'Will Mother Visit Our Homes?'
15 May, 2001, Amritapuri
|
The leaders of the villages Mother is adopting in Gujarat
made the long train journey to southern Kerala just in time
to see their new Mother before Her departure for the US Tour.
They were on a mission:
|
 |
Representing the people of the villages where Mother is helping
reconstruct homes, schools, churches, temples, mosques and clinics,
these men of the earthquake-devastated Bhuj area of the north-west
corner of India came to Amritapuri on Tuesday, 15 May, to extend
a personal invitation to Amma.
|
As each man approached Mother for darshan, his question -
translated by Brahmachari Sadashiva, one of Amma's children
who had arrived first on the scene last January - was the
same: "Will Mother please come visit our villages?"
|
 |
|
Smiling warmly, rubbing the speaker's chest just over his
heart, and then perhaps grasping his prayerful hands in Her
own two Hands, Mother gave each the same basic reply: "When
the reconstruction is finished, Mother will try to come for
the opening ceremonies." This would be a special prasad
for these new children; something rare and beautiful would
grace their shattered homeland.
|
 |
|
After their darshan, since Mother had told them to sit near
Her for some time, the men gathered on the floor to the right
of Her bench. They were sarpanches and other village leaders
and one swami. This swami's school, serving the local children,
had been completely flattened by the earthquake, but not a
single child had been killed!
|
 |
|
They spoke of the work going on now at home, saying that
they were very grateful that it was Mother's offer for adoption
that they had accepted, for it is only Her people who had
already launched so fully into the construction work. Others
were awaiting the Government's promised contribution of 50%
of costs. As is generally the case, government action gets
under way slowly, with so many bureaucratic steps to be taken
first. In Mother's world, Her decision to act is the first
step and action itself is the second.
|
 |
|
Construction materials had begun to be shipped north even
before building permits were granted. Last March, sitting
on his cot in the tiny hut that serves as home and office
for the four or five men who have been in the area since the
disaster struck, Brahmachari Abhayamrita had said, "Why
wait for paperwork and only then get the materials? We can
truck them up here now and the minute permission comes we
can start to build."
|
 |
This is the understanding of needs and the commitment to action
that characterises Mother's children's relief work everywhere. And
this is why the people of Her adopted villages are so satisfied
with their choice. There is more to why they are satisfied, of course.
As they discussed when they made the choice, they believe that the
land itself will be made holy if Amma sets Her Foot there. Now they
have reason to hope that that day will come!
|
Archives 
