The little girl in the red blouse is Nuna. She lives in Nongkhai Thailand at Sarnelli House for abandoned children and children affected with HIV/AIDS. Nuna’s condition, due to AIDS, has made her blind and deaf with a malformed lower body and extremities. Her hands are often wrapped to prevent biting/gnawing of her fingers. She responds with a joyful smile upon hearing the sound of the other toddlers playing and responds most clearly and happily to the voice of Fr Mike.
Over the last few years, I have been able to send a small offering in her name. She is my angelic reminder of where Joy and Happiness in this life is to be found.
There are 175 orphaned children under Fr Mike’s care as well as another 75 or so who lived the the ‘Sarnelli Outreach Program’. Many of those in the Sarnelli orphanage live with conditions similar to those of Nuna, albeit most others with sight and hearing but nevertheless a myriad of medical problems they endure … But all with joy and happiness in their hearts from the support given them by Fr Mike, his staff, and of course the sponsors of the children.
Performance art may be either scripted or unscripted, random or carefully orchestrated; spontaneous or otherwise carefully planned with or without audience participation.
Throughout scripture, we can find any number of scripts to any number of scenes in which to pick and practice in life. We do not even have to audition. Free Will, allows us to pick the part we want to play. We do not even have to worry about applause or recognition from others although at some point we will get feedback on our work of art.
“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” (Matt 25:40)
No one has ever returned from the afterlife to tell us what our final judgment will be like, so we can muse a bit. In each of the four gospels there is an account of Peter’s denial of Jesus as Jesus was being questioned by the religious authorities in Jerusalem. Only Luke (22:61) notes that after Peter had denied knowing Jesus for the third time, the Lord, while under arrest, turned and looked at him.
I can image the scene, Jesus giving Peter a silent look and then Peter remembering Jesus’ earlier word that whoever denies me before men will be denied before God’s angels.” Perhaps it was a look of forgiveness and encouragement, …what do you imagine?
The below photo is my good friend Deacon Reggie holding baby angel Nuna. He and his family are returning from a June 2018 visit to Sarnelli. Beyond friendship, Reggie is an inspiration and mentor.
