After spending eight months in Kolkata (the first four months from August-December 2012 and the last four months from March-June 2013), I have come to learn a lot about myself, my faith, and about my future. At least for the next ten years, my life will be connected to Kolkata until the children are finished with Don Bosco and graduate. That is if we do not sponsor any more children. So as long as we sponsor at least one child each year, my life and work will be here in Kolkata until God say I can rest.

I cannot say if what I do makes any difference; only God knows that. All I know is that I have been given an opportunity to do something and I did not say, “No” to Him. I will probably end up poor and dying poor, but that means some of the children will end up having better lives…I hope and pray. I am not rich by any standard, but running a newly formed non-profit foundation and being a teacher pretty much define my wealth. I am not going to try to convince anyone what I do is right or wrong; only God can make that judgement. For those who have helped me; you have been a blessing from Him.

To say it has been a difficult journey is not correct, but it is not wrong to say either. There has been many challenges and obstacles in the way and many times wanting to just give up completely. But then there has been some rays of hope and good things happened. Along the way, wonderful people have come along to help. However, I have also lost or left many people on this journey and I just pray God will keep keep them safe and loved.

For now, my time in Kolkata has come to an end so this will be my last entry until my return in December. Thank you with all my heart to everyone who has helped in sponsoring, donating supplies, supporting and praying for the children.

In the prayer of Saint Francis, there is a passage that said something like, “where there is despair, I shall bring hope”. Well, for me it seems to be just the opposite. Just when I felt there is hope we will be able to bring all the children into Don Bosco; our hope turned to despair. In the last two weeks, we were able to get paperwork on most of the children and I had planned to bring 10 children in on two different occasions.

Today, I brought 4 children in to Don Bosco so now the total number of children reaches 8 ( 4 boys and 4 girls) for this trip. My hope to bring the rest of the children in next week got steamrolled when the first words out of the director’s mouth were, “We can not accept any more girls, because we don’t have space for them in our homes.” It seems as though a new challenge comes along just when I think it will be smooth sailing. Why do I even think, nor should I even expect this would be easy. To help the poor, should be easy to do, but the reality in helping the poor is far from being easy. Well, I hope someday it will be easy. After all, this is a brand new foundation so what kind of growing pains can be expected? Well, I just need to do what is written in the name of the foundation and that is to have faith, hope, and love to serve the poor and to serve the Lord even when I am suffering and things are not going so well. Nothing is a failure as long as we do our best. Easier said than to believe.