Growing up in a sheltered lifestyle, not worrying about were my next meal would arrive from, or whether if I was going to live throughout the night was never on my mind until I learned from the experiences of the people throughout my missionary trip in India. It was an unforgettable experience that altered my life, and left a lasting impression on me. I had volunteered at a psychiatric housing home which housed over hundred plus people who were all mental ill.
My missionary group and I had spent a month living with the patients, assisting them in any way possible, but most importantly seeing their point of view on life through their eyes. The minute I stepped foot into the psychiatric household, it was not surrounded by steel gates, or guards but instead music filled the room, and laughter lingered in the air. Before I even put my stuff down the patients grabbed my hands, and pulled me into their dancing circle. They twirled and twirled as they laughed to one another as if it was some secret language for them.
For me this was the greatest treasure the world could offer, and I wish millions of people could see what I saw. I wanted to learn about each and everyone’s life and listen to their untold stories. It was a rough time trying to ask patients to open up because either it brought back horrifying memories for them or they don’t remember who they used to be. I was fortunate enough to talk to a young man named Rajesh, he was nineteen years old, and had been at the household for about 6 years. It hurt so bad to hear his story mainly because he did not remember what had actually happened.
In his eyes his family never abandoned him, and that he always say they are coming to visit him but has to cancel because something important always come up. In his heart his family is everything to him, for six years straight he never forgot about his family or once failed to acknowledge them. A priest runs this sanctuary so I had asked him about his family and he told me that his family dropped him off when he was young saying that they had other responsibilities and it was too much to handle but also promised the priest they would come see him as often as possible.
Then the priest told me they never looked back, after that day they never came back or answered their phone calls but Rajesh always waited for them. The minute I heard that I thought to myself, who would have the heart to abandon their own children and never look back and all they ever did was love and respect you. They may be mentally ill, but they have so much love to give but instead people tossed them out like garbage. I felt so useless; I could do nothing but break down in front of them.
Everyone there was thrown out of their houses for being different, for being not what society accepts. All I could do was listen to them, and that’s all they ever wanted they wanted someone to hear them, they wanted a voice because our world is so conceded in helping useless objectives that the voices of the many sound like whispers. In all honest this missionary trip did change me because they people I met lived a life of laughter and faith to cover up the unforgettable pain they have within.
This trip gave me a new perspective on my family life; I have taken my whole family for regret. When I was going through depression and PTSD my mom was there for me every single day, and never told me that I was useless but understood what I was going through. Everything that has happened in my life, from taking my parents for granted, every meal wasted, useless money wasted, lying to my parents, and even just partying around all crashed before my eyes after meeting people who would love to just be accepted by the world or their families.
Overall, this missionary trip was an eye opening experience because I want the world to hear the story of those who were neglects, sick, abandoned and rejected because they were different. My grandfather would always say, “Those who suffer on earth we cherish the kingdom of happiness. ” Even though the people threw their children away for being mentally ill, doesn’t mean that they didn’t find happiness, but they also created a family were only they can truly understand what it feels like to be each other.
