Namaste!
I have arrived safely in India and am now at an internet shop in Dwarka. It is the same one I would use 2 years ago when I was here. So much is the same. I have missed this place.
The first full day I was here I got to go back to the orphanage where I spent some of the most amazing weeks of my life. It was bittersweet. There were many familiar faces, although much taller by now, and I just spent the day hugging on them and telling them how much I have missed them. At the same time there were many faces I was looking for that I did not see. I knew many would be gone, but to go there and not see them was heartbreaking. It used to be such a happy place full of smiles and laughter. Now it seems the laughter and smiles are gone, but I hope to try and bring them back.
We are actually living in another orphanage that has about 20 children from 5 months to 15. They are precious! We walk them to the bus stop every morning and pick them up in the afternoons, we help them with their homework and serve their food and keep them entertained. It is a joy being there with them.
I would do anything for these children... lie in lice infested beds, sit in piles of dirt, sleep on the floor, and walk through sewage (all of which I have done... but that's another story!). Those completely diminish in the face of these precious ones. When I am sitting holding these sleeping children it is one of the most content feelings I have ever had. It is but a glimpse of our Father's love for us.
Saji and Gracie are our "uncle and auntie". They are amazing. I love them so much!! They are tons of fun and take great care of us and the children.
I've gotten to go to parent-teacher conferences at their schools which was really really cool. It's all taught in English but the children are still struggling in that so they never know what their homework is or how to read out of their textbooks. I worry about them when we are gone, how they will manage. Dr. Frye, if you're reading this, it reminds me of the article you wrote about comprehension, and if their rate is slow then it hinders their comprehension. That is a big problem here. It's all rote memorization. They have no phonics or even vocabulary training. I've been working with them on that :)
Two days ago one of the boys fell off of the roof into the street and had to be taken into the hospital (which is nothing like you would think of a hospital in America). The other kids were so worried and prayed and prayed for him. Praise the Lord he only had 1 fracture and is doing much better. Please pray for their safety and their schooling! Once our team leaves it will just be Saji and Gracie to take care of all these little ones and it is a big job!
I love you all!! I only have one more week left, and I plan on making the most of it! I hope your summers are all going well and will hear about it soon.
