First of all, my sincerest apologies for not posting in quite some time. I know many of my friends really look forward to my blog posts, so I'm sorry for keeping you waiting!! It's been an incredibly busy past few weeks with the team's visit. We had a team of about 15 this year. I must say that it has truly been amazing to be on the other side of this visit. For the past five years, I've always been one of the team members so I only knew the visit from that perspective. But, having arrived in September (a little less than four months prior to the team's annual visit each January), I got to experience it from a completely different perspective.
It's been incredible seeing how much effort and emotions go into the team's 10-day stay. I've seen it all. The weekly prayers for the team members (which had been taking place at least since my mid-September arrival). I've seen the hard work by all of the teachers and staff (at both the school and hostel) that goes into all of the special activities like Sports Day, the Science Exhibition, the Pongal Cultural Activities, the Sing Song Service, the FKP Cultural Program and the Community Dinner. The effort by all of the FKP sponsor children to prepare for the FKP cultural program including: memorizing Bible verses in English (some members 5-10, others 20-30, one 15-year-old boy memorized 50!), planning matching outfits and props, and a load of dance practices (during school, after school, in the evening and some taking place at 10 o'clock at night). All of the planning and preparations that go into making the three meals and afternoon tea that the team enjoys each day. The selflessness of Karthick, who checked the fridge multiple times each day to make sure the team had cold water and soft drinks at all hours of the day. All of the excitement and anticipation that builds up to the team stepping off of that bus and entering the gates of the hostel. The ear-to-ear grins on the children's faces as they see their sponsors for the first time in one or two years. The hugs and high fives shared with team members as the children greet them along both sides of the driveway. The incredible sense of joy that fills the air during the entire time that the team is there. The small conversations between team members and children that give the children a smile enough to last them the whole day.
I've also seen the more difficult times that the team's visit brings. The sadness and tears of the children as they hug their sponsors tightly, hoping and praying that they return next January. The disappointment the children feel when they do not get as much time to spend with the sponsors on a particular day. The overwhelming silence that surrounds the hostel when the bus pulls away. The sorrow the children feel in their hearts when they realize they have to wait a whole year to receive love...love that only the team gives them. Backie and Freena's sadness as they have a special goodbye ceremony for their loving sponsors.
All of these things I've seen and experienced over the past two weeks, both good and bad, I would not trade for anything in the world. The one thing that I have witnessed most prevalently through the team's stay is an enormous amount of love. The entire community of Carmel (not only the children, but all of the staff, teachers and Backie and Freena too) love the team with all of their hearts. They work so hard and put forth so much effort out of pure love for these people who they only see once a year. They treat them like they are kings and queens. They love them as their own family. Those two weeks in January are undoubtedly the highlight of their entire year. Spending time simply talking with the team members is something they cherish like nothing else. They know the team members have families, friends, jobs, lives back in America; so it makes them feel especially loved to know that these team members would take two weeks out of their hectic schedules to spend here at Carmel.
I am beyond thankful that I now have this perspective to keep in my mind. It is now even clearer to me the need for a team to visit Carmel every year. I've had many people ask me, "Wouldn't it be better to take the money that is spent for a team to visit Carmel for two weeks and simply mail Backie and Freena a check instead?" I always used to struggle with that question because I knew it was a sincere amount of money that could be used well, but I also knew how much joy filled my own heart on every trip (let alone the children's). But now, I have no doubt in my mind that the answer to that question is an absolute "NO WAY!" No way does money or "stuff" make these children and everyone at Carmel feel as loved and as cherished as a team's visit does.
I believe that every one of these children deserve every ounce of love and joy they get when the team comes. They are living in a culture where affection is not encouraged; where no one even blinks when a child is beat; where an overwhelming number of parents are not able to care for their children; where a child or adult with HIV/AIDS is completely shunned in the community in which they live. These kids deserve every hug and every laugh that is shared with a team member. It may be seem small or even seem like nothing to you, but I can tell you that it is the world to these children.
I am SO thankful to the wonderful team that came to visit my second family this year and also for all of those awesome team members that have come on previous trips to Carmel. Thank you for sharing your time and money to come and love these kids. I hope you all know just how much your visits have meant to the entire community of Carmel. <3
It's been incredible seeing how much effort and emotions go into the team's 10-day stay. I've seen it all. The weekly prayers for the team members (which had been taking place at least since my mid-September arrival). I've seen the hard work by all of the teachers and staff (at both the school and hostel) that goes into all of the special activities like Sports Day, the Science Exhibition, the Pongal Cultural Activities, the Sing Song Service, the FKP Cultural Program and the Community Dinner. The effort by all of the FKP sponsor children to prepare for the FKP cultural program including: memorizing Bible verses in English (some members 5-10, others 20-30, one 15-year-old boy memorized 50!), planning matching outfits and props, and a load of dance practices (during school, after school, in the evening and some taking place at 10 o'clock at night). All of the planning and preparations that go into making the three meals and afternoon tea that the team enjoys each day. The selflessness of Karthick, who checked the fridge multiple times each day to make sure the team had cold water and soft drinks at all hours of the day. All of the excitement and anticipation that builds up to the team stepping off of that bus and entering the gates of the hostel. The ear-to-ear grins on the children's faces as they see their sponsors for the first time in one or two years. The hugs and high fives shared with team members as the children greet them along both sides of the driveway. The incredible sense of joy that fills the air during the entire time that the team is there. The small conversations between team members and children that give the children a smile enough to last them the whole day.
I've also seen the more difficult times that the team's visit brings. The sadness and tears of the children as they hug their sponsors tightly, hoping and praying that they return next January. The disappointment the children feel when they do not get as much time to spend with the sponsors on a particular day. The overwhelming silence that surrounds the hostel when the bus pulls away. The sorrow the children feel in their hearts when they realize they have to wait a whole year to receive love...love that only the team gives them. Backie and Freena's sadness as they have a special goodbye ceremony for their loving sponsors.
All of these things I've seen and experienced over the past two weeks, both good and bad, I would not trade for anything in the world. The one thing that I have witnessed most prevalently through the team's stay is an enormous amount of love. The entire community of Carmel (not only the children, but all of the staff, teachers and Backie and Freena too) love the team with all of their hearts. They work so hard and put forth so much effort out of pure love for these people who they only see once a year. They treat them like they are kings and queens. They love them as their own family. Those two weeks in January are undoubtedly the highlight of their entire year. Spending time simply talking with the team members is something they cherish like nothing else. They know the team members have families, friends, jobs, lives back in America; so it makes them feel especially loved to know that these team members would take two weeks out of their hectic schedules to spend here at Carmel.
I am beyond thankful that I now have this perspective to keep in my mind. It is now even clearer to me the need for a team to visit Carmel every year. I've had many people ask me, "Wouldn't it be better to take the money that is spent for a team to visit Carmel for two weeks and simply mail Backie and Freena a check instead?" I always used to struggle with that question because I knew it was a sincere amount of money that could be used well, but I also knew how much joy filled my own heart on every trip (let alone the children's). But now, I have no doubt in my mind that the answer to that question is an absolute "NO WAY!" No way does money or "stuff" make these children and everyone at Carmel feel as loved and as cherished as a team's visit does.
I believe that every one of these children deserve every ounce of love and joy they get when the team comes. They are living in a culture where affection is not encouraged; where no one even blinks when a child is beat; where an overwhelming number of parents are not able to care for their children; where a child or adult with HIV/AIDS is completely shunned in the community in which they live. These kids deserve every hug and every laugh that is shared with a team member. It may be seem small or even seem like nothing to you, but I can tell you that it is the world to these children.
I am SO thankful to the wonderful team that came to visit my second family this year and also for all of those awesome team members that have come on previous trips to Carmel. Thank you for sharing your time and money to come and love these kids. I hope you all know just how much your visits have meant to the entire community of Carmel. <3
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