Finding Calcutta: What Mother Teresa Taught Me About Meaningful Work and Service

Mary Poplin went to Calcutta to work with Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity. This is her story of what she learned while there. It is an excellent introduction into the life and spiritual insight of Mother Teresa. The book is well written and conducive to a small group study if one uses the questions in the back of the book. She would probably hate me saying this, but Mary Poplin is one of my heroes. She was a radical feminist who comes to faith in Jesus and is radically changed. She has a winsome and beautiful personality that comes through clearly in her personal testimony[...]

I'm so grateful I purchased this book. Although it is a "can't put it down" book and could be read in two or three evenings, I deliberately read it slowly in order to savor the message of each chapter. One particular chapter (chapter 15), spoke to me very deeply and still haunts me. The author has helped me to see Calcutta right where I am, even within myself. This book is truly food for the soul.

I found this book extremely valuable for the inspiring (and challenging) real-life picture it offered of what a life of service in Christ can be. Poplin's transparency in her own journey allows you to walk along with her in humble astonishment at God's work through Mother Teresa and the sisters, and through Poplin herself as she opens her life to God's shaping hand. I've already given copies of this book to about 7 different female friends who are in the medical field, in ministry, teaching, or just at home with children, and several of them have not only told me in raving terms how much they are enjoying it but that they've already recommended it to friends themselves. For Christians in academia, Poplin's appendix suggesting a new vision for the university will also be of special interest.

Mother Teresa was a great inspiration to many Catholics. "Finding Calcutta" is the story of a woman whose desire to meet the potential saint was so strong, she volunteered to serve under her in the slums of Calcutta. Telling her story of traveling to Calcutta, meeting Mother Teresa, and what she was inspired to do to help the poor and needy, "Finding Calcutta" is inspirational and a strong choice for any religious memoir collection.

Many have written about Mother Teresa and her work in the very needy city of Calcutta and across the world. This author, a new Christian,and teaching in an American, university, took her sabbatical to work with Mother Teresa for several months. Her intent was to learn how to apply these princpals of working for Jesus to her own life. The author describes her spiritual journey during the sabbatical and how returning to the teaching world in the US she was able to apply these principals to the university world in which she was living and teaching. It is simply written, but deeply spiritual. For anyone wanting to serve Christ in their own career path, this is the book to read.