Day 2 India, Thursday

This morning we woke up a tad later than we had hoped, but after not going to sleep until a little past 4 am an then being woken up at 5 am by the prayer call in the village, our 7 am alarm came really early. It's so strange how normal certain things seem here, like cold showers. It actually feels so good. Right outside our room is a large room with a large beautiful table where we all met to eat breakfast. We had hard boiled egg, a delicious fresh made tortilla type bread, and a dish with potatoes, onions, peppers, curry, and tumeric. It was SO yummy! With it we had fresh juice an it was by far the best juice I have ever had in my life. After breakfast we loaded on the bus to go see a few Harvey India buildings. Along the way we side side-swiped a crazy taxi. Seriously just can't get over the driving here lol. First stop was at the new public school. The school was opened within the last year or so and had quite a bit of opposition. The towns people did not want a school where delecs would attend. So many people behind harvest India went and at in the grounds and prayed and they were given the permission they needed! The kids learn english, and about Jesus and goes from grade 1-10. After this they can go to +1 and +2 and then the university. The children were not here because they are on holiday this week. Since most of the kids live in the orphanage and don't get a chance to leave during this holiday they are sent out to stay with pastors where they can receive love and more individual attention. Next on the schedule is 1 of the orphanages. Just wow. We get off the bus and are greeted once again with flowers. Infront of us the pathway to the door is lined on the right with boys and the left with girls a you walk by they throw flower petals up in the air. Let me just say some of these kids have some good aim! Lol as we walk by they yell "sista, sista!" and ask your name. I wish I had time to hug every single one of them. We go inside and 3 groups dance for us. It was great getting to let them put on a show for us and clap an cheer for them. It may not seem like much but just a small amount of attention and caring goes a very long way here. We also got the opportunity to have a few of them tell us about themselves. Of how they ended up at the home and what Harvey india has done for them. On the way out they again yell "sista, sista" and reach out to grab our hands. I was surprised how many of them remembered my name. Across re street was Suresh's home(Suresh is the president of Harvest India) where the tailor was waiting to get out measurements for saree's an punjabi's(sp) and had fabric laid out for us to pick from. These fabrics are AMAZING!! So beautiful it's hard to pick. I cannot wait to have my saree made. We were supposed to get on the train at 12:20 however we for slowed way down in the crazy traffic and didn't make it. We went to the rooms grabbed what we would need for the next 4 days. From the balcony outside our area we could see some small girls on the street they started waving at us so we waved and smiled back. They ran off and just a few decide later came back... With friends! :) so cute! We left for the train station, and did make it on a train even though we were late. This was a regular day train but still interesting. As soon as we sit we see a young boy wearing nothing but a pair of shorts on his handstand knees cleaning the filthy floor of the train. He tapped me on the leg and put his hand out for money. I started to cry as I turned away. It breaks my heart, but we were told on this trip not to give to beggars for safety reasons. Then at every stop people would crowd the isles an vendors would walk up and down the isles trying to sell everything from hot foods, to nuts and fruit and coffee or chai. After nearly 4 hours we make it to peddipuram. It is 5:19 pm. My back is super sore, as well as my knee and I don't think I have ankles anymore. Tomorrow we will start VBS. (pics: 4 am sucking melted Hershey chocolate from the wrapper I'm exhausted and starving, breakfast!, the beds at the orphanage, at the orphanage Suresh is showing me the land, beautiful feet, the girls dancing for us, and Bryan sleeping on the train :)




















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