A Walk In the Park

I can't believe I've been here for a week! The time has flown by and I want to make every moment of it precious. I feel so blessed to be able to return time after time and have the opportunity to love on these children and let them know that someone out there cares. This week they had a day off of school for the hindu holiday Diwali. With 26 kids living in a small house in the city, they have little room to run around and just play and be children. We decided to use the day and take the children to a park. When we told them the news, they were jumping up and down with joy! Come to find out, they didn't know what the word park even meant, they were just excited to be going somewhere. Whenever they go out, whether it's to the park to play or for a special treat to Pizza Hut, they all put on their nicest clothes. Nothing we say can sway them, they are determined to look their best, even if they are going to be running around getting dirty. When everyone was ready to go, we piled as many kids and didi's into the car as we could and headed for the park.

We seem to create a following wherever we go. It isn't often that foreigners come to this area of India, so to see 5 white girls with 26 kids is quite a sight. We end up having crowds gathering to watch us wherever we go. There were at least 2o indians at one point just sitting on the sidewalk watching us play with the kids. We even had a man come up to us with his son saying that his son had always wanted to meet a foreigner. We shook his hand and he went away as happy as he could be. There were also several street children at the park. There is so much need here it feels overwhelming at times. We were able to have them join us for the breakfast that we brought, but that is only temporary relief. That was probably the only meal they will have all week if not more. What's worse than that, that small meal is nothing compared to the eternal bread they are lacking. The language barrier makes things even more difficult, although we have a tutor and are getting better.


Thanks for the continued prayers and support! I love being here with the kids and want to enjoy it to the fullest.
Love.