All eyes were on Sister Norin’s face. If she accepted Jessica’s request the people above would question her. If she did not give an answer, Jessica would be disappointed. Moment of tension continued. How long could she keep quiet? She had to fulfill her responsibility to God. Sister Carmel closed her eyes and prayed. Sister Norin was standing on a ship caught in a storm in the ocean. Her mind should have the courage, hope and determination to control the ship. Sister Carmel prayed God to give her strength to face the situation.
Taking into account everyone’s feelings, Sister Norin said. “I approve your request. But I need the permission of the church authorities. Sister Carmel and myself will try to get it.” All of them stood up and applauded. Jessica ran towards Sister Norin and embraced her happily. The Sister returned to her seat. Sister Carmel congratulated her. “God will help us to overcome the crisis. Let us pray.”
Her words relieved sister Norin.
“God’s will should be carried out. That was all that Sister Carmel wished. “They could do much for the uplift of the prostitutes in many countries with the help of voluntary organizations. The major problem in most of the places was the lack of funds. Sister thought that Jessica decided to give a huge amount as donation because of her own heartfelt prayer. In many countries women are tormented sexually. There was no need to complaint about lack of money any more.
People working in many other fields can follow her example. It was God himself who had brought her here. May this name be glorified!
Jessica told the audience. “I invite all of you to Brazil and Mexico. If any one of you wish to go to Columbia or other countries, I shall help you. Our slogan is the “liberation of women.” Let us move forward together. I will be returning to Marico tomorrow morning. I wish you all good luck and happiness.”
Everyone applauded and cheered her.
In sister Carmel’s room Sister Norin, Merlin, Fatima and Jessica joined together. Everybody was happy. But sister Carmel’s face was dim. Jessica had stepped into a different world. No one knew what the response of her gang would be. Her service was required in countries including America. The Sister wanted to talk with her about it. Sister Norin thanked Jessica for all kinds of help she had rendered and promised. Somebody was walking through the corridor talking. Jessica was familiar with the narrow lanes and street lights of many countries like America.
Sister Carmel had dedicated herself to the empowerment of women. Moreover she was the self-made ambassador of the attempt to eliminate prostitution. So she decided to put forward a heartfelt request.
Sister Carmel handed over a letter to Jessica appointing her as the world ambassador of the Ladies Care Homes.
Jessica accepted this new title with delight. She declared. “I will never forget my duty and responsibility. I believe that God has found me out for this work. That was why God sent the Sister to me. I consider this position as the greatest honour and gift that I have received in my life. In the past I had been the ambassador of a perfume company in Paris. That was a status of aroma. I will change the stench of prostitution to that fragrance. I am willing to shed my blood and even to become a martyr for the sake of those sisters who lead a perplexed life, being discarded by society. But I am not ready to die at the hands of those barbarians who had ruined my life. They will never be able to run my blood either in Mexico or Brazil. They too know that. So I intend to establish Care Home in these two countries.” Jessica concluded like a philosopher.
Sister Carmel said.
“My dear daughter, to us what is important is your safety, not blood. So you have to be the ambassador for these two countries only. In other nations including America, there are charitable organizations under the church. There are also many men and women as inmates. So you need not worry about these. What is required is our faith, sacrifice and dedication” Sister Carmel encouraged her.
Sister Norin said:
“The duty that God has given to us is to give life to those who have already died in sin. Each of us is the grape and grape wine of this world. You have to remember only St. Francis. What was the wrong he committed? As a young man, he, Francisco Bernardo, gave his father’s gold coins to a priest to rebuild a ruined church. When his father knew about it he got extremely angry. He filed a case against his son deciding that he would never give his wealth to him. When Francisco was summoned to the court to face the trial, he took off the clothes that he was wearing and placed them before the Judge. He said. “I do not want to increase this wealth and become a richer person. I narrate this incident for the benefit of Jessica and Fatima. Both of them thanked Sister Norin.
Jessica wrote down the bank account number, sort code, etc. of the ladies Care Home. Merlin took a file from the shelf and showed her the letter from the Bardays Bank. Jessica switched on her expensive mobile and transferred one lakh UK pounds from her account to that of the care home.
Sister Norin’s face became bright. Jessica felt that a soldier had woken up in her mind too. Now her duty is to lead herself forward. Her decision was to start Ladies Care Home in the two countries in the same model. As soon as she reached there she would being the work. She thanked Sister Norin.
In the morning there was light rain. Rain drops dribbled among the leaves in the field. A blue plastic cover fluttered in the wind. A middle-aged inmate was ill while eating breakfast in the morning. She felt suffocation and began to vomit. Sister Carmel and Jessica took her to the treatment room and examined her. Sister could not find anything especially wrong with her. By then Dr. Sister Norin and Merlin came. They thought that it was some illness caused by indigestion. Sister Carmel said something about the patient to Sister Norin and came out.
Jessica had already made a good relationship with the inmates of the Ladies Care Home. She bade farewell to everyone. Sister Carmel promised to meet ‘her at the time of the inauguration of the new Care Homes.
Jessica was fond of reading books on advanced subjects, giving new information. She suggested to Sister Carmel some new additions to the Care Home library. She claimed that there is not only love and infatuation but also revolution in books. All the great authors write about virtue and against vices. There should be sense and soul in our institutions.
They reached the airport. Sister Carmel and Jessica hugged and kissed each other and said good-bye.
The Sister returned to the Care Home. She was surprised to see a police vehicle in front of the Home.
(Cont’d)
