The loving sisters as caretakers

Kunjammachi

When I first entered the Balikagram I was greeted by an elderly sister who was lovingly called Kunjammachi by everyone there. She was well into her eighties but was probably one of the most active persons in the Balikagram. As the kids sang for me on the first night, she was there enjoying and giving instructions to the kids. I met her again the next day when she was leading the morning prayers. She told me a many stories about the life of miracles in the Balikagram, as well as about the other mission centers like the one in Kalahandi, Orissa where she related a touching incident when Mar Osthathios had visited the place and seen the starvation and poverty of the people first hand and having seen how difficult it is to get anyone from the Church to come and live there, gave instruction to the priest there - "Whatever happens, you are never to forsake these people here and leave"


Sister Elsa

Sister Christina

Also I met Sister Elsa, who it turned out, belonged to the same home parish as me in Kodumon and our families knew each other. She and Sister Christina along with the manager Sister Elizabeth who was in Kerala at the time, were the ones who had taught the children the beautiful Malayalam songs which they sing so much better than born Malayalees! Sister Elsa was a lively and bubbly person always up with a joke or a witty statement and she had many incidents of God's providence in the Balikagram to share with. I was blessed to spend some time with these people of God after the morning prayers that day.