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Home  / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2010 /  Their friendship reaches across the world

by Karen M. Gorski special to The Michigan Catholic
Published March 12, 2010

Editor's note: Lent is a time we are called to conversion, to draw closer to God and deeper into His love. During these six weeks especially, we ask you to share your story.

Karen Gorski shares a quiet moment after greeting Kumari and her mother, Suseelama.

The ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao-tzu, said, "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." The journey to meet my sponsored child, Kumari Gudime, began nearly nine years ago when a priest traveled to my parish, Our Lady of the Woods, in Woodhaven, and spoke about the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging. He had folders with the pictures and brief biographical information of children and aging from around the world. A young girl from India, not quite 10 years old, caught my glance. Her profile indicated that her father was deceased – he had been murdered. It indicated her mother was a cook (currently she cooks for a convent) and gave the name of her younger brother, Raju. The profile described a one-room home made of mud walls and floor and a hut roof. She sleeps on a mat on the floor. It said her favorite subject in school was Social Studies and she had a talent for drawing. I took the profile home with me and began the first step of my journey with CFCA.

Karen Gorski with Kumari Gudime, who she has sponsored for nearly nine years. Kumari, wearing a stethoscope given to her by her sponsor, is now a third-year nursing student.

For more than eight years I have exchanged letters and photographs with my sponsored child. Kumari does, indeed, have a talent for drawing, which she demonstrated through the artwork she added to the notepaper on which she wrote her letters. She told me about her studies, activities she participated in at school, and her dreams of going into the medical profession. She would ask for my prayers, especially as exam time drew close – and always reported how well she did! She spoke of her family and shared about her grandfather's illness and death. I learned that Kumari and her family are Catholic. Kumari would ask me about my family members and once warned me not to eat too much ice cream after I shared with her that it was one of my favorite treats! I watched Kumari blossom into a beautiful young woman who never wavered from her goal of getting a good education. And, I dreamed of one day meeting her. This past January, I finally made that journey of almost 10,000 miles!

Dressed in a sari, Karen Gorski cuts her "Welcome" cake with Kumari and her brother, Raju, looking on.

After traveling 8,861 miles by plane, 249 miles by train, and 52 miles by car, I caught my first glimpse of my sponsored child. Kumari was near the front of a very large group who met me and another sponsor at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Porumamilla (a sub project of Kadapa, India).

How does one describe that moment of recognition – and seeing the same in the eyes of another? Too excited, I didn't await the traditional greeting but went right up to Kumari and embraced first her and then her mother. I felt as if I was among family. Kumari's mother would later affirm this as she called me her daughter's "second mother."

The other sponsor and I were then greeted in traditional fashion: An "aarti plate" was waved in a circular fashion in front of us. On the metal plate was a lamp with lighted wick, flowers and incense. Our foreheads were then marked with kumkum, a powder used for social and religious markings made from turmeric as a sign of blessing and respect. A garland of flowers was placed around our necks. The ritual completed, I held Kumari's hand as we walked down a path lined on both sides with approximately 200 people who came to greet us. Many joined their hands together and, with a slight bow, mouthed "Namaste." Women reached out to take my hand. Children smiled and waved.

The church's porch offered us a more private space to sit and visit. I had gifts to share including a necklace for her mom and a stethoscope for Kumari, who is studying for her B.S. in nursing at St. Ann's College. I had also created a photo book with pictures of me at various ages, my family, at work, and information about the state in which I live. I added the photos I had received of Kumari over the past eight years and a letter to her. Then Kumari presented me with a beautiful red sari. I could see the pride and excitement in her eyes.

After eating lunch with the pastor of the church, we traveled just 1 kilometer to Edulapalle, the village of the other sponsored child. We were welcomed with great hospitality by the entire village and were able to visit in that child's home for about an hour. Back, in the car, we traveled about 3 kilometers and arrived at Kumari's village, Ambhavaram. The entire village again turned out, with drums, dancing, firecrackers and little girls tossing flower petals as Kumari led me to her home. But first she whisked me off to a neighboring home to dress me in the sari. Despite her efforts to shoo them out, it seems all the women in the village crowded into that home to watch my transformation. Once dressed, Kumari led me to her home where I was greeted again by her mother, grandmother, aunt and cousins. A photo of my family was hanging on the wall next to a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Kumari's deceased grandfather. Kumari fed me a small bite of cake that said, "Welcome, Karen." Then Kumari's mother had Simon, the project coordinator, in tears as he interpreted her most sincere gratitude for the help I have given to her daughter. The hour seemed but a few moments and it was time to leave.

The villagers were still all gathered around, and began the dancing again. Kumari's brother came up to me and, with great sincerity, asked me to pray for his family. I grasped the hands of Kumari, her mother, and brother as the car got ready to pull away (made more difficult by the dancers in front of the car) and we drove away to the beating of drums. I turned one last time to wave to my new family, but Kumari had already disappeared, too overcome with the emotional impact of saying goodbye.

The journey that began about nine years ago will not end with my trip to Kadapa, India. I will have the great privilege and joy of sponsoring Kumari until she completes her degree in 2012. While the past eight years forged our relationship, Kumari and I now have a bond that easily traverses a distance of 9,162 miles. For more information on sponsorship through the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging.

Karen M. Gorski is a member of Our Lady of the Woods Parish, Woodhaven.