I met Br. Emmanuel in Madagascar in 2005. He was a Missionary of Charity Brother from India and ran a homeless shelter. He and other MC brothers welcomed us and asked us to serve thehomeless by distributing rice and soup. It was a simple task, and yet it transformed me to be a man who became compassionate for the poor.
Since then, Br. Emmanuel and I have kept our relationship through letters and e-mails. I organized fundraising races for the children in the homeless shelter by running the Cleveland Marathon. As I sent the donation to his community, he responded with pictures and letters. Through our relationship, I have learned that the world is my home where I could feed my brothers and sisters.
In 2010, I visited Madagascar again as a priest. Br. Emmanuel was there to welcome me as he did five years ago. He showed me his new community and friends with whom I fell in love. I celebrated the Eucharist among the missionaries and the poor. I felt I was at home, doing what I was called to do. I realized poverty and dire situations in Madagascar didn’t change much. Nevertheless, I was hopeful that Br. Emmanuel and the good people like him have lived with the poor as God pitched the tent among us.
I thank God’s people like Br. Emmanuel who has dedicated his whole life to the poor in the foreign country. He is so inspirational that I feel God’s strong arms by being with him and thinking of him. I am praying today to be a follower of Br. Emmanuel someday.
Br. Emmanuel is the thirteenth Christ.