A Loss for words

I find it ironic that as we sit down to blog about our final days in India I am at a loss for what to say.  Our experience here has been one that we will cherish in our hearts forever.  The experiences that we had and the lessons we learned were some that will always be with us.  I can't begin to explain how much the people of India changed our way of thinking and of being.  To see so much pain and a hard way of living is uncomfortable.  But the way that these people react to their circumstance of living is something I will never forget.  These people are truly happy and yet they have nothing.  In America we define ourselves by what we do as a living.  Such as I'm Jessica and I'm a nurse.  But these people they are defined by how they live.  They don't care who has more money because majority don't have hardly any money.  But they find joy in living and even when they have been afflicted with Leprosy and the community has turned their back on them.  They are happy.  They lean on family and friends and find joy in being given the gift of life.  Indians are very family oriented here.  Something I wish that Americans  would take a lesson from.  Family is everything.  Having children is everything.  They know that they aren't in the best circumstance but make the best of it.  I never heard anybody complain.  It was a hard thing to leave this wonderful place.  It was a very tearful goodbye to the children and the adults of RSO.  The girls said that next year when we come back to bring our baby (because they are sure I will have one by then) But they also wanted us to know that I already had 20 children.  Meaning those of our house that I spent each night with. I truly do feel that way. I love those children like family.  They are so willing to love and be loved. Such a sweet innocence that I hope they never loose.  I think this quote fits very well with our trip " Your journey has molded you for the greater good and it was exactly what it needed to be.  Don't think that you lost time.  It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now, and now is right on time." We were supposed to come here and God knew of our needs and theirs I'm eternally grateful for these people and  this place.  It has taught me some of life's greatest lessons.

The end is near

 So here we are at the last week of our great trip in India.  It's amazing that it's been a three weeks already.  I feel like we just got here too. And it's also hard because I feel that we are just starting to have a great relationship with the people and the kids here and now it's time for us to depart.  Ever since this week started the kids will always ask "Auntie, Auntie, When you leave?" When I tell them Saturday they always frown and say it's to soon.  I feel the same.  It's also hard because for some of these kids we are about as close as family.  They only get to see their parents once a month and then are here for the rest of the time with us.  It's hard to see but a necessary thing.  This week we've done a lot.  We did some medical work again which was great!.  I learned a few Tamil phrases with the Indian nurse that I work with and used them on the patients.  I'm sure it was barely decipherable what I said but they always responded in excited voices.  I think it was mostly just because it was nice to communicate with them without having a translator.  Steven did an awesome job washing the feet of the leprosy patients.  While I was debriding and wrapping the wounds.  It's exciting to see that some are understanding their disease and knowing when they need to find treatment. I've found a new love for public health education because it can help so much in preventing and knowing how to treat.  

 Okay so this is Steve writing now... Jessica mentioned that I haven't made a blogging entry this entire trip, and well quite frankly shes absolutely right. So here it goes.  This trip has been amazing.  I am eternally grateful for the many people who made it possible including those who so generously donated financially.  2 Years ago when I returned from my mission I prayed every night for an opportunity to feel like a missionary again. Through this trip my prayers have been answered.  It has been more amazing than I had dreamed.  Thank you again to all those who have helped make it possible including our families.
When we landed in India I looked out the window of our van and saw a city full of millions of people.  I thought to myself, "how is it possible that God knows all these people, loves them, and is involved in the details of their lives?" My experience here has taught me that God does know all of his children even if they have never heard of Jesus Christ.  The boy pictuered above is named Bala.  He and I are good friends now.  He is 11 years old and doesn't have close family.  When I asked if is parent's were coming for parents day he said that he hasn't seen his Mother or Father for a long long time.  I wonder sometimes if God knew that Bala was sad, afraid and lonely not having a family of his own but knew that Steven Hart on the other side of the planet would be able to connect with him.  I also wonder if God knew that Steven Hart wanted to serve and make a connection and that Bala would be able to teach Steven a thing or two as well.  I feel that this was a match made in heaven, a divine crossroad.  Jessica has made several similar connections.  This taught me that God is willing to send someone half way around the world, spend thousands of dollars, and countless hours of planning and preparation maybe just to give one of His children a hug, wipe a tear, or make them laugh again. I know that God lives and that we are all part of His eternal family.

Dehli trip

So this weekend we went to Dehli, and Agra City.  We started our journey at 3 am Friday morning. And after a small flight of about two hours we arrived in Dehli.  We got in a very nice chartered bus (with AC I might add) and drove around new Dehli.  The tour was beautiful.  The picture above is the capital building.  We went and saw the american embassy which was cool.  I was amazed at how clean New Dehli was and the nice buildings.  I was under the impression that was how all of dehli.  But I was mistaken for sure.  The tour guide announced that we were now headed into Old Dehli.  It was a night and day difference to the above.  So much poverty and people everywhere.  It was dirty and the traffic was at it's peak of craziness.  

 This picture I feel doesn't even start to describe the mass of people there.  They just build one on top of the other.  I couldn't believe that this amount of people could all reside in such a small area, And people would stare at us constantly.  It was really uncomfortable. But a good learning experience.  When I was in the slums of brazil I saw wires being plugged into the poles just so that people could have electricity.  This city was the same but times 20.  There were wires hanging to low I was worried we would hit them.  While we were there we did go and visit a spice market and I got some spices which I'm very excited to go home and try out.  The man I bought them from gave me his email and said that he would email me some recipes so if it turns out good family you better plan on an amazing indian meal.

 So to tour Old Delhi we took some bicycle rickshaws.  It was so intense to be out in all that traffic exposed with nothing protecting me from all those crazy drivers.  Our tour guide says that it's reallyeasy to drive in India because there are no rules and you can just make up your own.  All I can say is next time I get pulled over I think I'm going to thank that police officer for keeping order and making people abide by the rules.  Yet another thing that India has taught me.  Now this next story actually happened I'm not making this up.  While on this bicycle ride we were turning around on a narrow street.  And our bicycle driver bumped into a cart passing the other direction.  While they were speaking in some very heated Hindi, Steve and I couldn't have anticipated what was about to happen next. All the sudden our driver jumped off the bike and started fighting the cart drivers.  We were surprised but that was just the beginning.  All the sudden there is a swarm of people in front of us fighting each other! And us right in the middle of it.  Steve got out to try and move the cart but I told him it was probably best to stay put.  We just watched in a state of shock.  The unfortunate thing was that we didn't even think to get our cameras out and film this.  A sadly missed opportunity.  When the driver returned he acted like absolutely nothing had happened. Just another day in India.

 After our near death experience we got on our very safe and secure bus and drove to lunch.  This food topped all the food I've had this far.  I couldn't believe the rich flavor.  And the Nan bread was divine. And such good curry.  It was called butter chicken and chicken tikka masala both were extraordinary.  All I'm sayin is that if this restaraunt comes to the united states I'll eat there every day.  We also ate at pizza hut and KFC which was fun.  Indian version of pizza hut I dare say was probably better then the original.  It's just so funny that they don't eat meat so it was all spicy chicken pizza's.  But all I cared about was that it was a little piece of home and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Justin Beiber and Kesha while eating.

Next was a long seven hour bus ride to Agra city! We got settled in our cozy five star hotel and it was so nice to take a real shower! I soaked in there for at least an hour.  And to sit on a seat while using the bathroom.  I thought I might have died and gone to heaven.  Indian squatters are not exactly comfort based more like essential based.  But we woke up early to see the sun rise on the TAJ MAHAL! Words can't express the Taj.  It's the 1st of the seven man made wonders of the world.  And I think that it is much deserved. The detail that was put into that building is extraordinary.  It's hard to explain just how beautiful it is.  And it's all for a tomb to place a queen in.  What a quest of love.  So while at the Taj I got my first taste of stardom. I'm getting used to people staring at our large group of white people but they usually do not approach us.  Well while everyone was taking pics I was just sitting down taking it all in. And a group of about five or so men came and asked if they could take a picture with me.  It was quite funny but I consented.  They were all so excited. And that's about how the day went.  People would either ask us to be in a picture or they would just sneak pictures of us like we were part of the scenery.  HA guess I now know how it feels to be the huge minority.

WE RODE AN ELEPHANT!!!!!!!  It was amazing to be so close to such a large and magnificent creature.  It was way fun to be on top and feel it sway as it stepped.  I didn't realize just how tall he was until we got up there.  He was very gently.  I never realized that elephants have hair on the hides.  It's very prickly to touch.  Kind of reminded me of unshaved legs.  Steve stayed his distance back so I finally persuaded him to take a picture near the elephant.  He consented and the elephant hit him in the head with his ears.  It was hilarious to steve's expression.  Something new that I learned about my husband is that he doesn't trust unfamiliar animals.  I guess that's why he's the smarter one in  our relationship.  There was also a camel and some monkeys there  but I'm so used to both of those two animals now I think I see them on a daily occurance. It's not uncommon to see a speeding car pass a camel carrying a cart.  Or a herd of cows being lead down the road with people zooming in and out to pass them.  Such a crazy mix of modern and ancient worlds.