I’m not even sure how to begin this blog post. As I think about what an incredible day this was for Adam and I, its hard to find the right words to give the day justice. The only word I can use to describe the feelings we felt is JOY! Pure Unimaginable Joy! Not only was this experience by far the best one I had in India, but it also would count as one of the most amazing and touching days of my life.
As you may recall from an earlier blog post, before leaving for India I had tried to contact both the mission president as well as the Branch President in Bangalore to see if there were any needs or opportunities for Adam and I to do some service. Neither person had any really good ideas or needs they could think of, and so I sort of ended up doing my own thing and just bought a whole bunch of stickers, balloons, & candies with the hopes that Adam and I could drop them off at an orphanage or school for needy children.
Unfortunately we weren’t able to find a place in Bangalore during our time there (you actually had to MAKE an appointment to help out at a school or orphanage) but one morning at breakfast in Mysore I inquired to our waiter if he knew of any schools or orphanages that could use some cheering up. He immediately became very excited and went and got his head cook who knew of just the place. Both the waiter and the head cook ended up walking outside to the parking lot with me so that they could explain to my driver how to get to underprivileged school they had in mind. It was a school where over 70 girls lived who were either orphans, came from single parent families, or were in families with serious issues and abuse. The government was funding the school, but only provided the very basic necessities to survive such as a roof over the girls head and food in their bellies. But the girls actually slept on the same hard cement floors that they sat on all day for their studies. No beds. No desks. No chairs. Only a blackboard and rug in each room. Then at nights each girl would receive one blanket. And this was how they lived day in and day out for 10 out of the 12 months they were at school. Needless to say it was heart breaking to hear of these beautiful girls living in such conditions, and of course because everything was government funded their was very little money for extra things like FUN or entertainment for the girls – so we were happy to help out with that!
We arrived that morning right after breakfast at the school after getting lost a few times and needing to ask directions. We hadn’t called beforehand and really didn’t know how our visit would be received, but we hoped that the school masters would allow us to go in and visit with the girls and deliver our gifts. What we ended up getting though was a Hero’s welcome!
As Adam and I drove up to the school, we gathered our bags of items (which included stickers, candies, balloons, some clothes, and lots of bathroom supplies like soaps and shampoos and things) and then we headed for the door. Even before we arrived at the main entrance several Indian ladies were on the steps to greet us and seemed very curious about our presence there. We explained that we had brought some gifts for the girls from America and asked if we could deliver them. They at first thought that we just wanted to drop them off, but we kindly explained that we’d also love to MEET the girls if they would allow it. They were actually ECSTATIC that we wanted to do that and told us what a treat it would be for the girls to meet us and get to practice their English.
Adam and I were at first very apprehensive and unsure of what to do once we were in the classroom with the girls, (we hadn’t thought that far ahead) but you could literally FEEL the energy in each classroom and the excitement all the girls had just SEEING two White Americans! Luckily we had brought some post cards of Utah, as well as our blog books and some family pictures and so we showed the girls our pictures and then explained that we were from America and had come to bring them some gifts. We then gave each girl a chocolate sweet (that is what they call any sort of candy or treat), a balloon, and some stickers. At first the girls didn’t seem to know what to do with their loot, but Adam and I ended up deciding it would be fun to actually play a game with them using the balloons and so we blew up a few and taught them the “don’t let the balloon drop on the floor game!” You would have thought we’d just told them all we were taking them to disneyland. The looks of joy and happiness on their faces was priceless and they squealed and giggled and just looked to be having the best time of their lives!
Another thing that I wanted to do while we were with each of the girls is to let them know how loved they are by a Heavenly Father, and that they are not forgotten and that they are special, unique, and priceless beyond words. So one of the things I asked to do is to give each girl a hug (those of you that know me – know that I am a hugger!) Once again you could just feel the energy in the room and each girl just bursted with happiness as she got her very own hug. Occasionally I’d get a shy girl that was a little more apprehensive about hugging, but even those few girls eventually warmed up to the idea and came over to receive their hug and ended up smiling in the end! I could tell that having a little physical affection just meant the world to them. If you ever want to feel like a super star and to be filled with an incredible amount of joy, just go and hug 70 Indian young girls and I promise, you won’t be able to wash the smile off your face! I was having just as much fun as they were!
Because the school houses girls for several different age groups, the classrooms were all divided up by age. If I remember right, we visited 3 classrooms with between 20-35 girls in each. And in each room we tried to tell a little bit about ourselves, share some pictures, answer questions, play the balloon game, and give everyone a hug. In some of the classrooms the girls were full of questions and loved hearing about our kids and home life, and in others, they requested Adam and I to sing.
One of the high lights for me is while we were visiting with the 3rd classroom, the 1st classroom of girls requested that I come BACK to their room briefly because they had actually made up a song that they wanted to sing for me. It was a song called “Sarah don’t cry” and luckily we got it on video. It really touched my heart though and made me feel so special.
We ended up spending several hours with the girls and eventually it got to be their lunch time. None of the girls were wanting us to leave though and neither were the teachers (they were just as excited to have us there as the girls) and so they invited us to stay and eat lunch with them. We were more than happy to oblige – not wanting to end our fun yet either.
We were first given what I believe was called a Ragi ball, which we were instructed not to CHEW. You were actually supposed to dip it in a lentil gravy they gave us and simply SWALLOW it. I ended up really struggling with this part though because the largest thing I have ever just “swallowed” is a pill. So trying to swallow big clumps of food just wasn’t working very well for me. I ended up chewing the food anyway (even though you aren’t supposed to) because I would gag every time I tried to swallow. Luckily Adam saved me half way through the meal when he suggested I sneak my Ragi ball to him. I was ever so grateful for his kindness and immediately obliged. The gravy was also SUPER spicy hot to me and so I struggled eating that, but did my best to just put a smile on my face and appreciate the kindness of the girls and their teachers. We really just were loving our time with them all.
After lunch the girls all wanted to get pictures with us as well as the teachers so we spent a good chunk of time just posing for pictures with the girls. Luckily Naveen (our driver) was with us during our whole experience at the school and was taking lots of pictures for us. I would have been so sad to miss even a single one of these beautiful faces!
The girls were all so cute and kept leading me from room to room to show me new things or to have me sing, or to offer me gifts. One girl wanted to give me some of her bangles (bracelets) to remember her by and in return I gave her my sunglasses! I think she was pleased with the trade! Another girl wanted to put a jewel between my eyes like many of them had and so she went and got one of hers and stuck it to my forehead. I was just surrounded by love from all these girls and they seriously just made me feel like a super star in their world. My heart just burst with love for them all! I was experiencing a piece of heaven being with them.
As it got to be later in the afternoon, I could tell we needed to wind things down and let the girls get back to their classrooms and studies, but each time we tried to leave Adam or I would be pulled back in for some other request, or kind gift, or picture, or question. At one point I actually did make it out of the school after waving to all the girls and blowing them kisses goodbye, and kissing lots of foreheads, and giving more hugs – but then I realized I had left my flip flops in one of the classrooms and so I had to go back in for that. Ha ha! Of course I didn’t mind one bit spending a few extra minutes with the girls but once again the process of trying to make it out the door began. It really wasn’t an easy task! I was literally surrounded by beautiful faces wanting to hold my hands, kiss me, hug me, and spend as much time as they could with me. I’ve never felt so loved or been surrounded by so many beautiful daughters of God, or felt the love of our Savior so strongly than I did for these girls that day. My heart was literally bursting with love and overflowing with joy for these sweet spirits. It was one of the happiest and most rewarding days of my life!
Life just doesn’t get too much better than this!
As Adam and I left the girls we were both just completely humbled and filled with gratitude for the amazing experience we had just been granted. We literally could not believe that our little idea to drop off some goodies to a school could have produced such amazing feelings of love and joy. We just couldn’t believe we’d been so lucky as to have been instruments in the Lords hands in that way. To share his love with these darling girls and to help them know that they are not alone and that they have a Savior who cares about them and loves them. It truly was a gift to US to be able to have this experience. We can’t wait to do more when we get back to India and to take our kids with us so they too can feel the joy of service. What a glorious wonderful day that Adam and I will remember forever.
Happiness to us – was seeing the smiles of 70 of the most beautiful, warm, amazing Indian girls you could ever meet! How great was our joy!
In other news here are a few pictures that I took that morning before we headed out to the school. This first one is of the main entrance where they were filming the wedding movie. The film crews had finally finished decorating and had the stairs all lit up with candles. I thought it was pretty cool looking.
Adam also got to go out for a nice morning dip before we checked out for the day and enjoyed having the entire pool to himself!
Adam even serenaded me while I was out relaxing on our balcony. Such a romantic!
(Actually though – he just wanted me to throw down his swim goggles! he he. But did serenade me a little to ask for them.)
Once again an amazing creation of flowers and colored rice to greet us in the main lobby. I love how Indians create beauty everywhere they go!
And thats a wrap! Seriously one of our best days ever! What a blessing to be able to experience the joy of service and a small part of what makes India so special!