I was born in the slums of Sultanpuri. When I was merely 7 years old, due to some conflict within the family my mother left home leaving us alone.  My father used to go to work in order to earn the daily bread for us. I was the eldest amongst all, I had three brothers who were younger to me and I was too small to take care of my siblings. The whole day we used to roam on the streets picking up rags, trying to sell them, to get something to eat.

Unfortunately, on that particular day I was lost, I was wandering, not knowing where exactly to go and my siblings could not return home without me. I was just loitering on the road, some policemen eventually caught me and took me to the Social Service Center of the Holy Cross Sisters. I do believe that it was God’s intervention in my life. After a few weeks some of the sisters there contacted Don Bosco Ashalayam at Palam who were already running a home for the poor and abandoned boys and nearby the Salesian sisters also had a home for the poor and abandoned girls named Auxilium Snehalaya “A House of Love”. I was probably the fortunate one who had the opportunityto be a part of this lovely family. May be it was my destiny. The sisters over there looked after me as if I was a new born baby. The love and affection I got there is unparalleled and it never seemed to me that my family was away from me. But as the years passed by something started haunting me within and I started praying to God because I had one deep desire within and to meet my beloved family. During Rakshabandhans I used to get into the Chapel and cry bitterly before the statue of Lord Jesus and tie Rakhi on His hand and tell Him till I get my brothers back you are my brother. I used to pray to Him asking Him to get my brothers back for me. I was sure my prayers would not go unheard, and so with determination I requested the sisters, not let me go but allow me to stay within the Snehalaya till I find my brothers.

When I turned eighteen years old, I was shifted to Auxilium Najafgarh in order to complete my studies.  The sisters took keen interest in searching for my family, they spent their quality time contacting various people and NGO’s through the phone and spot visits, and they went through a series of inconveniences just so that I could reunite with my family. At last the Lord heard my prayer and He took things in His own hands and helped me to find my brothers for me. The Holy Bible says: “THE LORD HEARS THE CRY OF THE POOR” and in fact the Lord heard my cry and brought back my brothers to me on 28 September 2014 and then that I came to know that my father was no more alive. I am so grateful to the sisters who helped throughout this journey of mine, I consider it as the greatest gift amongst every single gift I have ever received in my life.

Sonia