Smile Through Tears

During my time in Calcutta, I witnessed firsthand the incredible impact of love, compassion, and faith in action. Whether it was through serving meals, offering encouragement, or simply being present for those in need, I saw how God’s work is being carried out in powerful ways. There was one woman whom I developed a friendship with named Smita. She suffered from hip problems and I was able to go with her for an x-ray at the clinic. Once her x-ray was done, she was lifted into the ambulance that had benches on either side and was told to scoot down the bench. Smita inched ever so slowly wincing in pain after each attempt. Frustrated and dismayed, Smita began to cry and overcome by the situation, I also couldn’t hold back the tears either. I couldn’t say anything to alleviate the pain so it felt like the most compassion I could show her. She looked at me and smiled through her tears. I looked at her and felt her sorrow. She was stuck in India with no family or friends and plagued with health issues that she didn’t understand. It was so tragic to see the hopelessness of the situation right in front of me. But it struck me as something beautiful too–we were separated by a language barrier but that did not stop us from communicating because there are no barriers when it comes to love. For Smita and all the other women I had the opportunity to serve, it was evident that all they wanted was love and that was something I could give.

Jacinta
Calcutta Mission Trip
2025 Spring Break