spreads, which were invariably given away. Donations of washing ma-
chines, carpets, or other creature comforts were also given away. As
Mother Teresa continually reminded her sisters, the poor did without and
so must they.
She wrote to each house as often as possible offering advice, wisdom,
and comfort to her growing number of sisters. She wrote to parents thank-
ing them for their daughters who had given their lives in service to God.
She reminded her nuns to be cheerful and smile, as God needed and loved
those who gave of themselves cheerfully. A cheerful disposition also at-
tracted those who might be seeking a vocation with the Missionaries of
Charity. She shared news of her travels, her visits with dignitaries, and hu-
morous incidents that had occurred.
Even as she was becoming more well known, Mother Teresa remained
as unobtrusive as possible. She commonly slept in the luggage racks of
third-class train compartments or shared a seat on a train or a bus between
the wife of a farmer and some livestock. On those occasions when she had
a seat to herself, she made the most of it, using the time for reflection,
often writing small notes or letters to her sisters and benefactors.
Yet, she declined the offers of regular income that were beginning to
arise more frequently. She emphasized repeatedly that fund-raising was
not her work, fearing that the Missionaries of Charity would become a
business rather than a labor of love. She squarely placed her life and that
of her congregations in God’s hands, fully trusting that Providence would
provide for her needs in helping the poor. Her rejections of some dona-
tions were on the face of it astounding, yet completely in character. Once
she rejected an offer from New York City’s Cardinal Terence Cooke,
which would provide $500 a month for each Sister working in Harlem,
asking him if he believed that God was going to be bankrupt in New York
City.
LOSS AND FAILINGS
The 1970s were an extraordinary period of growth for the Missionaries
of Charity and of growing recognition for Mother Teresa. Still, the decade
was not without its low points as Mother Teresa suffered both personal
losses and public failures. She may also have come to realize that not all
things were possible through faith and love alone.
The year 1970 began with a troubling letter from her sister Aga, who
was living with their mother in Tirana, Albania. Drana was in ill health
and her condition was worsening. On top of that, life under communist
rule was extremely difficult and the two were having a hard time making
108 MOTHER TERESA