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    CALCUTTA (CWNews.com) - In the two years since Mother Teresa died, the Missionaries of Charity religious order she founded has continued to grow worldwide, according to Sister Nirmala, the Albanian-born nun's successor.

    Sister Nirmala said the order opened the first houses in Kazakhstan and Finland, while opening up still another 26 worldwide bringing their totals to 640 in 183 countries. "When Mother left us, the immediate challenge was to cope with the challenge of her physical absence. Now everyday it is a big challenge to live up to what Mother has taught us though by God's grace and cooperation we are facing it," she said.

    Mother Teresa founded the order in 1947 in Calcutta to serve the poor and destitute, orphans and abandoned. Now, two years after she died on September 4, 1997, thousands of people continue to journey to Calcutta to visit the tomb of the saintly nun and to volunteer in the homes she founded.

    "So long as we remain faithful there will be visitors because everywhere in the world people are in search of the meaning of life. Here they see and touch God by serving the poor," Sister Nirmala said.

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