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.
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.
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