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Exposure Journey with De-addicted Children in Nuzvid

Br. Andrew Thomas OFM

Buber says “All Journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” My journey in my exposure program began with an oblivious mindset due to the rise of the covid. Fortunately or unfortunately there are secret destinations in life which take place without one being aware of them. This is what happened to me in the journey of my exposure program. I was curious to begin my exposure program in the Nuzvid with the Salesian, so but I took this step and responded to the call of God with confidence and mercy of God. My director Fr. Ratna explained to me the program of the entire year in Nuzvid where I have to look after De -addicted boys. It was an enriching and challenging experience for me in my life as a friar minor. I was helped in my growth as a friar minor during the journey of my exposure program with the DE-Addicted children. I had spent one year recalling all the vivid memories of the various experiences that I have had. I still remember how hesitant I was as I was not accustomed to this sort of ministry because it was an altogether new experience for me being with the DE-addicted children. I remember the beginning of my encounter with the DE-addicted boys in Nuzvid for one or two months. It was difficult and challenging for me to accustom myself to this life being with the boys. I recalled the words of our minister provincial Br. Praveen in one of his talks where he states that: “we don’t grow when things are too easy; we grow when we face the challenges in life.” I personally do remember having fraternal meetings and sharing with the staff of the Nava Jeevan Bala Bhavan which had strengthened me and enriched me to move forward with the ministry which was entrusted to me.

I recollect being with the De-addicted boys in Nuzvid and mingling with them on various occasions as a watchman, a guardian, a warden and all the more as little brother to them. I think of those tensed filled moments of being with the De-addicted boys. There were times when I lost my patience with the boys due to their being inactive. In the beginning, I was very soft with them in my dealings. Later on, the staff told me to be a little hard with the boys. Being in this situation I learned to handle the boys. No matter what the situation was, I have always been sincere In my love for the boys and have ever prayed for them. I have also, along with two sisters in Nuzvid had the honour of helping the Nava jeevan Vimukthi community. They were Sr. Santhiya and Sr. Suseela in Nuzvid. My involvement in the work was maintaining the registers of the house; marketing, computer typing work; preparing the monthly meeting reports; conducting the prayers and Yoga for the boys; taking care of the de-addicted boys, and mainlining the house accounts and budgets. I have had the greatest opportunities of interacting and exchanging fraternal values about life with the priests, sisters and the boys.

At the beginning of my exposure, there were 7 to 8 boys in the center. As the days were passing by the boys kept reducing due to the rise of the covid. Without accompany of the boys, I felt my experience in the centre was bitter. Thus was due to my attachment to them and the rapport which had built up with them. And what is more I remember all the heartfelt experiences and conversations that have taken place between the boys, the , the staff of the Nava Jeevan Family, the sisters and in the locality around the campus.

As I look back at my exposure journey with the DE-addicted children it ranged from a challenging experience to a blessing every way. In the beginning, I thought I could not make but it has been possible due to the support of the regency director Br. John Shekar through his continuous support and encouragement and accompaniment in the exposure journey with the DE-addicted children in Nuzvid. At the end of my exposure journey I felt was it has been a real blessing to have an opportunity to work with the Salesians with the DE-addicted children, it helped me in my Franciscan vocation as a friar minor in the order of the friars minor.

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