SISTERS OF MERCY MAKE WHEELS OF FORTUNE TURN


DOWN A MUDDY, RUTTED, CONSCIENCE-RATTLING ROAD STAYS A LOVELY FAMILY. THEIR HOUSE SUFFOCATES IN ITS TWO SMALL ROOMS AND SAGGING ROOF. SOMEHOW MUM, ELEVEN CHILDREN AND OCCASIONAL DAD FIND SPACE, IF NOT DIGNITY, TO SLEEP HERE. ON GOOD DAYS, THE HOUSE ALLOWS THEM TO COOK, PLAY, STUDY AND PRAY AWAY THEIR WORRIES. ON BAD DAYS THE RAIN WEEPS THROUGH THE TARPAULIN THAT IS THEIR ROOF. MUM IS IN HER LATE FORTIES. HER HEAD SHAKES WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE AND SHE HAS A LIVER PROBLEM SO SERIOUS IT IS ONLY WHISPERED ABOUT. SHE ALSO HAS MANY FAMILY PROBLEMS. THE FAMILY ALLOWANCE FROM THE STATE IS LESS THAN £40 A MONTH. IT HARDLY PROVIDES BASIC FOOD, NEVER MIND CLOTHES, HEATING, ELECTRICITY, SCHOOL BOOKS, RENT, TAXES, MEDICINES, ETC.
THEY LIVE IN DESPERATE CIRCUMSTANCES AND YET THE POROHONSKIS ARE A DECENT FAMILY. ANY PARENT WOULD BE
PROUD OF THE GOOD-MANNERED, FRIENDLY CHILDREN. MUM IS DEVOUTLY RELIGIOUS AND IT SHOWS IN THEIR STRICT BUT LOVING UPBRINGING. SCHOOL AND EDUCATION ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE FAMILY'S LIVES. IT IS THEIR ONLY HOPE OF A FUTURE. THE YOUNGSTERS ARE SO PROUD OF THE CERTIFICATES THEY HAVE EARNED. ON OUR VISIT, WE SAT AROUND LIKE A BIG, HAPPY FAMILY WHILE THEY TOOK TURNS TO READ POEMS AND PRAYERS AND SING SONGS.

HOW ON EARTH DOES THIS FAMILY SURVIVE? A HUGE HELP IS THE “MEALS-ON-WHEELS” SERVICE RUN BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY, NOW EXTENDING TO TEN POOR FAMILIES IN THE AREA. BUT WHAT REALLY SUSTAINS THEM IS THEIR REMARKABLE MOTHER. YOU CAN ONLY WONDER AT HER STRENGTH, COURAGE, WISDOM AND FORESIGHT AS SHE STRIVES TO LEAD HER CHILDREN OUT OF THE DARK ALLEYWAYS OF THEIR DEPRIVATION. ELENA'S GREATEST WORRY IS HER FAILING HEALTH AND THE PROSPECT OF AN INTERRUPTION TO LIFE BEFORE ALL HER CHARGES ARE GROWN UP AND SAFE.
AND YET, AMAZINGLY, YOU FEEL THAT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, THIS FAMILY WILL ALWAYS SURVIVE AS A LOVING UNIT. YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE PRIDE ELENA HAS FOR THEM. YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE RESPONSIBLE EYES OF THE OLDER CHILDREN. WHEN THE TIME COMES, AND THE WEEPING IS OVER, THEY ARE READY TO BE CHILDREN NO LONGER.

MEANWHILE THE SUPPORT AND LOVING ENCOURAGEMENT OF SISTER ALOYSIUS AND TRAIAN AND THEIR “FOOD WAGON” MEANS THAT THEY AT LEAST HAVE A SQUARE MEAL TO SEE THEM THROUGH THE BAD TIMES AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT SOMEONE REALLY CARES ABOUT THEM. IT GIVES THEM HOPE THAT THERE ARE BETTER TIMES AHEAD.


FROM HARRISON WATSON, EDITOR “MY WEEKLY” MAGAZINE, SCOTLAND