Coming Home

I left India on June 29 and these are my boys waiting for me at the airport on July 1st...

Oh how I missed them!  I am such a lucky mommy!  I couldn't stop hugging them! (And their sweet daddy dressed them in the soccer outfits I got them last year in El Salvador.  Loved it!)

They were very intrigued by my henna.

Back at home - showing them some of my treasures and doling out presents, of course.

 

A little jet-lagged, but so glad to be home!  I missed these boys!

Talk about Amazing Parents

Every weekday, this bus picks up some 30+ kids and adults so they can be a part of Shri Guru Sankalpam.  All of the riders have some sort of mental (and sometimes physical) disability.  The amazing thing is that this "school" (quotations because it is much more than that) was started and is run by parents who donate their time and resources so that their child and others like them can have a decent life in a society that would outcast them.  This bus was donated by the State Bank of Hyderabad and is, of course, driven everyday to each home by one of the parents.

I can't even begin to tell you all of the amazing things they do there, and with very little resources.  And there is so much love from all the teachers and caregivers (almost all parents who donate their time), to all of the children not just their own.  I was in awe of their selfless service.  They teach them, they do crafts, they do occupational therapy, physical therapy, they have prayer time, and the list goes on.

Such overwhelmingly sweet spirits and joyful hearts.  So happy we got the chance to serve these children of God.

To read about HELP International's projects at the school, you can read more here or here.

Tippy Tap

Our own tippy tap to go along with the latrines we are building in the slums of Hyderabad.

Teaching the kids how to use it.

The widow that will be the recipient of the new "Soilet" and this hand waching station.

The girls that made it happen, showing off their clean hands with the kids that will now have a better chance at living disease free.

Not so cute and cuddly

Out early one morning, we ran into these guys.  At first, I thought "So cool!  I always wanted to see monkeys in India!"  We snapped a few pics . . .

but then, the guy who's house it was started chasing them away. . .

So we followed them, because I was trying to get a close up of the little baby monkeys.

 
But see this daddy monkey?  He and his buddies really didn't like that . . .

5 or 6 cute little animals turned into raging psycho possessed monkeys chasing me down the road.  Luckily only one of them got to me.  I think the rest were scared off after my wild scream of insane fear for my life.

Yes, there was a hole in my shirt.  And yes, except for the PTSD, I am okay now.

Celebrity Status Achieved at ताज महल

That is Hindi for:

aka. Taj Mahal

I went there my first day in India.  After a two hour taxi "tour" to find the actual tour bus, I rode as the only white tourist on a bus for 5 1/2 hours from Delhi to Agra.  Most interesting part about the Taj?  Apparently I was the main attraction.  First of all, it was VERY crowded, because it was a Sunday - day off for Muslims, Hindus and Christians.  Everywhere I went, people wanted to take their picture with me.  I saw two other white people and they were an old french couple.  Seriously - boys, girls, all ages, wanted ME in their picture.  Some were too shy to ask me, so they would just follow me for a little bit.  Flattering at first, slightly annoying after awhile.  But I did take pictures of them too, so maybe its equal (but not really).

Aside from that though, it was totally awesome.  You can read more about the Taj Mahal here, but I will tell you that it does have quite an interesting story.  It was built in the 1600s and has AMAZING craftsmanship.  The most recognizable part is the big dome, which is actually a mausoleum.

But it is actually a huge complex with several buildings (including a mosque), fountains, gardens, and surrounding walls.  The other structures were equally as cool as the main building.  So here's a how it goes:

Enter through here.  This is inside the outer walls.

 Then you will pass through here:

Which, once you enter, is lined like this on either side:

Then you will see the "Taj Mahal", the actual mausoleum and as you head forward on either side you will see this (which I think is supposed to have water running down the middle): 

 
On both sides of the Taj you have these mosques, which are huge.  See that little dude in the picture?

 The mosques were as ornate and very cool inside and out.

Inside the big white domed mausoleum is the tomb.  Seeing the stonework in there, I can see why people say this is so amazing.  It is really indescribable.

 All the colors in the pattern are individual inlaid stones.

Some more of the detail around the complex: 

And then it's back out.

And on the way out to the outer gates, I saw these women.  They're carrying bundles of the grass they just cut from the manicured lawns.

That's it.  Wha'dya think?

Cell phones and TVs, but no toilets

Sad, but true.  We visited a community the other day to assess the needs for a type of latrine we build and for a clean water project we would like to pursue.  It is termed "the slums", although it is more on the outskirts of the city and the communities are actually very well organized.  But yes, there were actually sattelite dishes on top of little shacks.  But it was very clear that the need was there for what we have to offer.  This news clip describes the desparate situation: 

The first "community" we visited had 300+ families.  They have been there for about 3yrs.  There are one or two latrines that individual families have built, but that's it.  The have to pay 12 rupees (30 cents) for about 5 gallons of "potable water", although it is not anywhere near safe to drink. Some of them are starting to build homes out of cement and brick, which will be done bit by bit as they can afford it. 

The next area, adjacent to the first, has been there for 7 years, so the living spaces are a little bit more permanent, but the same situation exists.  Most resort to using the jungle-ish area some 100-200km away to go to the bathroom.  This community has electricity (sort of) and LDS charities has put in a few wells for water that are being well utilized, but still 98% of the people do not have a toilet or latrine.  And usually if they do have a latrine/septic system, they say they only use it for "emergencies" because it is so expensive to have it cleaned out, which has to be done about every 6 months.

Hopefully, in the next week I will have good news to share about the actions we are taking to help these communities.   Since this visit, we are already breaking ground for a "Soilet" (which I will write more about when I have pictures) and are making plans to build more wells like this one:

All so we can help these kids grow up healthy with a better chance at life.

I really am in India

Just so you know, I made it to India after a somewhat arduous journey.  (ie. delayed flights, missed connections, no one to pick me up from the airport.)  But it all worked out I am here now sweating and basking in all that India has to offer.

While I hope there will be more detailed posts to come, here's a glimpse so far . . .

Went here on Sunday:

Worked here on Tuesday:

 And have seen lots of these revered animals walking the streets:

India is very similar to other less developed countries I have been in.  The biggest difference is the traffic/driving - it is absolutely insane!  And I thought I had seen some crazy stuff, but this tops it.  It is hot here, but not unbearable.  It's just one of those places where you accept that you will be sweating all the time.  I love the women's clothing.  And they are just as intrigued by us as we are by them.  The projects we are working on seem to have good depth and will have lasting impact. 

More to come on all of this . . .