JOY...

It's hard to describe the overwhelming fanfare we get when we walk into an area, everyone is just so happy to see us. To be welcomed with such love everyday is such an amazing way to start the morning! 👊😍

 

So, back when the women from the travelers group were buying fabric to make outfits, Al was picking out fabric to have a tablecloth made for his sister. Since it was a fairly simple project, Manjula said we could have the students in the Cutting and Tailoring Center stitch it. Today we got a sneak peek of the almost finished project, and boy did they do an amazing job!!

Right before we came to India, $250 was donated to buy a professional sewing machine with the hopes that someday the C&T students could sew the school children's uniforms; pictured below is that machine.  Obviously, if we're ever going to get to that point, we'd need another couple machines, but for now it's doing the trick. The machine is now blessed and ready for business!!

Olivia has been sponsoring the same student since the beginning; today she had the opportunity to show her all the pictures she's saved of her through the years. It was a very touching moment on both sides.!

Basically, the rest of our day was spent with the hostel children...

 

We all fit on the new school bus, and headed to the forest for an afternoon of fun and exploring!

Through the years, it's always been such a great joy experiencing the excitment that fills the bus when we're all traveling together; loads of singing, dancing, game playing and basic chit-chat keep everyone preoccupied until we get to our destination. 

Our outing today was to the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, where we would stroll through the forest on a raised boardwalk.

It's all fun and games until the monkey hisses at you!!

Auntie Joan brought magnifying glasses for the hostel kids; I don't know who enjoyed them more, the children or the adults showing them what to do. 

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!!

Once we returned to the hostile, we had time to do some art projects with the children ...

enjoy Sophie's Sweet Treats...

hand out fun shirts to our trusted "body guards"...

play with Pradeep's little guy...

and go for a spin down the road...

Then it was off to Yeti for dinner.... This has become a favorite tradition for the travelers through the years as we get to treat the hostel kids to a special meal and spend some quality time with them. 

A  great day was had by all!

The travelers are grateful for all who generously donated to the "travel fund" as it helped cover all the expenses for today and so much more!!

Namaste'

~Jenny

One body with many parts...

We are a very eclectic group of travelers, each with unique and special gifts, but together we are one body. We have been blessed with the opportunity to come to India to build relationships behalf of all who faithfully support Joyful Journeys Ministries. It has certainly been a joy to me thus far to witness each person grow within this experience and today was no exception.  Seeing everyone step outside their comfort zone, remembering that that looks different for each person, was especially prevalent throughout our full day of worship. 

We began our day in Novahu's church in Madhavapatnam with singing, testimonies, scripture readings, communion, prayers and blessings. I reflected on 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 which compares the church body to the human body...if everyone were an eye, you'd never be able to hear, and if everyone were an ear how could you smell... So it is with our group, as well as their church family. No one person is more important than another nor are the gifts they offer better than the next persons; we are better together as a whole, than apart because then we are complete.

Following worship, a meal was served to "Oma's Oldsters", a ministry that provides assistance for basic needs to the elderly within that community. Individuals also received a washcloth knit by our very own "oldsters" along with a bar of soap. 

 

After the Oldsters ate, the hostal children had their lunch.

In the afternoon, we drove to a church about 45 minutes away through bumpy back roads into a very remote village. (I almost got puked on as the little boy sitting by me got car sick).  We were initially greeted with petals of flowers and cheerful smiles. It was decided to hold church outside opposed to in the palm frawn hut since there were too many of us to all fit inside, plus it was smokin' hot today! I must say, I've never been to a worship service before where fighting roosters raced through the congregation and a wild dog wandered in and fell asleep at our feet. Nevertheless, the Spirit was present and love filled the air!!

It's truly been non stop since we got here, so the travelers opted to call it an early night and headed back to the hotel for the remainder of the evening. We had our typical time of processing the days events, which is always so meaningful, then turned in...but not before a taste of home (or close to it)! And, they even deliver!! ;)   Ahh, the little things...

There really is so much more I'd like to say each day as we see how Joyful Journeys is impacting so many, I can hardly believe how far this has all come in the last 15 years, but I hope these little snippets are at least giving you an idea for now.

To all our family back home, rest assure we are doing well, and rejoice in how your loved ones are "shining"; I am blessed to be a part of this body that has some pretty amazing parts!!

Namaste'

~Jenny