There is also a Chapel of Eucharist Adoration and before I could step on the very short walk area to the door an attendant asks me to remove my shoes. Once inside there are no pews one kneels on the white marble floor however there is for those unable to kneel brown wicker stools off to the side. The chapel is elegantly understated so my full attention is focused on the body, soul and divinity of God. In the chapel the very presences of God engulfs my heart and soul His austere presences makes leaving hard. Because it was the Christmas Season there was a life size Naivety Scene. It is so special and spiritual to walk where once one of the Apostles of God St. Thomas walk I am so very blessed to have this beautiful experience.

The St. Thomas Mount Babies Home is off the convent courtyard. There is a receiving room where Franco, his son Mario and I were greeted by Sister Theresa who would be our guide throughout the time with the children. We were taken to a room we could not go in but from the doorway see about ten infants peacefully sleeping in medal cribs oblong and a little larger than a carriage. The second room, which I was permitted to go in, there, was about six sleeping small toddlers also in medal cribs. There were two rooms where we were greeted by children ranging in ages about three to six. The children sang, were very curious and friendly. Franco and I had bought dresses for the girls, shorts and tee shirts for the boys, little infant shorts and shirts for the babies along with baby cereal and formula and yes a bag of lolly pops. I interacted with the children distributing the wrapped gifts and lolly pops with Sister’s help. Franco and Mario were capturing this on video as well as still shots. There was this pleasant symphony of sounds that permeated throughout the room from the children. The last room we visited was the music where five children entertained us with several songs. They played various types of drums and cymbals accompanying musical CD’S. They were just awesome and so talented. Their little faces lit up with smiles and their love of playing was seen in their enthusiasm. Everyday the children are taken outside around 4p.m. to a play area where they can run and play. The play area is equipped with playground equipment and a line of walkers for the toddles that yet have their land legs.

This made our Christmas so special to see the joy of these little angels. We received more than we gave. I received the heart and love of these children Thank you God for this gift on your birthday. Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus and it is a time of children…

May the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Bless…YOU!

Picture #1 Sr. Theresa [all in white] and Me along with another Sister.

Picture #2 The children at St. Thomas Mount Babies Home and Me.

Copyright 2010 Linda Mary Liotino

INDIA…MONSOONS 2009
Current mood:  happy
Category: Travel and Places

INDIA…MONSOONS 2009

Linda Mary Liotino

 

Monsoons are coming to an end soon in spite of the clouds being stubborn about leaving due to the sleeping winds that refuse to blow them away.  Fortunately for me I did not have any tasks that required me to stick my nose out the door during the heavy rains.  However, the daily life of an Indian does not give them this same option life has to go on as per usual.  The Indian people who I observe are truly amazing on the handling of life’s difficulties.  They seem to have a resolve and when you look at their faces there are not deep frown lines that usually go with the face of discontent or being depressed from going through difficulties such as Monsoons.  They age gracefully a lot better than those of us with every modern gadget at hand and yet continually in a state of discontent or depression.  

In the Indian Culture shopping for the day’s meals is done daily.  There is no weekly shopping of meats, fruits, vegetables or any other perishable item.  Even bread is bought on as need bases and nothing goes into the freezer but the meat for the day, which is usually chicken.  This way of shopping requires a family member to go to one of the many little shops in the neighborhood, where you can buy just about anything for daily living and the Monsoons do not hinder this.  Dry goods are bought usually on monthly bases.  I found it interesting that milk, oil and salt [to name a few] come in sealed plastic bags.  Eggs are sold individually and wrapped in newspaper as well as things bought at the medical store etc etc.  Rice is sold by the kilo and put in plastic bag as well as sugar.   

I can see from the entrance foyer brightly dressed Indian woman wearing their Saree, with beautifully groomed hair, carrying a colorful umbrella, walking either by themselves or with family and friends chatting.  Whether these women are with someone or not their faces look serene and peaceful as they go about their daily way of life.   

The men are also of the same mindset it would seem by my observation as they walk or ride a two wheeled bike motorized or not.  They too wear colorful traditional Southern India clothing called a Lungi.  It is long and wraps at the waste and is folded down a couple of times to secure it.  The Lungi is ankle length.  The Lungi can be folded upwards in half to knee length and secure loosely in the front.  This halving of the Lungi makes riding any type bike easier, for walking and it keeps it from getting dirty when it rains.  Some men where shorts under the Lungi some wear it a little shorter.  Any shirt one would wear with slacks or jeans is worn with a Lungi.  The tradition of wearing a Lungi is worn by Indian men of all ages.  

One of the milder times of the Monsoon I was observing the neighbors getting to the neighborhood shops before the heavier rains began again and I saw this Kodak moment.   There where two elderly couples on a bike the husband I’ll assume was pedaling while a rather petite woman in a bright red pattern Saree rode on the back of the bike.  As the man held on to the handle bar with his right hand as he pedaled he was holding a black umbrella over his wife and himself with left hand.  The couple look so very precious and man was very gallant it is apparent shivery is alive and well at least with this Indian man.

The children do allot of praying during the Monsoon season for if the rains flood the streets or the rain is heavy and continuous the children get time off from school.  If other households are anything like the Joseph home there may be a teenager somewhat like Mario Joseph who is glued to the local Chennai news looking to see if the school is closed.  As he waits for the hopeful announcement of a school closing he watches the moment to moment happenings of the weather satellite on the internet as he tries to convince his father as well as himself that the clouds are moving in the direction that will make a school closing a reality.     

As I have stated in earlier Blogs the Chennai traffic is a mess on a good day and a dreaded trip into the city because of it.  The Monsoons only make matters worse.  The water is traveled through on any type of vehicle provided the grill of the car is not submerged or the exhaust pipe on a motor bike.  Once the water is too high this requires a diverting of the traffic and guess what this adds to the mess the city is already in…need I say more.  The city is a sea of colorful umbrellas as the pedestrians walk about taking care of their business.  

On the outskirts of Chennai one can see the thatched roof homes of the Nomadic Tribe People covered with blue plastic tarp to keep the rain out.  These thatched roof homes are dilapidated and practically falling down.  A picture also appeared in the Hindi News showing a family sitting in their dwelling on chairs with water up to knees.  The children sat in children size plastic chairs near a table.    

Today we had some short heavy rainfall with thunder and lighting and intermittent sunshine. India I cannot imagine anything drawing me away from her…She and her people sing to my heart.

May the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Bless You.

Copyright 2009 Linda Mary Liotino 

GOD SMILES ON ME

Entrusting My Words to the Holy Spirit

Linda Mary Liotino

Lent is my favorite time of the year I need this time to take a good look at myself and see how God and I are doing.  Since Lent falls just after Christmas with a gap of several weeks it is in that gap I am off kilter I am never sure why but it happens every year. Therefore, Lent is my God sent. Prior to Ash Wednesday at least a week or so I begin to look at what I will be doing extra for Lent and I am usually at least since my conversion follow through with the disciplines I set out to do.
This Lent started out that way but I found my focus on the discipline waned early and I was not even praying as I do throughout the year.  It was like I was on a prayer vacation and with God’s blessings.  I did not feel guilty that I was not doing what I promised.  Our Lord had other plans…

I found that although I speak to Our Lord daily since my conversation, the time together began to broaden through no effort of my own it was just happening.  I was pouring my heart out to Him and I knew I had His attention.  There was an air of love felt and understanding that is beyond anything that in our relationship thus far was felt by me although I am sure it was there.  I stop trying to get back on track with Him in my prayers I guess you can say I went with the flow whether I understood that or not my heart and soul certainly did. 

I am disable and have lived a cloistered life for the last ten years because I exiled my life from the world.  My decisions have not served me well and the best way to guard myself from myself is restrict myself.  I could not forgive myself for the shambles of my life and while forgiving everyone else I forgot to forgive myself.  It dawned on me I needed to forgive myself
and it came after these words from a friend when I told him my disability is reversible “Linda, how long are you going to punish yourself.”  It was in hearing these words that I realized
what I was doing imposing a sentence on myself because I felt I needed to punish myself and had not forgiven myself.
I talk to Our Lord and forgave Linda however, Our Lord was not done with me…

I dependent on a walker for ten years, living homebound, sleeping at a 45 degree angle on my back in a
hospital bed, moving from chair to chair without any exercise, weaken my back and coddled the knees to a stiffness that made mobility practically impossible.  I saw myself wheelchair
bound sooner rather than later.  I had long ceased ever seeing more than that possibility before me, however, Our Lord was going to grant me possibilities.  I
began to have a yearning to do more with my life and it tugged at my heart with fierceness.  It was On ..March 16, 2009.. I made a decision to do something about my situation
and started to do stretches and swing my legs to end the stiffness in my knees, rotate my arms and neck and yes even sit ups all are very low pack versions of
the real thing.  My knees snap and cracked, and my back screamed quit but I could not stop because I was seeing
results in a short time.  I stop using the walker and went to my cane and now while in my apartment not depending on the cane either.  I walk at first in a stiff shuffle and then in a matter of days wow I am walking bending my legs and
in just 13 days I am making amazing progress.  The last two days I have begun sleeping flat and today managed to sleep
on my right side for a short time.  WOW I AM IN A MIRACLE ME LINDA MARY LIOTINO…GOD IS SMILING ON ME!

The scope of my possibilities is endless and my life is coming back to me.  I have many things I want to do…Dreams yet fulfilled and injustices yet to be fought.  Doors are opening and I am going through them.  Our Lord has charge over my life a surrendering I make every morning before my feet hit the floor therefore, I move forth knowing that Our Lord can stop
anything that is not in His will for me.  I was told this morning that is how Mother Teresa saw her journey and all she did.  WOW…Me and the Blessed Mother Teresa thinking the same way…what possibilities can that open up to me…

May The Hearts of Jesus and
Mary bless…you!!!!

Dedicated to…Jesus Christ who granted me a blessed miracle and smiles on me…your the best!

PS…Thank you my Blessed Friend for all your prayers…      

Copyright 2009 Linda MaryLiotino

 

Dear Friends,

My heart full I impart to you these thoughts/truths. Abandoning ourselves to God letting go of our will to His brings freedom to ones heart and soul. We thirst for God and our hearts and soul yearns to travel to living water Jesus Christ. Our will rebels the abandonment of ourselves to God without reserve. The heart and soul thirsts but the actions of the will demand the dryness. I believe that is why we go through this life in disarray, confusion and searching for something. It is until we realize we have allowed the desert to exist in the heart and soul denying it the Living Wellspring that we travel here in a wasteland of search.

Our will knows nothing but to stay in control. It cannot fathom the letting go is freedom. It cannot understand that in this freedom of abandonment to God it is free to move close to God in direction. I believe the problem lies in our inability to trust God completely because we view the failure of trust in our lives to be the same in God. He will fail my trust of Him.

Therefore, we come from a place of “trust issues” that spill over into our relationship with God and our will, which does not want to give up control. So, how do we overcome to strong and driving forces that keep us from abandoning our will to God in total trust? Seek God to show us how by telling Him we entrust our life to Him to take charge of it. It may have to be said several times at the beginning in the course of the day especially when the will seeks to control. At first, these words are just words but as we say them, God blesses these words until they are no longer words but a prayer. Each time they are prayed trust grows stronger and the desire of the will gets weaker.

Mortification frees the soul from every obstacle, which might retard the growth of grace, which might hinder the soul’s love for God and its flight toward Him; whereas prayer, which consists essentially in intimate conversation with God, feeds love and quickens this flight. Divine Intimacy #143 The Living Water

Dear friends, nothing that this world has to offer comes remotely close to true love, joy, peace and happiness than the heart and soul’s total abandonment to God in a intimate union/total immersion without reserve.

Enter in dear child of God He awaits you.

May the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Bless You!

Copyright 2008 Linda Mary Liotino