To celebrate our beloved Master's birthday on May 12, 2005, Panamanian
initiates made their annual visit to the maternity ward of Saint Thomas
Hospital, a government medical facility serving mothers with limited
incomes. Each year, local initiates donate supplies for the Hospital's
newborns, but this year the infants received the largest quantity
ever of baby clothes, diapers, feeding items and other materials.
Due to the Hospital's limited facilities, mothers and babies can
only stay until the noon following the infants' births. And the date
of the initiates' visit happened to be Nurse's Day in Panama so the
nursing staff was especially kind. Other groups had given gifts
earlier to some of the mothers so the initiates supplied gift baskets
to those who had not already received presents.
The sisters enjoyed the experience of giving their first large basket
to a mother who had given birth to a baby girl. When asked to pose
for a picture with her child, the woman quickly took Master's sample
booklet from the basket and put it near her daughter's little head.
This was a great surprise because her action was very sudden yet natural
and it seemed her divine intuition had told her that her baby was
thus being "baptized."
The Maternity Ward was filled with newborns, and the initiates presented
gift bags to each of their mothers individually. It was beautiful
to see the faces of all these innocent little ones emanating light
and purity like stars twinkling in the sky. Moreover their mothers'
faces shone with happiness when they received their gift bags. Next
the fellow practitioners visited another ward with expectant women
who needed special attention because they had infections or diseases.
These women also glowed with joy and gratitude when they received
their gift bags.
That night the initiates again celebrated Master's birth by watching
one of Her 2005 Hungary Retreat video lectures, afterwards sharing
food, cake and beverages and singing "Happy birthday dearest
Master" in Spanish, Chinese and Italian. Everyone felt deep satisfaction
and happiness after having beautifully shared Master's charity with
many needy sisters and their offspring.
Thus the mothers and babies of Saint Thomas Hospital along with Your
disciples in Panama thank You very much dearest Master for the great
love and compassion You continually bestow on us.