A woman named Agnes who was devoted to a life of serving God came to Kolkata to help the destitute. She opened a home for those dying in 1952. She also opened a place for children to live and receive care in 1955.
Not only did she care for the dying and the young, but she also saw a need to care for the forgotten. Lepers were ignored by society as a whole and so she sought to change the social stigma. She helped to educate the communities in Kolkata about leprosy and also founded a safe community for lepers to live and work.
In order to successfully keep these programs running, she brought in other women who were similar to her in nature. Together, they were called the "Missionaries of Charity." There were twelve women in total.
Mother Teresa followed God's call and made a lasting impact on Kolkata, India, and the world. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to go and serve where Mother Teresa once served God.
(References: http://www.has.vcu.edu/wrs/profiles/MissionariesOfCharity.htm)
