Among the few that inspired Anna and me since we embarked in 1983 on a journey to spend our professional years with children with special needs, Sister Mary Theodore of MITHRA stands out. Sister Theodore was the first professional person we met when we relocated ourselves in 1983 to begin the ASHIRVAD initiative to establish the Child Development and research Centre. She warmly welcomed us and invited me to be at a consultant to help in the diagnostic evaluation of children at MITHRA, which I did for the next five years.
Sister Theodore passed away about a year back and this book, God’Donkey is a tribute to her. She had a picture of Jesus on a donkey in her office and she truly conveyed that humility and generosity in all that she did and planned. The rehabilitation centre then had over 100 children in its training programme and half of them staying in the campus. Now it is one of the largest rehabilitation centres for children in south india.
There were several ways Sister Theodore encouraged us. She visited us to share meals with us, provided encouragement to continue the activities of ASHIRVAD even during difficult times, offered us a place to stay at MITHRA when it took a while for us to find a house, and gave spiritual nourishment when we were weary with demands of work. She was humorous, caring, affirming and self-giving. It was she offered to buy our car when we were moving out of Vellore by offering to pay more than we expected.
There are exceptional women and men who follow God’s calling passionately. Anna and I are thankful for our privilege to have known Sister Theodore for over thirty years. Although since we left Chennai, we had less contacts with her, we often refreshed ourselves with many pleasant memories of her.
From Australia to Chennai was a big change for her and in her forty years of life in Chennai, she touched many lives with Christ’s love.
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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