Destinations:

• Escuela Tumbaco (Elementary School)
• Igelsia Buen Pastor  (Good Shepherd Church)
• Hotel Meeting

Purpose: To pass out shoe boxes and learn more about Samaritan’s Purse.

Tomorrow: Heading to a tough area to pass out boxes and shopping!

Highlights from today:

• It’s Christmas …like never before
• The Purple Team Unite
• A Free House?  What?

Quote of the Day: “We sure had fun today!” said by a little boy after everyone opened their gifts.

What brings you the most joy?  For me is to know that what I did made someone smile.  It just fills me more than anything. Today I saw hundreds of little children and their parents smile so much their mouths had to hurt.  Needless to say, my joy is overflowing!

Christmas in March…why not?!

Today we headed East of Quito. Our first stop today was at a school for nursery age up to 3^rd grade (2 – 8 yrs old).  The school was founded by a lady named Patty who had a heart to educate the kids in this area and give them a chance that their parents may not have had.  The school began in 2004 with 10 kids and today the school has 167 students. The school was organized, clean, and well thought out. You could easily tell that the teachers put their entire hearts into the education and love it. Today, Patty was dressed up like a clown and put on an ensemble for the kids.  Her energy would put most kindergartners to waste.  The kids played games, sang songs, saw a skit put on by the teachers, and there was even these two little boys who sang and rocked out.  I am hoping to upload the video.  To see the boy on the left rocking and ‘Jesus’ in the background playing the guitar was …awesome! (the video file  was too large for the blog… bummer,will have to YouTube it later).

From the school we went out to a rural area.  They warned us that this stop would be much harder with the hardest stop being tomorrow.  It is in this rural area men work for $2 a day if they can find work.  When they do find work they could be gone from home for many days.  Then they come home, drink and …beat their kids.  Today I saw many children with cigarette burns on the top of their hands and up their arms.  The church is the only refuge the children have in this area.  Here they are fed, loved, and safe.

And today they felt like kings and queens!  I had so much fun playing with the kids.  They all wanted to be hugged, tickled and they soaked in every ounce of attention our team could pour out.  When we passed out the gifts, it was almost like they didn’t know how to receive it.  For many, this was the only Christmas gift they may have received.  I went around and sat down next to many just so they, one by one, could show me what they got.  Often they would ask me in Spanish, what is this?  I then would show and tell them how play dough works, or show them how to make their glow in the dark bracelet work.  So many of the toys just amazed them.  One girl got a bag of ring pops.  I told her they were very popular in the US and she put one on and smiled from ear to ear.

But no one smiled more than this little boy who got a little white lamb in his box.  He ran all around showing everyone the lamb he got!  I swear it practically brought you to tears.  Two little boys were saying in Spanish, “We sure had a lot of Fun today!”  Wish I could give Christmas gifts out every day of my life!

My Team

The purple team consists of 12 people.  10 from the US and two interpreters. Of the ten, 2 won the trip in a contest (Paula & Kim), 2 are from large churches (Anita & Linda),  2 work for a large retailer that supports Samaritan’s Purse (Cindy & Bob) and 3 work for Samaritan’s Purse in Boone, NC (Ross, Becky & Stacey).  If you just counted don’t forget to add me in the mix.  The two interpreters are Mariela and Jose.  Jose has become a great friend.  He says people call him the Robin Williams of Quito because he resembles him so much.  I have been happy that the team has worked so well together.  We truly have been there for each other in so many ways.  Especially when you give your heart out many times a day and you are exhausted because of the altitude and little sleep, it is important to have the right team around you.  And I do.

I have to tell you a bit more about Jose.  His mother just passed last week.  In fact he buried her on Monday and joined our trip on Tuesday.  On Saturday and Sunday last week, all his family came over to his house.  And, as it is custom in Ecuador, the family parties all night long with no sleep for two days.  It is like business as usual in the day but as soon as the sun goes down it is time to celebrate the person’s life that has passed.  On Tuesday morning when I met Jose, he had a smile and joy in him that beamed.  His mother lived a good, long life but he was rejoicing since she was now in Heaven.  He is the type of person who has joy at the core of his soul and can’t help but let it overflow onto others.  He fills my ears with story after story and facts upon facts on Quito.  I will miss my time with him.

Samaritan’s Purse

When we got back to the hotel in the evening, we met up with all the other teams that are out here.  The 7 teams and 50 people filled a conference room and got to hear all the amazing things Samaritan’s Purse is doing in Ecuador.  They include: feeding programs, disaster relief, HIV Aids treatment, building playgrounds at orphanages, developing schools, wheelchairs, refugee help for those escaping Columbia, emergency response to Boliva, Haiti, Turks & Cacaos, medical caravans that have helped over 80K people, and a surgical clinic to help people with back and feet deformities be able to walk and live normal lives.   But the story that will stick out most in my mind was a lady who was gifted a free house from Samaritan’s Purse.

A few years ago, a volcano erupted and wiped out hundreds of homes.  The combination of fire and ash completely engulfed a huge area leaving many families without anything.  Samaritan’s Purse responded quickly.  In addition to disaster relief they normally provide through churches and schools, they started building homes.  They built and gave 102 homes away.  Not only were the homes free but a volunteer attorney went to work and was able to get the government give each home owner the deed to the home.  Most deeds are owned by the government out here. The government was so impressed with Samaritan’s Purse that they then started to build homes on the same plot of land modeling the homes after the ones SP built.

Well one of the people who got a free home gave her testimony today.  With tears in her eyes she thanked Samaritan’s Purse and all those who give to the organization.  She told us, through an interpreter, how she felt so desolate and scared after the volcano took her home away.  She didn’t know where go to.  Her and her children were hopeless.   But today she has a 3 bedroom home and each of her kids have their own room.  And …she owns the home!  In addition, Samaritan’s Purse taught her how to sew and sell scarfs; now she has a little business that provides for her family.

Thought for the day:

One of the gals in our group told me of a story where she went up in the hills of Jamaica to deliver shoe boxes.  She thought, ‘Jamaica …this will be a simple trip.’  Little did she know that the trip would take her up mountains and little roads to the most remote area she could ever imagine.  She told me the little children came to a little school, barefooted in old clothes.  One school for the 25 kids and one teacher to teach them all.  After they gave out the shoe boxes, the teacher grabbed her by the arms and looked straight into her eyes and said, “You don’t understand …no one comes up here …no one ever comes to help us.”   She responded, “Until now.”

Dean

Destinations:

• Driving to the southern part of Quito
• La Victoria School
• Dulce Regufio Church

Purpose: To understand the culture of Ecuador, work on a school and pass out shoe boxes to children.

Tomorrow: Going to another school and a church to distribute more shoe boxes!

Highlights from today:

• Catching a glimpse of Quito, Ecuador
• Working in my element
• Gifts, gifts and more gifts

Quote of the Day: “Quito es el balcon del Ceilo.” Quito is Heaven’s Balcony.”

Throughout the day I am writing down notes so I won’t miss anything to comment on in my blog.  Yet each day is filled with many emotions, dozens of stories and hundreds of faces.  How does a painter choose what colors to add to his pallet? How do I capture the thrill and the joy and leave room for the touching? By the time I sit down to write and edit pictures, it is about 11pm my time, which is 8pm in California.  I wish I could just transport everyone here … it would be worth it.

Driving through Quito

Quito is what I would describe as Ecuador’s Grand Canyon.  Picture the Grand Canyon, then slam it together so you have many steep mountains right next to each other.  Add deep forest green all around and pour a bucket of housing in the valleys.  Ok … now for the interesting part, …add housing that looks like different bright colored Legos up and down the sides of the slopes of the mountains, now stack those Legos 4 stories high.  Colors you should choose are orange, purple, yellow, red and green.  All bright.  Draw a few windy roads through the valleys so you can get from point to point.  And there you have it, Quito.

They natives call Quito, Heaven’s Balcony because it is surrounded by mountains.  When driving you can’t help but look out and up to see the many eye catching mountain tops.  But you have to look quickly; the view will be blocked by another mountain before you turn the bend.  There is a huge stature of the Virgin Mary stepping on a dragon on one summit and a huge Roman Catholic Cathedral on another.  Then you blink and you are looking at an active volcano with steam coming from its top wondering if that is a cloud.

Our driver took to the twisty roads as if he was the designer of the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland.  Quito is also filled with ½ built buildings.  I think this is typical of Mexico in general and 2^nd & 3^rd world countries.  Though they say the recession of 1986 really put Quito in hardship and left many things undone.  All buildings are built with cement bricks.  Most are not painted but when they are, they are bright.

Some facts:

• You are 2 pounds lighter in Ecuador.
• Quito is 45 mins away from the equator.
• Time actually last longer here … just kidding.
• 3 million people live in Quito.
• They natives say the city is female because the weather is moody.  It may start out beautiful but can change at a moment and begin to rain for no reason.  I don’t think the ladies on my group appreciated hearing that.

La Victoria

La Victoria is a school in southern Quito and provides education to approximately 400 children in the nearby area.  Southern Quito is semi-rural.  In fact, most people still grow corn on their property.   It is hear that many families live on less than $200 a month and some even live on less than $2.00 a day. When they figure a lunch is about 2 bucks, you can see how poverty has truly struck over 38% of the inhabitants.

La Victoria is a project where two churches and Samaritan’s Purse have come together and are building a 4 story school (3/4^th finished!) to aid this community.  Our job was to paint, install ceiling tiles and fix some electricity.  We also got a few minutes with the ninos in between classes.  One person in our group said, “Wow, even though I don’t speak a lick of Spanish, all I did was sit down and all the kids came around me and wanted to play…one even gave me a cookie from her snack.”  Children here are truly wonderful.  They share, appreciate the smallest thing, and just want to spend time with you.

My job that I quickly agreed to, was to climb the scaffolding and paint the middle portion of the building.  I took to this like a clean pig takes to warm mud.  One, I love heights and two, I love a little danger.  This scaffolding was on a slope, supported by misc pieces of odd cut brick to ‘even it out’ and then you got to walk on planks that wobbled when you shifted your weight at all.  Needless to say I had a blast scaring everyone.

Magic and Gifts

After leaving La Victoria we drove to the ‘Dulce Regufio’  which I found out translates to ‘Sweet Shelter Church’ … that made a bit more sense.  But before we got there we stopped for a bit to eat in the bus alongside of a community street.  A public school had just let out and a number of children were walking past our bus shouting and waving.  Four stopped and started asking me a few questions from my window.  I decided to pull out some magic from my backpack and did a little impromptu magic show… still in my seat, just hung out the window a bit.  Before you knew it there were around 50 kids watching!

We arrived about a half hour later at the two story church …bright orange of course.  Upstairs we went with approximately 250 shoe boxes.  We originally planned for only 180 kids but word got out and the children came from everywhere.  The small room was packed to the max.  Comfortably you could sit about 140 people, today there were well over 300!  We had to be in that little room for about 3 hours.  The humidity level was so high I think I saw water droplets begin to appear on the ceiling.  We sang songs with the kids, some were chosen to go on stage and compete in a few games, I did some magic, the pastor gave a message to the kids and their families, and just when you thought the first victim would pass out, we began giving out the shoe boxes.  All the kids had to wait to open them …they were so good and patient, until each child had one and then all at once they opened their gifts!

The boxes were filled with all sorts of gifts.  I saw silly puddy, slinkies, a telescope, crayons, dolls, candy, and everything else one could imagine.  The children and their parents were so extremely appreciative.  Afterwards, a man gave a hug to one of the volunteers. The pastor noticed it and told the volunteer that to receive a hug from that man is extremely rare and better than any words he could have expressed.

Thought for the day:

It is amazing to see the value of a gift.  One that nothing is expected in return.  To give a gift like that fills ones heart.  I know, it is just a simple shoe box.  The contents are not worth all that much.  Yet the right gift in the right hand reaps fortunes we could never imagine.  A kind word, a little bit more patience, a smile, a card, a hug and yes, even a shoe box, may just mean all the difference in a person’s life today.

Dean

Well I made it!

My flights were great and I just had carry on, so no luggage worries.  Today four different groups arrived from around the US.  So far, I believe I am the only California person.  There are a total of 76 people which will split up into 7 teams.  I am on the purple team.  In total we will be visiting 29 locations and distributing about 5000 shoe boxes.  Its now 1am here and I am exhausted but also so pumped up about being here I doubt if I am going to get any sleep.

First Thoughts on Ecuador

Clean:

• I have been on mission trips to Mexico before but this doesn’t look like the Mexico I know.  For one, it is cleaner than Seattle.  The stores look like upscale Tijuana stores, so you get the Mexico feel but the streets don’t have an ounce of trash.  Even the airport is spotless.  The airport by the way looks just like the airport in India.

The People:

• Height:  For one, the indigenous people are lucky if they get 5ft tall.  I took a picture with a cute older couple in the airport (photo below).  It doesn’t look like it but I am actually bending down a couple of inches!  Finally a place where my 5’8″ is tall!
• Eyes: I don’t know how many of you have paid attention to the eye color of the actors on Smallville, but most of the actors have grey/blue eyes.  I am sure it adds to the mystique of the show.  Well, besides the dark brown eye color you would expect to see in people who live in this region, many also have very cool grey/blue eyes.

Tomorrow:

• Active Volcano: They said there is an active volcano that I can see from my hotel room in the morning!  Sweet!
• The Distributions:  We are heading to La Victoria and Dulce Regufio (which sounds like it translates to Sweet Refugies, but doubt it).  I was hoping for a tribal destination but it looks like the purple team will be working mainly in the outskirts of Quito.  At La Victoria I believe we will help work on the facility that helps serve the community in the area in addition to pass out the shoe boxes to the kids.  At Sweet Regufio I am thinking we are doing some type of program for the kids.  I brought some magic just in case.

Today I will be leaving to Ecuador!  Heading to Quito, which is the capital.

I don’t know much about what I will experience but I do know this:

Purpose:

To deliver shoe boxes that are filled with toys, supplies and hard candy to children who live in primitive villages that are not accessible by plane.  The shoe boxes were part of a project that churches participated in throughout the country called Operation Christmas Child. During December each year, churches and other organizations pass out shoe boxes and people fill them and bring them back to the collection centers.  About 10 million shoe boxes are collected each year and then distributed throughout the world to about 100 countries.  Operation Christmas Child is part of Samaritan’s Purse, one of the most successful relief organizations in the world.  The comment has been said many times, “You want to give to a trusted organization where your money will make a difference …then give to Samaritan’s Purse.”

Because Samaritan’s Purse has already made contacts in countries throughout the world through delivering ‘Christmas’ gifts, they are often one of the first organized in response when a natural disaster hits like the earthquake in Chile this past week or the earthquake in Haiti.  Here is a statement from the organizations website, “Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ.”

What I know about Ecuador:

Ecuador is right on the equator and hence where it got its name.  The Galapagos Islands (of which I will not be going) are located in Ecuador and Quito was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the 1970s for having the best preserved and least altered historic center in Latin America. The country has many diverse species making Ecuador one of the seventeen mega-diverse countries in the world. The new constitution of 2008 is the first in the world to recognize legally enforceable Rights of Nature, or ecosystem rights.  About 38.3% of the people live below the poverty line.

What may happen:

Here is a story of one of the previous trips:

“Many of the children we visit are in villages where airplanes cannot land. One such place is the Amazon rain-forest in Ecuador. Last year, Samaritan’s Purse workers traveled four hours up the Rio Napo River with a motor canoe loaded with gift-filled shoe boxes for children in a primitive tribe in the rain-forest. This tribe had once been savage warriors.

The river was flooded and swift, but the Samaritan’s Purse workers docked the canoe and began their work. While the workers where delivering the shoe boxes, the fierce current slammed a big floating log into their canoe and sank it –right after they had unloaded all the shoe boxes!”

Thoughts:

Needless to say I am extremely excited about the adventure.  For some reason, I am not at all worried about the 9K+ elevation, high humidity, hard to breathe air, potential jungle fever, amazon forest, aftershocks from the Chile earthquake or the bird size mosquitoes I may encounter.  I am solely excited to see the smiles of the little children who will be overjoyed receiving their gift.  Day in and day out, they live in slums, forgotten streets, dirt villages, diseased filled garbage dumps … but for a moment they will feel like kings.

Destinations:

·         Crown Royal

·         City of Agra

·         Airport

Purpose: Day of site seeing

Tomorrow: Flying home (22+ hours of travel)

Highlights:

• Riding a Camel & an Elephant
• Taj Mahal
• Fort Agra

Quote of the day: “Love creates monuments.”

It has been an exhausting 36 hours since we left the hotel to travel to Agra.  I am currently writing this from the plane and hope to post it by 6pm tonight.  (Because of computer hold up and exhaustion, I was not able to post this until Monday afternoon). We left for Agra at 6am, traveled by bus for 4 hours until we reached our destination, visited the Taj Mahal and Fort Agra, went back on the bus for another 4 hours to the hotel where we grabbed our bags and headed to the airport to catch our 2am flight to London which took about 9 hours in the air.  After a quick layover we jumped on the next flight of which I am currently on.  This flight will be another 11+ hours, which will mean I will be up for approximately 2 complete days with little sleep (I barely sleep on busses and planes, regardless of the position or technique I try). But regardless of the lack of sleep I am inspired, encouraged, and contemplative.  I hope to take an ambient and sleep for about 10 hours and awaken restful to a great Monday.

Camels and Elephants …and snakes!

Driving to Agra (the home of the Taj Mahal) was painful.  I was hoping to type out my blog and download pictures but the bus needed shocks sooo badly that the bumping made it impossible for my fingers to find the keys on the laptop.  The highlight was when we had to stop to pay a toll and the street vendors would run up to the bus to sell us things.  We were shocked …and amused when we saw a monkey but we were even more when the snake charmers came up to the bus.  The driver opened the door and I jumped out!  I snake kept snapping at the handler and I asked if I touched the snake and it bit would it really hurt.  Found out that these snake’s fangs have been removed and there is no harm.  Sweet! 

A few more miles down the road and we arrived at the Crown Royal.  Here they had a camel and an elephant.  We all took turn riding them both.  Riding them was a ton of fun and actually a lot more smooth than riding on the bus. I especially liked the elephant.  She was extremely sweet and I enjoyed petting her ears and head.  There was also a man with his daughter who danced for us while he played on a strange stringed instrument while we rode. 

Taj Mahal

You ever have one of those moments where you see something is so beautiful that just being in its presence gives you goose bumps and everything around including the breeze itself …stops.  Welcome to the Taj.

Photographs do not give it justice.  It is absolutely breath taking.  It took 22 years of men working around the clock every day of the year to complete the masterpiece.  The marble they used is extremely rare.  It is 30 percent denser than most other marbles and therefore, does not stain or need to be sealed.  When light hits it the marble actually ‘glows’ since it absorbs the light.  This is visible on a full moon night when the moon light beams directly into it.  It is also located on a river and visible from Fort Agra.  The emperor and his wife are buried below the main floor of the Taj making it a mausoleum.  Taj Mahal translates to Crown Building.

On one side of the Taj is a mosque and on the other side is a building that looks exactly the same for symmetrical purposes was built for guest to stay.  The gardens, the gate you walk through, the towers, everything is designed with such precision and beauty, one has to wonder how in the world did anyone design such a masterpiece.

For more on the Taj check out http://www.angelfire.com/in/myindia/tajpics.html

Fort Agra

A fifteen minute ride from the Taj gets you to Fort Agra.  2/3rds is still used by the military and therefore, we were unable to see.  But the 1/3 we did see was amazing.  The whole fort is surrounded by a moat that they filled with alligators in the day.  Parrots and monkeys still own the walls, probably descendants from when the fort was occupied in the 17^th century.  It was equally as impressive as the Taj just not as beautiful.  Here the 500+ concubines would live as well as many others who served the emperor.  And for his last 8 years of his life, the emperor himself was on house arrest at the fort.  His 3^rd son killed his two older brothers and arrested his father so he could take over reign.  The 3^rd son then reigned for 40 some years.

Vendors

I had so much fun with the vendors who would follow, push and try to sell you things as you left the Taj and Fort Agra.  They would say, how about a t-shirt with a picture of the Taj on it, and I would say that I don’t like t-shirts, they chap my chest.  Then they would say, ok… what do you want I will get it.  I would say, how about some chocolate (it was hot so I didn’t think they could get it) and a strawberry sundae.  And would you know it …

Just kidding, they would just laugh and try to sell me more junk, until I was on the bus and the bus was moving, then the price would drop really low and I would buy.  I got a Taj book for $5 and postcards for $1.  But I would have busted out a twenty if they would have come up with that sundae. 

We left the fort to go to a place nearby where they make beautiful tables, plates, and other things out of the same marble used at the Taj.  Each design is handmade and most things take 18 + to create.  It was amazing to see how each one was created by hand and with such expertise.

Now it was back in the bumpy bus for 4 hours, to the hotel to grab out luggage and immediately to the airport for our 2am flight.  By now we are all exhausted and we have 22+ hours of travel ahead of us.

Thought of the Day

Seeing the Taj made me think how a man will go to great lengths for the one he loves.  It also made me think of how our love can leave a legacy for years and years.  For some it will be represented in a monument and for others in the lives of those they love.  No one is going to erect a monument for Dr. Edwards but her love will be seen in each of those children for years and years.  And it dawned on me … that written on my home computer, is a post it note that reads, “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven in the lives of others.”  We can all leave a legacy that glows. A masterpiece, if you will, that speaks of the lives we lived.  It begins by stitching a piece of us in the lives of others …and letting God begin to weave.

Dean

Destinations:

·         Driving through Old Delhi

·         Grace Christian School

·         Slums of Delhi

Purpose: Bring supplies and visit children of Grace Christian Academy.

Tomorrow: The Taj Mahl.

Highlights:

• New things to see in Delhi
• School of hope in the slums
• Uma’s family

Quote of the day: “India is not for the faint of heart.”

Today I really miss Pooja and Hassen.  Hassen will only have a few months and at most a few years to live.  His AIDS is pretty advanced and the way he says, “Thank you Uncle” each time I take his picture constantly echoes in my mind.  He is such a polite fun and intelligent boy.  He would be a blessing to any family.  I have to keep reminding myself that it will be no time at all and he will be in Heaven with no disease and a new body and love surrounding him.  “Thank you uncle,” he would most likely say to me if he could read this.

Driving through Delhi

As much as I can figure out Delhi is split in two areas, New Delhi that feels much like Mumbai, and Old Delhi that feels like Pune.  New Delhi had newer paved roads and a lot less traffic.  Old Delhi was packed.  We were driving about 10am which was their morning traffic time.  People going into town would drive on both sides of the roads.  We were driving out of town and had to drive on the shoulder in order for the opposite traffic to drive in ALL lanes.  On the sides of the road there were make shift tents where people lived, people getting a shave, people selling spices of exotic colors, cows, goats, sheep, chickens, a few children begging, and little shops selling all the things you could imagine.  The crack up was seeing men on bikes carrying large loads of merchandise and weaving through the maze of cars, rickshaws and motorcycles.

Grace Christian School

For some reason I thought we were going to see a school for orphans and then head to one of the many slums to visit children.  It wasn’t until breakfast that I discovered we were going to a school in the middle of a large slum. The slum we visited is in a Muslim community.  And the school is the heart of it.  Over 200 children attend this Christian school.   The kids all wear uniforms and they feel privilege to be there.  Part of the reason is because right outside of the large locked gate, kids stand wanting to come in. When we walked into the school, children greeted us with flowers.  I did about a 30 minute magic show for everyone.  You would have thought I was David Copperfield performing for the reception I got.  A large crowd grew at the around the gate, people climbed onto the roof and we even saw a person far off watching through binoculars.  It was my best show yet and it was a ton of fun. Robbie then told a story and we left a ton of school supplies and backpacks for the kids.

This was one of the larger slums in the area.  There were a few places that they pumped the ground for water and the school had electricity.  They also were drying colored clay that would then later be handmade into bricks.  It was its own little city with very meek stores and even a place to get a shave.  Homes were all built with random materials.  The homes all had a large whole dug in the front of it where sewage from inside would trickle down to and then absorbed into the ground.  Then down the dirt streets there would be streams of a mixture of urine from animals, water, and anything else you can imagine. 

You will notice in a few pictures children with dark eye liner under their eyes.  Originally parents put eye liner on children to ward off the ‘evil eye.’ If the evil eye sees how beautiful your child is then it would hard your child with illness.  Today they put eye liner on their eyes since they think it is good for their eyes but the tradition started long ago with superstition.  This is also where we get the idea of bridesmaids.  The more beautiful the bride the more bridesmaids were needed so that the evil eye would not find the bride.  Funny how superstition falls into mainstream culture.  Back to the slums, there had to be 3000 people living in this community. And right in the middle of it all is a Christian school that teaches the kids English and the Bible.  Wow!  I can’t see anything more inspiring than such a phenomenal school giving children the opportunity of learning and potentially moving out of the community.

Uma & His Family

Later in the evening we had dinner with Uma and had the privilege of meeting his wife and his two wonderful kids.  Uma has been a great friend, leader, tour guide, and our protector on this trip.  He is from India and speaks fluent English as well as Hindi.  His personality reminds me of my friend Jim Gimeno. In fact they are the same age.  Uma and I instantly hit it off.  I would wander or disappear and he would find me.  He said that looking for me has become such a part of his day that he knows he will be looking for me just out of habit even after I leave.  Not once did he ever lose his cool, his compassion or his patience.  He works full time with Orphan Outreach and feels like his job of finding out which orphanages to connect with Orphan Outreach and how to help them develop is the perfect job. We are very grateful for the time he has spent away from his family and the many hours he took to organize everything here in India.

Thought of the Day

A few of us have really been reflecting on why we came on this trip and what we are going to do with the knowledge that we now process.  I have been thinking of ways we can raise money for Santvana by uploading the children’s songs to iTunes and then tell people to download the music.  The orphanage would get $1 for every song downloaded.  Santvana runs on about $800 a month.  They are hoping to get to $1000 a month so they can take in more children.  Any ideas?

Dean

Destinations:

·         Santvana

·         Pune Airport

·         Dehli

Purpose: Spend time with the kids from Santvana, give them backpacks for school and say our goodbyes. 

Tomorrow: A very large orphanage/school in Delhi and visit children who live in slums

Highlights:

• Walk around the block
• Backpacks!
• Frisking at the airport
• A pretty sweet hotel

Quote of the day: “Indian’s are very spiritual people; prayer is our way of life.”

We arrived last night in Delhi. Once we got here we were ready for bed and the time was already late.  I skipped the meal on the plane so I had a quick bite in the restaurant and then headed to bed.  Didn’t sleep that well again last night.  Too much on my mind.

Walk around the block

I was the first one to breakfast today.  Our last meal at the YMCA.  I got two eggs and something that was similar to rice.  Found out that I could order just plain tea and wish I would have discovered that a few days ago.  They serve a complementary chai that is made with black tea, milk and sugar.  They knock at the door at 7am, if you are up or not, and pour you a small plastic cup in the morning, in addition to it being out at the breakfast table.  After breakfast I decided to talk a walk by myself around the block.  The craziness of the traffic had already began and children were being dropped off in the three wheeled rickshaws and/or walking to school.  Each one with their cute little uniforms (all kids wear uniforms to school and they all look similar, each school has a different color for the kids to wear). 

I decided to be daring and walk across the street just to see how many people honked at me.  And then I did it again.  And again. I even decided to walk down the center of the street for awhile and count the honks.  I think I made it to twenty before I gave in and walked to the side.  It was a fun game and no one really seemed to notice this weird American, except for the guy who was really honking at me.  I stopped to pet the cow that was lying on the side of street, and then noticed the gigantic cow pie just inches in front of him.  If only I could record the sound of this place.  But imagine for a moment 30 different types of vehicles, all their engines roaring, each of their different horns honking, some stringed music in the background in the far distance, and the humm of voices all around.  Sprinkle that with a pound dust.  And walla … you’re in India.

Leaving my heart at Santvana

When we got there all the kids yelled … Uncle … magic, …Uncle Magic (people from India refer to older people they respect as uncle and auntie). So I was glad that I saved a majority of my magic stuff for them.  They all quickly sat down and gave me the attention I would pay for.  Later, Robbie told a story and then we did the scrap book craft.  Each child was given a small 18 page 4×5 scrap books that they decorated with stickers and glued the photos we printed out for them.  The kids were broken into groups earlier in the week and my four little guys took to the project like a clean pig takes to warm mud.  The books turned out so well that all the adults were wishing that they made one for themselves.  We then cleaned up and played games with the kids. 

But the big surprise was a few minutes later when we presented them all with backpacks.  We each presented our group individually as an awards ceremony, just like we did on the first day at the School for the Deaf.  They were beaming!  Afterwards the kids prayed and thanked God for the backpacks.  The prayer from this 10 year old boy broke my heart, “Thank you Lord for these wonderful backpacks. Never could we have imagined such wonderful & beautiful gifts…”  It makes me cry just rethinking about it.  Not one of the kids traded, or was disappointed they didn’t get a backpack that someone else got. They were just happy to have one.  Each of the backpacks were donated and therefore, they come to Orphan Outreach in all different types.  Barbie, Elmo, GI Joe, flowers, there was even one that had a giant 6 inch zipper used to open it.   When each child finished their craft and when they received their backpack, they immediately had to go show Nani, who had pockets of joy and approval waiting to hand them.

Leaving was of course hard.  But we left a piece of our hearts and the desire to find ways to support and pray for the ministry of Santvana.  Sure makes the 20 hour plane trip seem like nothing …

Pune Airport

This place never ceases to surprise me.  The security is very thorough but done very different.  Women go to a ‘screening area’ which is a room where a curtain is pulled and then they stand with their hands stretched out and wand. Men go to the ‘gents frisking area’ which is a platform out in the open to stand on and then wand.   The bathrooms all have two different types of stalls, a squatter and a regular toilet.  And you hunt for trash cans!  I never can find a trash can in this place.  Once on the plane we were served a cool towel for our faces … I absolutely love when an airlines does that.  And we were served a meal.  I ate the dessert.  The cool thing is the after dinner mint package.  Once you tear the small bag open you discover a small ounce of a blend of sugar and spices you chew on until it dissolves.  Leaving your mouth refreshed.  Wish I could have rubbed some of it under the pits of the guy sitting in front of me.

Madness and more madness is the trip from the airport to your car. Navigating through streams of traffic that appear to come from nowhere like veins in the body, with all the luggage and then from paved to unpaved road, squeezing through the mobs of people.  Of course, not only was I pushing a cart of luggage but I was also trying to upload pictures to the blog.  Why not maximize the excitement? 

We drove in two vehicles through Delhi and arrived to the new hotel.  I was excited not to see a YMCA sign in front of the building.  It is really dark by now so I didn’t get to see anything on the drive to report about yet.  Maybe tomorrow.  Ok… we go up the elevator and to much of our surprise (the outside area looked kinda sketchy) we enter a modern looking, really nice hotel.  I mean … really nice.  The rooms are small, for the most part just a big bed.  That works for me.  And Uma, my roommate, lives in this town so he went home.  I get a room all to myself and I don’t have to hear anyone snore, or the buzz the elevator made all night at the YMCA, and it has a really nice bathroom, and two chocolate covered cookies in my room, and free internet connection … is this the reward for those who do nice things.  I am changing my ways. 

Thought of the Day

There is a popular book out that you may have seen… ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ is the title.  The author spent 4 months in Italy and ate, then 4 months in India to pray and then 4 months in Indonesia and fell in love. I have not read the book but someone on the team has brought a copy and from time to time shares excerpts from the author’s time in India, and what she discovered through prayer and the spiritual lives of the people. Spirituality is part of their life here.  There is said to be over 3 million Hindu gods.  I hear the prayers of the Muslim’s early in the morning, in the afternoon and at sunset throughout the city.  There is not spiritual persecution, but spiritual acceptance … and respect for your faith.  Even those in Hell’s Den pray and seek spiritual direction.  It begs to asks, do their gods hear them?

Dean

Destinations:

· Empress Park with kids from Santvana

· Red Light District

· Barista

· Santvana Crèche

Purpose: Spend time with the kids from Santvana and the Night Care in the Red Light District. Understand the sex trade by visiting and meeting with those who are deeply involved.

Tomorrow: Santvana Orphanage during the day & flying to Delhi at night

Highlights:

• Empress Park
• Eunuch Ministry
• Evening in Hell’s Den

Quote of the day: “You become what you worship.”

Eye opening is the only way to describe today. I don’t even know how to process it all … and I usually feel like I process things rather quickly, but my mind has not yet grasped what my heart has swallowed. It feels like my heart has just drunk an alcohol that burns all the way down and left me a bit disorientated. The only thing is that the burning and disorientation is lasting longer than any shot I have ever taken. How can feelings of confusion, conviction and joy all coexist at the same time? Bewildered.

Empress Park

Today we met the children from Santvana at Empress Park. They arrived is an extremely plain yellow bus that could have been drawn by Shultz the man who drew Snoopy and Charley Brown. They were all wearing the shirts we made with them the day before during their craft time. I wish you could have seen them waving and completely excited to see us. Dr. Edwards arrived with our team about 15 minutes before the kids arrived. As soon as the kids got off the bus … they walked right past all of us and right to Dr. Edwards who they call Nani (grandma). Then after they got a loving greeting and hug from her they came to greet us. The kids acted as if we were taking them to Disneyland and they were each going to have time with Mickey. Empress Park is a large play ground. One must pay to get in. Picture an abandoned lot that with a perimeter wall and gate, add a bunch of trees, a small stream, and play ground equipment from the 1950s that has not been maintained and you have Empress Park. Be careful of the sharp rusty metal where the equipment has broken; it’s all over.

We had a ton of fun with the kids as you can imagine. Pushing them on the swings, discovering small crabs and fish in the little pond, catching them as they came down the slides and eating popcorn with them towards the end of our time together. By now I am doing everything in my power not to grab about 10 of them and hide them in my carry on (they would fit) and bring them back home. Pooja has two sisters that are at the orphanage with her. Both are older. Her parents have both died of AIDS and she has only an uncle and a grandma. Both of them don’t want the girls. Her middle sister is extremely smart and was awarded a scholarship for her good grades which will allow her to continue her studies at a higher level. I am finding out how I can support all three girls since education in this area is private for orphaned children. I would do anything to just adopt all three. Pooja is 9, and her sisters are 10 and 14.

We have been taking a lot of photos of the kids; tomorrow we are putting together a small memory book as part of their craft time. Stacey brought a small printer along so last night I was printing out photos and not writing the blog (so you might be getting this a bit later than usual).

Afternoon with the Eunuchs (this part is rated R just in case you are reading the blog with kids)

From a playful park to Hell’s Den in the Red Light District (by the way, Hell’s Den is just my name I gave the place, but I am sure it will stick… they probably already have plans to erect a sign since the name fits so well). We walked down the Alley of Destruction, but first had to pass the Street of Despair and the Road of Disillusionment. They were tempting to walk down but luckily we had Dr. Edwards to guide us through the peril. The streets are packed with small apartments the size of most large bedrooms. The buildings are three stories high and the stairwells are only big enough for one person to walk up or down at a time. Usually 8 people live/work in each of the apartments. Usually just a sheet hanging from the ceiling separates one bed from another. There are almost a million sex workers in Pune, 600K women, 250k men, and about 40k eunuchs. About 10% of them work in Hell’s Den. And once you are in, it is hard to get out. Dr. Edwards and Panna (a eunuch that has found Christ and now helps other eunuchs) work in by providing the ‘night care’ facility and by coming along eunuchs & others, in hopes of getting them to leave the sex trade.

The ‘night care’ called “Santvana Crèche” which translates to Home of Refuge Childcare, attracts about 40-50 children a night. The women who ‘work’ in the red light district take their kids with them and make their kids hide under the bed while they do their ‘work’. An option is for the women to drop their kids off at the Crèche where the children get fed, learn about Christ, play games and do crafts. It is free for the kids to come and they get protected for a few hours from the torment that must strip away from their souls.

We walked upstairs to Panna’s apartment and visited her neighbor’s places as well.  We took pictures and meet many who are full time sex workers (some people are part-time since they go to school during the day and come to Hell’s Den at night to work). And we met many eunuchs too. Eunuchs, for those who don’t know, are men who have been castrated and live as woman. Dr. Edwards wrote an article. Once I read it I will post a link on this blog if it suitable. People in India think eunuchs have special powers and so you might see eunuchs dancing at a wedding or at birthday celebration. Many of them work in the sex trade. In fact I saw more eunuchs in this area than females. We also met a MSM which is the India term for a gay man. Sameer is a MSM who use to work in the sex trade and became a Christian and now helps other MSMs. He has been HIV positive for 14 years and believes Christ has enabled him to live in order to reach other MSMs. He is very educated and articulate. I could write a book on the knowledge that was dropped on me in the short time we were there. And I don’t even know how to process it all.

Barista

We left and went to a small café called Barista. It was wonderful to drive to the crowded city and get something to drink. It is the end of the monsoon season here, so everyday has been hot and humid. Drinks usually don’t come with ice and when you do ask for it, the ice melts faster than the sugar. I had a wonderful tropical ice tea that was the best these lips have ever tasted. I also had a moracochino (pictured below). Amazing!

Santvana Crèche

Well, a couple hours later and we were back in Hell’s Den. They had already erected a sign. This time we just went to the Crèche and told the story of Jesus feeding the 5000. We also gave the kids bags with school supplies in them and did a craft with them. One boy, Akish, is very handsome and very intelligent. He is about 11 years old and the detail of which he does his work makes me think he would become a great architect. And a little girl named Mokal won me over. I am a sucker for pigtails. As we left, the eunuchs that saw us during the day all waved to us and said hello. I so wish I could pluck each of those kids out of there. Leaving and driving back to the YMCA was sobering. At this point, my heart is totally wrecked. I believe I have seen the worst in life, those with little hope, and I gave it a huge embrace. I am now completely exhausted. Even at dinner I didn’t talk much.

Thought of the Day

Where do those who are misunderstood go? Where are they accepted and shown love? Too often they congregate to the ugly places in the world. Here they find others who have not been accepted. Here amongst the refuse they find refuge. They are looking for hope. They want to have faith. Many pray on a regular basis. My heart is troubled. I want to help and yet I don’t want to return to such a place.

Dean