and it rains...

there have been some changes. the rains are pouring down now...we have quite a walk home from the mother house and we basically looked as though we stepped in a shower with all of our clothes on. the puddles are starting to get deeper to step in and our clothes are becoming so heavy to walk in...i managed to rip my pants open and had to tie an apron around the back and my scarf around the front to hold up my pants in the rain. as crazy as the downpour is, we are all just giggling at the pleasure of getting wet and feeling cooled down.

we said goodbyes to some new friends at our hostel last night and goodbye to some volunteers at shushu bhavan. we have met some of the most beautifully amazing people and i want to be selfish and have the stay til it is time for us to leave. so many different people with different backgrounds and yet all wanting to serve.

there is no longer a hesitaion in not knowing what to do at shishu bhavan. and if there is the volunteers are really good at hiding it (haha). we are all becoming so familiar with each of the kids needs and history and are able to care for them at our best and not be told what to do as much. the children really are little angels. we learned the history of one of the children today. he has hydrocephalus (water on the brain) and they found him abandoned on the street and he was oly 1 month old. the doctors gave him only a month to live so everyone took extra amounts of time holding him and cradling before his time. during the christmas play, they had him play baby jesus...a month later he was still okay...then months and now at 2 years old he is feisty and learning to walk...they named him angelo because he was their little angel who they didn't think would make it. we found out that the longest these kids make it is til age 18...when the sister told us this i looked over at my friend elyse and we both just lost it, it breaks me knowing these kids will spend most of their lives suffering and yet it makes me so joyful to look around the room and see people just loving these kids to heaven.

pray for strength (physically and emotionally). we all seem to be coming down with some symptons of sickness.

shishu bhavan

the sun came out today and a couple of us were able to do laundry. at shishu bhavan (the house we volunteer at) the women use the whole roftoop to spread out cloth diapers and the children's clothing. it is funny how the most simple thing can look so beautiful. there is so much work to be done behind the scenes at these houses and i am in awe at the organization and schedules with the kids. the time and care in making sure the kids are getting loved on and cared for. it has been so hard to watch the kids screaming because they just don't want food and yet knowing that they need it to get better and grow. i have nver seen such tiny legs and arms, i have never seen more love in a room before then when a room is full of volunteers doing whatever they can to make these children feel comfortable and loved.

we have all felt a bit beat lately, the tiredness is kicking in, the sore muscles, injuries, just spent lately...but it has been so worth it.

being humbled...

do not wear flip-flops during monsoon season. all the dodging of puddles, people, and trash have led to some foot injuries...luckily i have a friend who is willing to do the dirty work that i couldn't do on my own foot. i never thought that such a thing could be so annoying to deal with here....

monsoon season does have its perks....it is quite possibly one of the most refreshing things when the heavens open and just spill drops of coolness on your sweaty face. i don't think i have ever appreciated rain more!

namaste

we spent our first day volunteering at the mother house today. we all are spread out at different houses so it is wonderful to hear stories through out the community here. we spent this morning at mass with the sisters (beautiful !!)...its at 6am and from there they feed us a banana, chai, and a piece of bread and we are off to our houses. i am sorry i am not putting much pictures up, we are not allowed to take pictures at the mother house until it is our last day, and even then it would be hard to do since we are working. i am still working up the courage to pull my camera out on the street...mostly i take pics of the people i know or just where we are staying. we have had quite the day and all are fully clothed in our colorful indian attire and alladin pants (which are soo comfortable!). i woke up this morning and didn't want to leave to come back home...even though we still have so much time and a shower, toilet, and a bed without bed bugs would be nice.

india!!!!

we are here. hotel maria has become our new home for the next couple of weeks. i think almost every day somebody points out that we feel like we are in the jungle book. i will write more tonight...the lord is so good.....

a stitching we will go....

working on some more sweatshirts to sell for india....i officially have $600 more dollars to raise....im almost there, thanks to all of you:)

fear {lately}

"Why am I afraid to dance, I who love music and rhythm and grace and song and laughter? Why am I afraid to live, I who love life and the beauty of flesh and the living colors of the earth and sky and sea? Why am I afraid to love, I who love love?"


[Be] daring enough to be different, humble enough to make mistakes, wild enough to be burnt in the fire of love, real enough to make others see how phony [you] are.
~Brennan Manning~