After opening ceremonies (lighting the divos and speeches) volunteers positioned themselves at their posts and the gates were opened at 9:30am. MAA took Her place at the water station serving water to all the patients. The patients were lined up outside the gates (separated into male and female lines). Volunteers were controlling the number of people coming in. Once inside the gates they were led to the reception area where they would describe their main complaint and the receptionists assigned a Doctor. From there a runner would take the patient to the specific Doctor. (To the main hall or a private room if it was the ObGyn or the dermatologist or ultrasound) and then the patient was usually sent to the medicine section and then asked to pick up prasad before leaving the campsite. Eye patients were sent to the glasses table, where free eyeglasses were offered. For the first time there was an ultrasound machine and technician present so a whole new area of diagnosis and treatment were offered.  

MAA had divided everyone into groups and assigned a particular task to each person (From guarding the gates, to reception, to runners – people who took the patients from reception to the specific doctors, to Doctor's aides, to pharmacists & aides, to those giving out glasses, to people positioned around the grounds). The whole place was quite organized. EVERYONE was given something to do or was asked to pick up tasks. MAA reminded everyone that this camp was as much for us as it was for patients. We were asked to treat the patients with respect and kindness. MAA pointed out that if it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t have this chance at offering seva. MAA’s quote was: “Yogi nahi to Upyogi bano” (If you can’t be Yogi, at least be helpful to others).

Throughout the day MAA offered water to everyone, patients and volunteers. A hut-like shed was set up outside across the main hall where MAA stood and offered water. MAA personally went to the Doctor’s counters and offered water to them. She also went around to many of the volunteer stations and gave them water as well as offered water to many patients. Along with Her water duties, MAA kept Her eyes on all that was happening on the grounds. At one point MAA noticed that the pharmacy/eye glasses area was getting too crowded so She had that table moved to the center island. Anything that needed attention was dealt with immediately. I don’t know how MAA did it, but She knew what was happening at all times. If She saw a patient standing idly, MAA would ask someone to direct them to the appropriate area. 

There were announcements made if there were any changes. There was one announcement that was heard throughout the day ‘those who have received treatment and their prescriptions should proceed to the gates BUT before leaving they should make sure to take prasad’. Besides offering water and overseeing everything, MAA also graciously and patiently accepted all pranams offered by the patients.

The day passed very quickly. Officially, the camp was supposed to end at 1pm, but MAA decided to take some more patients, and in the end it was decided that all those waiting outside the gates would be asked to come onto the grounds and then the gates would be closed. It was almost 3pm when all the patients were served. Prabhuji’s swaroop was taken back to the mandir with the same pomp.

After dinner, there was satsang during which all the Doctors were given a gift of appreciation. MAA asked everyone for suggestions on how to improve the camp. MAA was told that many of the eye patients didn’t have seeing problems but they had cataracts. Thus, despite getting glasses they were unable to see well. MAA said that She was thinking of offering a surgical facility at the next camp. Since the surgery could only be performed in a sterile room and in a facility equipped to deal with emergencies, it had to be done at a hospital. MAA decided to have one day when all the operations would be performed.

All in all, everything went smoothly. MAA said that all those that came through the gates were served to the best of our abilities. I think the most amazing part was that the part that is ‘divine’ within us came out that day. All the volunteers treated the patients with great care and dignity. Not one person became angry or was rude or insulted the patients in any way. Those who were helping the ultrasound technician were also babysitters. If a mother came with a young infant/child the aide would cradle/hold the child until the mother was done with her visit. If we were to come into contact with these same people outside of Swargarohan we would keep our distance and probably treat them a little less than humanly. But none of that was seen on the day of the medical camp, it was as though that reflection of MAA was brought to the forefront in all of us. 

This was one the best yet difficult days I have experienced. I enjoyed being part of something like this, but at the same time seeing this type of poverty really takes a toll on you. Most of those who came through the gates didn’t have any shoes and if they did they were a pair of flip-flops. The children were pretty dirty – though how can you blame them, how can one bathe when one doesn’t have enough water to drink? I spent half the time giving out candy to the kids. When I initially started, the moment I gave to the first child, there were 4 more hands ready for their share. At one point this grandmother started begging me for a candy as well; she wouldn’t stop even though others around her were telling her it was only for the kids. I don’t know all of what she was saying, but I did get the part where she said that she was hungry.  

We have the less fortunate in Canada and US but they have places where they can get food…what do these people do when they are hungry? The adults are one thing, but seeing children suffer is unbearable. There was one infant brought in for some type of growth on its stomach (looked like some type of tumor – must have been growing for some time because it was pretty big…another child escorted his blind father. Most of the really young ones would hide behind their mothers and take the candy very quickly from your hands. One thing… if you smiled they usually smiled back. I must say, I don’t think that I have ever appreciated my life as much as I do now.
Besides the poverty, there is a great lack of education. A mother came in complaining that her child’s teeth were falling out. They were his baby teeth and she didn’t know that his adult teeth would soon follow. I am sure that each doctor has many stories. I am sure that a little education would go a long way.

I can’t help but wonder what will happen to these people? Who will take care of their aches and pains? Who else will pay attention? Who else will give them a moment to be heard? Because of MAA over 2300 people got their day where someone was willing to listen, for the sake of humanity and not for money. 

This is something that I think all of us should experience. Nothing (no movie or documentary or TV show) compares to living and seeing something for yourself. Besides gaining a new appreciation for what you have, you’ll be amazed at seeing how MAA leads it!

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