Beauty is in the Eye of the beholder

Today is Saturday so went and played. We went to Mamallapuram to go shopping. This was an eye opening experience. As soon as we got off the bus people ran up to us trying to sell use stuff. I suckered and bought from the first person that stopped me. It was a stone elephant and it was pretty spectacular.  It only cost me 250 Rupees and his asking price was 700…  I should’ve brought more money because things here are very inexpensive, if you don’t mind bartering.

This little girl followed me for a block and waited while I went in three different shops. Yes I finally gave in and bought two necklaces. 

A man in one of the shops spoke great English. I had a blast talking to him. He just had his first child 17 days ago. He told me this I believe so I would feel bad and give him his asking price for the items I wanted. I told him I had three kids and so I had more mouths to feed. He thought that was funny and he accepted the price I offered.  I bought all of his small jewelry boxes.

The moms would come up and ask you to buy and show you there adorable children and tell you they needed food. This was a not very nice thing to do and really pulled at my heart strings.

Temple Ruins

        They call this "Butter Ball" they have tried to have elephants pull it down and it wont come down.

                                                   This is a shop that sells clothing.

                                               We all got our drink fix... Diet Cokes and Coke hehe

                         There was some religious festival going on. I still haven't figure out the name of it. They walked up and down the streets and had police escorting them.

                                       This guy danced and had a the pole with a plant on top that he balanced on his head.

We then went to a resort and got to play in the SEA. I was so excited I love the ocean and couldn’t wait to see the sea for the first time. The Beach was gorgeous and the trees and hammocks made it look like a little slice of heaven. I played a little in the sand but spent about 2 hours just standing in the waves. Standing there looking around you just couldn’t deny God exists.

                                                     I am being engulfed by a wave     

                                                                     Sunday

We drove back to Chennai today for church. What another great way to spend the day. The church house definitely wasn’t anything like the churches in the USA but the spirit was the same if not stronger. When that small congregation sang The Spirit of God it was if the heavens opened and the angels were singing it was so loud a powerful. The service was a little different then ours the teacher actually makes everyone participate and asks a lot of questions during the lesson.

                                               This is us right outside of the church building

The boys that come from rising star all pack in this van to make the 2 hour drive.

                Kala and me after church, I think my house mom is the only one that is LDS

Play time today was optional so only Amy, Carl , Raymond and I went over.  Once we got there Kala(my house mom)  asked me why I wasn’t wearing a sari I tried to explain and she told me to come to her room. When I got there she dressed me in multiple sari and put her jewelry on me. It was so much fun,  She put one on Amy to and we went outside and took pictures. The kids seemed to be very fascinated with the new attire we were wearing.

Family time tonight was laid back. The little boys were already laying down when we got there so Carl and I just laid next to them.  They really like there hair massaged and there arms and backs so that what we did till it was time to come back to the hostile. I love watching the boys fall asleep it is so precious.

The Internet isn’t working and hasn’t worked all day which is really sad because I haven’t gotten a chance to talk to my family today

“Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it”

I am so truly blessed to have the opportunity to be here in India. I get to see the beauty that I have not in the past been able to see.

Reality

Reality is the state of things as they actually exist, rather than as they may appear or might be imagined. This fits perfectly for me today and I will explain why during this entry.

Everyday here so far has been like a dream. I have enjoyed being her and words a lot of the time cant express what I am seeing or feeling. Today when I woke up I just felt a little down.  I was still a little bothered by my negative interaction with Stephen the night before. I  also couldn't stop thinking of a conversation I had with one of the other volunteers. We were talking about all of the people who had helped us get here and how a lot of them didn't have a lot of money themselves but helped anyway. We shouldve stopped there and just been thankful because we are truly thankful and I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for all the help I received.  The conversation didn't end though, it then turned to some of the people who didn't help us. This has been a touchy subject for me for awhile. I felt hurt by some of what I thought were my closest friends and some of my spouses family that I felt like would've or could've helped but didn't. Bringing back these feelings was a bad idea. I tried to put these feelings behind me and continue with my day.

I was in the medical group today and we set up the "medical care center" in the church. We have different station.

Station one: check in and get blood pressure

Station two: take off the old bandages

Station three: feet washing

Station four: oil feet

Station five: cutting dead skin and redressing the wounds

The living conditions of this colony were more heartbreaking than any of the colonies I have seen .. We arrived and this colony looked nothing like the others I had been to. Half of the houses where made out of branches and old poster/billboards or sheets.

                                       

                 This is not laundry hanging these are a few houses that are right next to each other.

                                     This home was made at of an old plastic billboard sign

                             Plastic, cloth, old metal door this house had a combination of things

                                                     Blankets  and branches

                                      This was the nicest home in the colony and it had a TV

 There where only 4 people that needed bandages which was great and the sores didn't look as bad as they did at the other colony. The last guy that we had come through had dead skin/ulcers that needed cut out. This was heart wrenching because this was very painful he was gripping his leg and had tears rolling down his face. I wanted to shout stop you're hurting him. I wanted to tell him I was sorry and ask what I could do to make it better.  I couldn't so I just had to sit there and touch his leg and hand to try to show I cared and I was sorry. I was frustrated that the nurse wasn't talking to him or doing something for the pain.

 This is the man I am referring to. After I re bandaged his foot I asked for a picture. He leaned his head against mine it was so sweet.

On the drive back I was still thinking about the negative things and then I added the sadness of feeling like I hadn't done enough to help this man. When we got to the Hostile I went to my room and started blogging and reflecting on my day so far. I came across a few quotes that helped put things into perspective.

Spread love everywhere you go: let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your smile, kindness in your eyes. -Mother Theresa

Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.
Muhammad Ali

To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity.
Douglas Adams

If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.
Mother Teresa

With all of the miracles and amazing people I am surrounded by and for all the people that helped to get me here how can I be down? I am so blessed to be here. I am so lucky to have a great family. Yea so I didn't get the support I thought, who cares.  They are the ones missing out on this journey.  I have a wonderful husband who is a shining example of service.  I don't know where he learned it but he is an inspiration to me and my children. My family has been so willing to support me in every way possible. I have friends that provided more for me to get here then they should have. I am in India learning more about selflessness and love from these people that have so little but are willing to share everything they do have with you.

I am truly blessed and so thankful to be here.  I am learning so much about India/Me/Family/God. Reality is what you make.

Tonight at Family time we made more wallets the kids had a blast.

                                             Here are some of the boys getting ready for bed!

           Tonight ended great it started raining and Amy, Kim and I went and played in it!

There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.                                    Albert Einstein