Mahatma Gandhi once said “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Meet Sister Nicolette Rasquinha, who, as a nurse has been an incredible witness of God’s love to thousands of people at Avedna Ashram, Jaipur. A humble religious blessed with a large heart to love Jesus in the least, the lost and forsaken, Sister Nicolette radiates God’s light to all those who come into contact with her.
Q1. Tell us a little about yourself. How long you have been a religious?
A1. I joined the Mission Sisters of Ajmer in 1968. In these fifty-four years, I have experienced God’s love and mercy in many ways. In my initial years I had the chance of working in many rural settings where I could encounter God in His people and be a part of their life as well.
Q2. Tell us something about Avedna Ashram and your work there.
A2. Avedna Ashram is a 100-bedded hospice that looks after the terminally ill cancer patients and is a shelter to those in distress free of cost. During the inception of Avedna Ashram, the staff serving the patients were mostly students and were irregular with their presence due to their classes. The housekeeping and grooming staff were also few in number. As a result, I had to be multifaceted in providing care and compassion to the patients.
Q3. Is there any incident in which you had felt God’s help in a miraculous way?
A3. Yes. There are innumerable episodes which are crisp as a newspaper in my memory. A few did shake me from inside, but God has been kind to keep me erect to support the patients mentally and to serve them.
Once a lecturer was brought to Avedna with cancer of the nasal cavity. He was accompanied by his wife and two sons. It was a very bad case. Maggots were oozing out from his face, nose and mouth. It took three hours to do the dressing, since the maggots were numerous. As he was suffering, I took permission to pray for him since he was Hindu. After receiving the permission, I prayed the forgiveness prayer for five minutes. He caught hold of his wife’s hand and both cried bitterly. The maggots kept on oozing continuously nonstop for twenty-four hours. Seeing him in such a state, I got extremely worried, but stood strong and did not make it obvious through my facial expressions. I kept on praying to Jesus. The next day exactly at 11 am, as we were finishing the dressing, there wasn’t a trace of any maggots. I believe that this was God’s help in a miraculous way. He lived for nine months thereafter and then passed away.
Q4. What has been the most memorable moment of working with the patients?
A4. A patient once arrived at the ashram in terrible pain unaccompanied by any relatives or known people. He was a bad case of oral cancer and was crying and falling to the ground with pain. He could not eat or drink anything since the pain was profuse. His words still echo in my mind “I am dying of pain, but I am dying of hunger!”
Another patient was diagnosed with cancer of the throat and his wife had disowned him. Rotten maggots were falling from his wounds, and he was quite helpless. After speaking to him and praying for nearly three months, he was able to accept the reality of the situation and became more patient with his suffering. Once he recovered, he helped me to take care of other patients out of his own freewill and he became a source of inspiration to all. In short, if you are disturbed, share your problems with the Lord and He will give you the guidance and strength.
Q5. How does it feel to be known as the “Mother Teresa of Jaipur city”?
A5. It is overwhelming to be known as the Mother Teresa of Jaipur, but I don’t deserve it. Sometimes, when I was very tired and had to do extra duty, I found it difficult. Yet, the title and expectation of my suffering patients and the people around inspired and motivated me to be like her.
The crux of religious life is: To bear witness to Christ by loving God and all His people.
Q6. What message would you like to give to the missionaries of today?
A6. Being a missionary means being able to reach out to everyone with love, compassion and patience. One must be ready to do everything with joy.
Sr Nicolette Rasquinha MSA
To subscribe to the magazine, click Subscribe
