India has been unreal. not only did it take a full day to get here, but nothing looks familiar. I cant even tell you in words how strange of a feeling that is. I really do feel like i have walked into another planet. for those of you who know me, know my taste buds are like that of a 5th grader. The blander the better. Well in case you didn’t know, India has some of the most spicy food I have ever ingested in my life.. day one impossible, day two impossible, day ten getting used to it and sucking it up : ) !
TEAM FUGEE is rockin’ ! can i just say that i love my team and am so thankful for each and everyone of them! I could not have asked for stronger men to follow, John and Evan bring such safety and trust to our team, they are so great at listening to us girls and pushing us. I saw another side of Evan when we went into town for the first time. our whole team was trying to cross the street which in india is like a real life frogger video game. we were all holding hands and as John, Allison, and Evan took the first step, I broke the chain out of fear of getting run over. so there stood me, Lindsey, and Anne stuck on the other side of this Indian highway. Lord knows i wasn’t about to to take the first plunge into the busy street, and i think Evan knew that. The next thing i know Evan darts back into traffic grabs my hand and says were going, no choice no option. i grabbed his hand and we went. Funny thing is John has also had to have the same type of conversation with me. after being on the bus for about 5 hours our potty break had finally come, and i needed to go. so a couple of us got off the bus and right into a scene of a movie. this place was lit by fire, a couple of shacks and a two squatty potty’s. did i mention in was around 3 am?? as we start walking i turn to john in the the most serious face i can make and say “i cant go, im not going” and he looks me dead in the eyes gives me a little push and says “YES YOU ARE”. again with the feeling of no choice and no options so its funny how you just do it ! My trust of these two fellows has grown so much and will continue to grow as the days pass, but not only in situations like these but a trust in our family to be open and real with each other. i really feel blessed with these two. As for the girls, Allison, Lindsey and Anne, they are all wonderful! Anne has such a gentle soul and genuine spirit, i have a lot i can learn from her meekness. Lindsey is hilarious and reminds me of my girlfriends back home, she can make everyone in the room laugh with a drop of a hat and has the ability to make anyone fit in and feel comfortable. She also is a great listener and will allow you to go on a tangent, if it means your able to get it off your chest. and last but not least allison, she is awesome. She is a tough cookie, quiet at times but when she does have something to say its right on. if i could pick anyone’s brain on the team it would be hers. i cant wait to see what God has in store for our team*!
This month we are staying and working at a orphanage called Mercy and Grace and it is unbelievable, i see fruit all over this place and i am so glad i have gotten to be apart of it. Modhava his wife Nebula, and their son rajesh raise around 200 kids here. they operate just like a family should. Nebula runs the show, and she has a little clan of older girls 14-16 years old that watch her all day long, learning from her, as she preps them to run a household of their own one day. They cook all the meals, get all the kids showered, and make sure their studying and doing homework when they are supposed to. Mo is the brains behind this whole operation, him and Rajesh are both briliant men of God!! Instead of working at a bank and making a great income, providing over and above for his family, Mo chooses to watch over these little ones. He is the backbone of Mercy and Grace.
I have learned so much from these kids. they are a spitting image of what it looks like to love your neighbor.. the other day i went to the roof top to have some quiet time. i had my headphones in and as i began to lay down i had three little girls come up with brooms to sweep under me and lay a blanket down. i sat there and was just shocked. Minutes before this happened i saw them sitting in the corner listening to Erin play the harp. They dropped what they were doing to help me. out the the corner of their eyes they saw an opportunity to serve and help and they all three jumped up without question. the only thought that entered my mind for the next thirty minutes was “i want that, whatever that is Lord, i want it. i want to be so concerned with other people that it doesn’t even take a thought to get up and help but is more of just a reaction. mold me into that father, make me like those little girls.”
These kids are A M A Z I N G . one night we got in prayer circles and they prayed in Telugu. these weren’t one minute prayers either, these kids one by one prayed their little hearts out and i just sank wondering where had my childlike faith gone? why didn’t i pray like that? why am i so hesitant to pour out my heart in front of my peers? like i said before i am learning so much from these little ones.
We are being treated like kings and queens here. one thing i love about the indian culture is their hospitality. It is definitely something i hope sticks and bring back to the states with me!! We are getting a ton of opportunities to show these kids love and affection. i think thats the hardest part for me, these kids don’t have a hug and kiss goodnight. they don’t have a mommy to just sit and rub their backs when they don’t feel well. yesterday john and I painted every single kids fingernails.. it took forever but the joy on their faces made it worth it !!!! im loving every minute and will blog again after my birthday!! : ) sending all my love from india xoxo*!!!
