Today has been filled with so much emotion and I am drained...
I need to tell you before I even get started that
I feel just like the little girl in the second row...
I could close my eyes and sleep through anything right now!
However, I will do my best to get this post out before I turn in for the night.
It is our last full day in Madhavapatnam today and we are absolutely thrilled to hear that Novahu is going to let the orphans play hookie from school this afternoon so that we can play with them
a bit more before we go.
It is an afternoon filled with much merriment, hugs and sweet treats...
After playing with the orphans, it was time to start getting ready for the evenings festivities,
the gals had brought mud facial masks to do for fun...they were enjoyed by both travelers and
our hosts alike...
Next it was time for fixing hair and painting nails, which the orphan girls were thrilled to do...
While we were busy getting ourselves ready, preparations were underway for preparing the food...
The stage was also being set up across the street from Novahu's house...
Finally, everything and everyone was set for the program...
It was truly an honor to be greeted by not only the teachers and children,
but also by the parents. Everyone was so grateful for the education that their kids were receiving!
I was asked to share a few words of encouragement and Big Bob was asked to lift up "the mission'...
We were entertained by several different groups of dancers from the Marshall Public School
and the Adult Ed program...
Following the program, dinner was served to the people in the village who attended the evening ceremony.
We were told that they ran out of plates and food and had to quickly prepare more
in order to feed the over 1,000 people who showed up!
While the villagers enjoyed their meal, and the teachers took one last pose for a "photo op" with Big Bob, the rest of us were quickly escorted out and up to say good-bye to the orphans.
So, if you've made it through all that, you're probably wondering where the Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Covered Caramels are...
well, just hold on!
How 28 children can steal the hearts of 10 travelers is only a pure testimony to how alive and real this ministry is! The ache I feel in the depths of my heart right now at the thought of leaving these children is more than I can stand...the ache I feel for my own daughters who are also so incredibly attached to these children is just as heart wrenching. The thought that tomorrow (well actually today) will come and we won't be able to feel their little arms squeeze tight around us as they hug us with all their might is enough to make me break down in tears again.
Okay, so there's salt in tears, but you're probably wondering about the chocolate and caramel.
So what's so sweet about this all...
well for starters if it weren't for the love that was shared between us it wouldn't matter whether we left or not and knowing that you could love this group of children so much within such a short amount of time that they too were distraught with tears at the reality of us leaving, gives me cause to believe we accomplished part of what we set out to do. To instill in these orphans that there are people on the other side of the world who love and care for them and that they each are special is a gift we set out to give. Knowing that as we left there today, each of those 28 children felt more love than they possibly have felt in their precious lifetime...
this is as satisfying as the sweet taste of chocolate and caramel.
Together the saltiness of tears and the sweetness of love reminds me of my favorite
Dark Chocolate Sea Salt covered Caramels.
And there you have it!
Please don't misunderstand me though, these children are very much loved by Novahu and his family as well as by those who are hired to help care for them; it's just that the reality of it all is that there are only so many caregivers for 28 kids...not a lot of one on one time if you know what I mean.
I'd like to leave you for now with this story...
Ganesh, one of the orphan boys really connected with me while we were here; he always sought me out and wanted to make sure I had everything I could possibly need or want. He was kind, gentle and loving. When it came time to paint our hands on the wall, he specifically asked me to put mine close enough to his so that our fingers could touch. The cockles of my heart were warmed by his display of affection. Well, tonight when we came up to say good-bye and I started to cry he pulled me over to the wall and showed me our hands...I told him he would always be in my heart and he told me that whenever he would be missing me he would come and put his hand over my painted one on the wall and think of me.
God bless Ganesh and all our other little "shine brites" who are part of
Joyful Journey Ministry in India!
We have reached the final portion of our trip,
but our journey continues...
Namaste'
~Jenny
