A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words

This week, I am changing things up a little. The saying goes "A picture's worth a thousand words." Well, I think that these pictures are worth more than that. My post this week is going to be through 5 photos with some small captions underneath. I'm celebrating the fact that I am finally able to upload photos (hoorayyy!!!!!)! I hope that these photos give you just a small taste of the beauty that surrounds me at Carmel. I am in awe of the children who surround me every day that I am here and this week I am dedicating my post to all of them through these few photos. Also, check out my new photos on my blog that I updated as well. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do...

Coming home from school to a beautiful sunset

Some boys enjoying a game of cards with the boys warden, Rajesh. 

The 3 boys I wrote a post about a while ago: (from left to right) Sathish Kumar, Udaya Kumar and Lokesh Kumar

The girls having a blast attempting to break a very large branch! Just take a look at their facial expressions!

After arriving, I did a week-long teacher training for the teachers of Carmel Matriculation School. These are the incredible teachers who I am lucky enough to teach beside every single day.

My thought for this week....

I'd like to just take a minute. As I am sitting here thinking about how I haven't had a bad day yet, the reason just struck me. I have the extremely fortunate opportunity to be teaching the best kids in the world. They are so eager to learn and anxious for what each class will bring. Their smiles each day bring me more encouragement than I could ever hope for! I don't know if I will ever love teaching as much as I do right now. Therefore, I am taking in each moment that I have teaching these kids who need me more than any other kid on this planet.

I am doing God's work and He is reaching these children through me. This morning, after my IV standard class finished, I had a boy come up to me and ask "Aunty, you like Jesus?" to which I replied "Yes, I love Him very much." The boy's response was "I also love Him very much." God is at work in ways that amaze me each and every day that I am here.

If these kids do not understand the meaning of kindness then I don't know who does. Daily, they bring me flowers and, on their birthdays, they always share one of their birthday chocolates with me. One boy, Vijay (in IV standard), has given me a pen and a bracelet. Another boy, Zion (in VIII standard), presented me with an English copy of "The Jungle Book" the other day. All these gifts have been given to me for no reason other than from the kindness of their hearts and the longing to share with someone who is showing them love. I know that I am reaching the goals that I set forth for myself and all I can do is smile and Praise God!

I am in awe of what God is doing in my life and could not feel more lucky that it is me who He chose for this journey. Thank you, Lord, for giving me the chance to enjoy each and every day that I am here. Thank you for giving me such pure joy through the smiles and love of some pretty incredible kids. Thank you for giving me the most wonderful students that a teacher could ask for. And I still have 5 months to go!!! I am beyond excited to think about all that God still has in store for Carmel and myself over the upcoming months.

On another exciting and more personal note, I received my first package from home this week! Hooray!!! I was filled with pure bliss when I unpacked candy corn, Lucky Charms and chocolate milk!! Boy was that first chocolate milk a taste of HEAVEN!! Yummmmmmmy!! Thanks, Mama and Padre!!! <3 <3 <3

Blessed beyond belief!

I am feeling blessed beyond belief this week. Blessed to have this incredible opportunity to spend six months at one of my favorite places on Earth. Blessed to play football every day with boys who warm my heart. Blessed to wake up every morning and praise God with children who inspire me. Blessed to teach the most awesome students on this planet. Blessed to know each one of these children and be the reason they smile each day. Blessed to teach alongside the wonderful teachers of Carmel Matriculation School. And lastly, feeling blessed beyond belief to be able to enjoy each day that I am here even though I miss my friends and family more than words can say. Is it hard some days? Absolutely. I am not saying that this is easy as pie. Instead, I am saying that I am focusing on the positive and counting my blessings. I am being thankful for what the Lord is giving me instead of missing what/who I don't have next to me at this moment.

This week, I want to focus on one young man who I am feeling particularly lucky to know. His name is K. Karthick, aka "Triple K." He is 20 years old and he lives and works at the hostel doing all sorts of odd jobs; he also works on the schoolbus every morning and afternoon (helping children on and off the bus). I am very fortunate to know Karthick and consider him a great friend.

About a year and half ago (I think), Karthick tragically lost his right arm while riding a bus. A drunken man got on the bus and forced Karthick to move against the window with his right arm hanging out the window. I don't know if you are familiar with Indian traffic or Indian bus rides, but to say the least, it is very crowded and chaotic. Cars, buses and trucks all pass one another within mere inches of each another. So, when Karthick was forced to move by the window, another vehicle came along very close and that was the end of his right arm. But this is not the part of Karthick's life that I want to focus on, because it is not the part of his life that HE focuses on. Instead of dwelling on what he cannot do without his right arm, Karthick chooses to focus on what he CAN do with his left arm.

This young man inspires me in more ways than I can even begin to describe. He is one of the most hardworking young men I've ever seen. He is also am amazing football (soccer) player...probably one of the best here. He plays a mean game of badminton and volleyball. The other day, I watched Karthick stitch together a part of a football that was coming apart using his left hand and his teeth. I was in awe. Karthick can do more with his left arm than many people can do with both of their arms. I'm pretty sure the only thing he is not able to do with his left hand is write. Karthick has this unbelievably determined spirit that I think is very hard to find in young people today. Never do I see him struggling or asking for help. He just boldly goes forward, doing whatever he can with his left arm. He is such a compassionate, determined and loving young man. Just sharing about him with you leaves me speechless.

Karthick's smile is one that makes everyone in the room smile because it is contagious. He smiles and so does everyone around him. His happiness spreads to whoever is near. His smile could also probably light up an entire building...I am sure of it. It is a gorgeous smile. He has one of the best laughs I know...AND, he would most definitely be embarassed if he knew I was telling you this, some pretty sweet dance moves! He loves music. Whenever I see him around, he is always listening to music on his cellphone. One of my favorite things to do with Karthick is play football, joke with him and make him smile that gorgoues smile of his!

I do not have a photo to post of Karthick even if I had the ability to upload one and I will tell you the reason why. Now, this is not something that I know for sure, I am simply going off of my own gut feeling. Karthick does not like photos taken of him. The photos of himself that he has in his wallet are old, from a time prior to his accident. My belief is that it pains him to see himself without his right arm. So, I plan on respecting that wish because he is already doing a wonderful job not dwelling on the pain and loss that came from his accident. So, if not seeing photos of himself helps him with that, then I will do my part to help him.

Karthick, I dedicate my post to you this week. God bless you and everything that you do. You are an amazing young man and I hope with everything that is in me that you come to realize this. You deserve nothing but the best for all that you do to help others. I know that the Lord will do wonderful things in your life.

Love never fails

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

These past three weeks have taught me that that passage of Scripture is my one of my favorite Bible verses. In fact, I have decided to learn it in Tamil; which I'm hoping to begin this weekend. I am thinking about this piece of Scripture tonight in 3 different ways...

1. There are three brothers that live at the hostel. Their names are K. Lokesh Kumar, K. Udaya Kumar and K. Sathish Kumar. They are 9, 12 and 13 years old, respectively. These boys have no parents. Their father died of HIV/AIDS. Their mother tragically committed suicide after being misinformed by people in her village; she also had HIV/AIDS. When I was told of this story, it was very difficult for me to try and wrap my head around this story...well, not story because this is someone's actual life. It is real...these 3 boys are living it. They are living without a mother and father. All three of them have the chance of having HIV/AIDS, which I am praying every day that God might save them from this disease. I think the part that bothers me most is how a mother could take her own life when she has three incredible young boys with their entire lives ahead of them. These boys are extremely special. All three of their smiles could light up a night sky. They are some of the most hard-working and intelligent young men that I know. Udaya Kumar is a fantastic football player. Sathish Kumar is always helping around the hostel, doing all kinds of work. Lokesh Kumar has incredible English skills and is so so sweet. I think of them as I look at 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 tonight because I want to make sure they get to know this kind of love. The kind of love that comes from God. I want them to know that God loves each one of them and will never leave their side. He is their true Father in Heaven and loves them more than words can say. It is my hope that I can show that to them during the time that I am here. They might not see this love from parents, but I sure am going to try as hard as possible to give them that love from me.

2. The children here have shown me this kind of love that is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. The children of Carmel portray that love to me every second that I am with them. Last night, I had the first homesick moment I've had yet on this trip, exactly three weeks in. I had not been missing home at all for three whole weeks. Why? Because these children have been giving me an extraordinary amount of love that I have not even needed to think about home for the past three weeks. While I may not be able to hug my Mama or talk sports with my Padre or spend "sistertime" with my sister, these children are here. They say "Good morning, Aunty" and it warms my heart. They smile at me and my heart bursts with joy. They sit next to me and I feel like the luckiest person on Earth. I do miss home. I miss my family so much. I miss my friends. I will be missing all kinds of events and holidays over the next six months; however, if I were home, I would be missing this incredible life-changing experience at Carmel. I would not be able to bless the children as they have so abundantly blessed me in the past. I am here because of this love. I am here to spread it to as many people as I possibly can reach. I am here to share it so that more people can receive it. I am here because God loves me, God loves his children and I love the children of Carmel.

3. Finally, Backie and Freena live this love. They reach out to a poverty-stricken community every day. They help those who are most in need by giving education and a home to their children. They find the people that need God's love the most and share it with them. They have shown me such an outpouring of love ever since I arrived; I almost feel unworthy of it.

So you see, I see this love everyday. I feel so lucky. Not everyone gets to see such a special love every day. In fact, some people never see this love in all of their life. It is those people who I pray for tonight. I pray for those that do not know the love that is spoken of in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Open your Bible. Turn to it....read it. Pray about it. And maybe one day you will accept that love that comes from Christ Jesus...because His love is waiting for us. All we have to do is accept it.

Off to a great start!

Just came in from yet another football (soccer) game with the boys...Probably the 20th game I've played since arriving (that is just a guess!). We laughed so much, it was hard to stop laughing to actually play!! How one could have so much fun goofing off during a football game? Only me and the boys seem to have figured it out!

These past two weeks have absolutely flown by. It is truly amazing how much the statement "time flies when you're having fun" rings true! I am having such a fantastic time...I cannot even begin to describe it. Carmel is truly my home away from home. These children amaze me each and every day that I am here. I began teaching two days ago (on Thursday) after the children had their quarterly exams and a 10-day quarterly holiday. I am teaching 4th-9th standard; in all, a total of over 300 students. In 5th standard alone, there are 88 students. That is my largest class and probably my most difficult! I am loving every minute of teaching these kids. They know so much and and are so much fun to teach. Never have I been so happy teaching as I am when teaching at Carmel Matriculation School.

God is using me in so many ways here and it has only been two weeks. So far I have done the following:

1. Taught a 5-day teacher training on strategies for teaching spoken English
2. Taught a 2-day spoken class for students in standards 5-9 at the hostel
3. Preached a sermon one Sunday
4. Led chapel each and every morning at 6:30; doing the message about 90% of the time
5. Played football with the boys almost every day
6. Acted as nurse multiple times; I am now a pro in giving first aid!

And that, I hope, is just the beginning. Backie and Freena also want me to lead a spoken class for some of the FKP sponsors here at the hostel in the evenings for 40 days. I think this would be a wonderful opportunity to use what I learned at LEI with the children. I look forward to using specifically those techniques that I learned for that class. I look forward to that class very much!!! I also would really love to start a Bible study with some of the older students; hopefully that will come in due time!

The thing that has most amazed me since I've arrived (and this is just one out of MANY) is the children's schedule. This is the schedule of any weekday (not Saturday or Sunday). On Saturdays, they have school until 3:00 and have an easy day (games, acitivities, playing outside, etc.).  Here's what Monday-Friday looks like:

5:00am - Wake up (10th standard students wake up at 4am to study)
5-6:30am - Study
6:30-6:50am - Chapel (devotional time: praise songs and brief message)
6:50-7:15am - Morning duties (chores around the hostel)
7:15-8am - Prepare for school; wash, dress, etc
8-8:15am - Eat breakfast
8:15-9am - Finish preparing for school; study
9am - Leave for school
9:30-5:30 - School (hostel students are the last to leave school because they have to wait for the buses to finish taking home children)
5:30-5:45pm - Change clothes, afternoon duties
5:45-6:30pm - Play
6:30-8:15pm - Study
8:15-8:30pm - Eat dinner
8:30-9:30pm - Study
9:30pm - Go to bed (10th standard students go to bed at 10pm)

Yes. You are seeing correctly. On an average weekday, the children (these are kids ranging in age from 4 years old to 18 years old) get about 45 minutes each day to play. It is one of the most difficult things I have to do, when we have to stop playing at 6:30pm (sometimes 6:20) for them to go and study. These kids inspire me in every way. That is why I am here. I am here because they inspired me to be here.

It is like I said in my Sunday sermon, which I am quite proud of! On my first trip here, I experienced a special kind of love from the children. It was something that I had never quite experienced. I now see that it was God's love shining through precious beautiful faces of sweet and innocent children. The reason that I am here is to give that love back to them. To return it to them and give them even more!!! I am here to love these kids and to show them how much God loves them.

Praise God that I am off to a great start!!!

P.S. To all my family and friends, I'm sorry that it took so long for me to get up my first blog post! I am still waiting to get internet for my own laptop and am currently using Backie and Freena's. I promise pictures will come as soon as I get internet for my own laptop. (Backie and Freena's laptop does not have an SD card slot) Thank you for your prayers and support!!