Over the last few weeks I have seen and smelt things I will never forget! Your senses are constantly insulted from the crazy traffic to the swarms of people on the streets to the cows and dogs wandering everywhere! To a british person who is used to queues and order this was quite an eye opener! It is really survival of the fittest. However on the contrary there just seemed to be a lack of life with people just sat at the side of the road with no purpose or hope of anything more than they have at the moment. It is a strange paradox.
We have had the most amazing time in India! It did not begin as expected though as myslef, Samuel and Kagiso stayed behing in Delhi to get visas for onward countries- this was a great experience though as myslef and Samuel had to build relationship with our hosts at a different orphange and were thrown into the deep end planning programmes and games for the children just between the 2 of us! We were so privilaged though to be there over that particular time as they were baptising 25 of their children. What made it extra special though was that they were using a water hole that a previous global team had built whils serving there! It was great to see the fruit of their service in action.
The following day they also opened their new church building so myslef and Samuel helped with the praise and worship for the celebration meeting - Samuel is fantastic on the piano and I helped the chior - was soo much fun!
These people really live by faith - they literally see a miracle a day for provision of food. Every day we would wonder what the children would eat but without fail there was a phone call to donate food for the day - the cool thing was that there was never a panic that no one would eat...they just waited patiently for the miracle to happen!It was sad to leave them but were were looking forward to meeting up with the rest of the team.
Thankyou for all who financially supported us to serve; during our time at the 2nd orphange with the whole team we had exactly the right money to complete the painting of the (large) church building, give the children a chicken dinner and provide a new set of underwear for each child.
I had never felt so much love or had so many kisses and hugs as that 2 weeks staying at the orphanage! Dispite their circumstances they have so much love to give! We had a great time planning the evening programme - they have an evening session for 2 hours where we did games, dancing, singing and preaching for them. I think i could now apply for a job for a kids TV show - as most of you will know making a fool of myslef is not my favourite but to see the enjoyment on the kids faces was soo worth it and you soon get over yourself and just throw yourself into it - and secretly enjoy it! We also stayed over in their hostel rooms on the evening - not getting too much sleep as being smothered by kids andsleeping on the floor but again soo worth it as they loved so much just to spend time together even with the language barrier - but hugs and kisses can be translated in any language. It was so sad to leave and i got so many letters. They are such special children that I will never forget.
We then had the experience of the night train!!!! Once in the lowest class which kind of looks like a prison on wheels....3 tear bunk beds with metal grid windows and certainly no air conditioning! All part of the journey...we went to Agra to see the Taj Mahal which was such an expience. Then a 30 hour train - this time 3 tears but with air con thank goodness to the train to depart from India.
There is sooooo much to tell, thins is just the beginning but too much to write and half of it i don't think i am even able to articulate....just to know that i have had an amazing time and hope to return again some time!
Next adventure awaits in Cambodia!