Although our day started out a little slow moving for everyone because of little sleep the night before, we all pulled up our boots straps, so to say, and were ready to face the day once we ate breakfast and had our morning devotion together. It was now time to let our little lights shine...
First stop of the day was to the local paint store to pick up paint and supplies for painting the orphans rooms.
Since Novahu had never done this before, Big Bob, Mail Dude, Akka Laine and I went in to assist him. We were surprised that the store only had one paint tray, but no worries, we simply ended up using snack trays from the house. It was not your typical experience at your local hardware store, but then again this wasn't the local hardware store, it was the paint store so why should they have paint trays...they simply sell paint.
From the paint store we headed the 25 minute journey from Kakinada to Madhavapatnam. There is a river that runs along side the road that we drive and I thought I'd share some pictures of what the living accommodations are like along side it...
today must be laundry day...
It's also not uncommon to see Hindu Shrines along the way...
Once we arrived at Novahu's house/orphanage we got all situated so we could proceed with our day...
but then it was time for morning tea, so we took a break.
Okay, breaks over. Time to move on...
Big Bob and Auntie Twisted ventured over to the school with measuring tape in hand so that they could take care of their "to do" list over there.
Mail Dude started to get things organized so that the painting process could begin and I set out to find him some help. Three of the young men who have been "hangin' out" with us were simply sitting around looking for something to do so naturally I approached them on helping us out. I must say they didn't jump at the invitation initially and I was afraid I may have offended them by asking them to do this...but later after putting the pieces of this puzzle together I realized that they weren't so eager to help simply because they had never painted before and were unsure of what to do. I gave them "the look" and before you know it they were ready to give it their best shot. Between them and two of the orphan boys, Ganesh and Jagen, along with Johanna and Sophia the painting process was ready to begin...
Needless to say it wasn't long before some of the other orphan boys wanted to help out...
The best part about this whole paint experience was that Novahu said "now that we know how to buy our own paint as well as paint, we can do this ourselves from now on...me and my boys...no more hiring expensive painters to come in and do it for us"!
If you give a man a fish, he will eat for one day.
If you teach a man to fish, he will eat for the rest of his life.
The pride that these guys were bursting with clearing came from the joy of mastering a new skill...
Well done thy good and faithful servant, Mail Dude!!
Down in the lower level, there was a whole lot of fun going on with singing and dancing with the orphans. Emma, Loobie, Akka Laine, and Auntie Khusha' were having a ball just spending time with the children!!
Once Big Bob and Auntie Twisted returned, they decided to have a little "quality time" with the children that they each sponsor...
Since we were already painting, Sophia had the idea to paint each of the orphans hands like we had done during the previous trip and let them slap it on the wall and write their name underneath.
The kids were thrilled at the thought of doing that again...
It's a good thing that this time around the paint was not lead based because before you know it we had sheer craziness on our hands as the kids started painting their faces and arms and each other.
I'm sorry to say that their are no pictures from this scene as we had to put the camera down and gain control!
Once we regrouped, the kids asked the travelers to also put their hands on the wall. I must say that we all agreed what followed had to be the most humbling experience ever...
Since we were painting outside, we were cleaning hands by the water faucet on the roof, as we (the travelers) went to wash our own hands the orphans insisted on washing them for us. The tender loving care that went into making sure all the paint was removed from not only our skin, but beneath our nails was truly heartwarming...they simply wanted to serve us in a way that was manageable for them, but with more love than words can describe!
After lunch I was having a conversation with Syamala and Sravani, two of the orphans who are sisters; I was telling them about my family and they were thrilled when I showed them the picture of my sister on the sponsor wall...of course they knew it had to be my "older" sister! :)
Next up on today's agenda was a program put on by some of the school children; their love of dancing and performing is fun to experience...
It's tea time again for us, but for the orphans it's "Sophia's Sweet Treats";
today's surge of sugar comes in the form of a flavored drink packet that you put in a bottled water.
Some chose to drink it while others just ate the powder mix right out of the package.
Believe it or not, the fun is just beginning...
We are off to take the orphans to the beach, but not in the bus as planned...
we courageous travelers opted to give the auto rickshaws a try...
Based on the fact that I'm currently writing this just goes to show we survived!
I don't know what was louder, the honking and noise from the traffic in the streets or the singing and laughing that was coming from inside the vehicles! What a wild and crazy adventure!!
Once we got to the beach we didn't waste anytime getting in the water as the sun was beginning to set...
We swam, surfed and rolled in the waves under the light of the moon...
then rode back to our hotel (again in the auto rickshaw) for a quick change of clothes before heading out for dinner. I guess I'd have to say that the worst part of riding in one of those "clown cars" is not the scariness of how people drive around you,
but rather the exhaust fums that are as thick as the pea soup I'm craving right now!
Moving right along...we ended our amazing fun filled day with dinner compliments of the landowgals. One of the things that they had been saving their "made with love" money for was to treat the orphans and Novahu's family to a meal at a restaurant...obviously something that they don't have the opportunity to do normally.
Unfortunately for the orphans it was rather chilly inside the restaurant because they actually had air conditioning in it...fortunately for us though they all wanted to be snuggled to warm up! Crackers! :)
It is absolutely incredible how patient and well behaved the children are...
And what do you do with this many kids who have no hand held electronic games to keep them occupied in their own little world while they wait?
Well, of course you make up your own games...
This feast fit for a king cost a whopping total of $150...
that fed all 57 people who were in our group!
These children all went home with full bellies and big smiles thanks to the landowgals;
we adults along with the landowgals all went home with hearts full of joy and big smiles
thanks to the children!
Yes, Life is Good!!!!
Namaste'
~Jenny
