lunedì 3 giugno 2013

Working hard is a great value

Our disabled boy Kimani always says in Italian: "chi non lavora, non mangia" (whoever doesn't work, must not eat).

That is a wonderful truth.
To me, this sentence is also a program of life, which goes together with my vow of poverty. Living in Africa for many years, I am aware that many people are much more poor than me, although they have no vow of poverty.
Somebody sometimes told me: "you make the vow of poverty, and we live it!"
There is a lot of painful truth in that sentence.
So, where do I find my consistency when I say that I am poor?
First of all I believe it is in working hard.
Our rules as Cottolengo Brothers state it very clearly: "the brothers must eat the bread they earn every day through the work of their hands".





The hard working conditions we have in Chaaria, where I am on duty seven days a week, and I am on call every single night of the year, are exactly what makes me poor: I am poor because I am working as the working class, because i cannot afford a doctor relieving me at night or during the week end.
I believe that a religious person who does very little during the day cannot be a good example to the people and betrays non only the commandment of love, but also the vow of poverty.
How could a poor employee stay without going to job? He would not be able to provide for his family!
When I am working nearly 24 hours a day for 7 days a week, I am not ashamed of having an ultrasound machine, a gastroscope, a laptop or even a car taking me to Meru for continuous medical development: the people will still know that I am for them completely, that I am with
them and somehow I am like them. If i were a rich fellow, i would not bear the lifestile of Chaaria: I would be a boss just commanding!
Hard working is a central testimony for me as a religious missionary.
I may be late for prayer sometimes, but, if I have dedicated myself to the others until my energy is totally finished, the people will still believe that I am a good missionary.
On the other hand, if I am never late for prayer, but I do nothing for the others, nobody will be attracted by the Gospel i wanto to preach.
In conclusion, I can say that I always eat without fear of stealing my bread, because normally I work from dawn until very late at night.

Bro Beppe


Nessun commento:


Chaaria è un sogno da realizzare giorno per giorno.

Un luogo in cui vorrei che tutti i poveri e gli ammalati venissero accolti e curati.

Vorrei poter fare di più per questa gente, che non ha nulla e soffre per malattie facilmente curabili, se solo ci fossero i mezzi.

Vorrei smetterla di dire “vai altrove, perché non possiamo curarti”.

Anche perché andare altrove, qui, vuol dire aggiungere altra fatica, altro sudore, altro dolore, per uomini, donne e bambini che hanno già camminato per giorni interi.

E poi, andare dove?

Gli ospedali pubblici hanno poche medicine, quelli privati sono troppo costosi.

Ecco perché penso, ostinatamente, che il nostro ospedale sia un segno di speranza per questa gente. Non ci sarà tutto, ma facciamo il possibile. Anzi, l’impossibile.

Quello che mi muove, che ci muove, è la carità verso l’altro, verso tutti. Nessuno escluso.

Gesù ci ha detto di essere presenti nel più piccolo e nel più diseredato.

Questo è quello che facciamo, ogni giorno.


Fratel Beppe Gaido


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