INDIA MY HOME/MY NEIGHBORHOOD

Linda Mary Liotino

I live in the home of Franco Joseph and his son Mario who is 17 years old.  The first thing you are aware of as you enter the modest home is it is dedicated to God.  The center of the home the living room has a alter dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, St. Anthony, honoring the Mother of God, and St. Joseph.  There is also a homemade Grotto for Our Lady of the Rosary made by Franco, a Crucifix, bible and several prayer books.  I bought with me two status of Mama one Our Lady of Mt Carmel and Immaculate Heart of Mama, which are now apart of the family alter.  I have a small private alter in my room, where I can pray quietly by myself, which has my crucifix, Liturgy of Hours and a bless picture of Mama given to me by Franco, my dear St. Theresa and a painting of Our Lord’s face done by my friend in Canada.  There is a peace that is prevalent in our home and the presences of Our Lord is felt for the home was bless by the local priest several months ago. 
The kitchen is Franco’s sole domain where he prepares all the meals and makes tea, which is served three to four times a day.  The food is rice based with side dishes of meat, eggs, variety of sauces for the rice and dipping.  Spices are central to the cooking of Indian food.  I not being use to the spices especially curry sent my tummy to flip flops for several days and I basically ate soup and rice.  I am now gradually incorporating the spices into my diet in small doses and I am finally tolerating it well.
My new home is full of life, love, laughter, and joy.  With a teenager in the home music is playing or the game system on, or the watching of sports especially Cricket, which at the present India is doing well however, I wish I could say I have a understanding of the game.  Mario is a very bright with a joyful and loving heart.  He has a great sense of humor and we are getting to know one another.  Father and son who have been bachelors for some six years since the passing of Franco’s wife and Mario’s mother have a a bond of shared love, mutual respect and playfulness between them both.  It is beautiful to witness this relationship of a father and son a blessing for me.
Outside the home are steps leading to a roof top terrace.  It is there I can get a panoramic view of the neighborhood.  Every morning weather permitting I walk around for an hour while Mario sleeps and Franco is off on his jog.  It is at this time I hear the music of praise coming from the Hindu Temple and the chiming of bells calling one to prayer.  Indian woman are up early and the first thing they can be seen doing is cleaning the front walk of their home sweeping and washing it this signifies that there is someone living in that particular house.  If the home is a Hindu home a drawing is also on the walkway.
Although the temperatures are in the mid nineties for the most part I am tolerating the heat surprisingly well.  However, with that being said the too often electrical outages can be not only be a nuisance but also make one feel miserable.  Living in a totally different country and culture is not an easy undertaking.  To be honest I thought the transition would just fall into place with little or no effort on my part it was/is an unrealistic ideology.  I have allot to learn and it is only by putting one foot in front of another daily taking those baby steps slowly and assuredly will I be ready to be an instrument God can use.  I liken what is happening to this anyone can buy an apple and eat it but it is when one is required to climb the tree to pluck the apple then one truly understands the climb is not easy with pitfalls hampering the climb to pluck the apple.  It is the same for me on this journey the road is neither smooth or straight but I am willing to go through the hardships to be God’s instrument.  I must make it clear that I am in a learning process and getting use too everything.  The dynamics and complications to helping the children is far stretching and it is not easy to just say that I want to scoop up [rescue children].  This subject will be covered in depth in another Blog.
India is like any another country with all its beauty in all its faults.  I have learned one cannot look at things in half truths because it is only in living can one experience reality.  I am secure in my decision to come to India and I want to see this journey to its end.
If I am to leave you with one thought whatever undertaking you are willing to take be prepared know as much as you can about that which you seek to do then do it remembering that the decision comes with a price and the price may be death and are you willing to pay the price.
May the Heart of Jesus and Mary Bless You!                

Copyright 2009 Linda Mary Liotino

9/17/09