Yesterday was our last full day here at the mission. It began with an early morning wake up call so that Nathaniel, Tara, Dee, Sue, and I could climb a nearby mountain. Praveen sent a few of GSM's young men along to assist us and carry chai in a thermos up the mountain for a tea party at the top. We watched the boys leap from rock to rock wearing only flip flops, while we bumbled and stumbled up the steep mountain in our "proper footwear". The view is amazing. The Indian landscape stretches on for miles. The sun was just finishing its climb above the horizon as we had tea together and watched monkeys chase each other up and down the hillside. Sue was right when she said that watching the boys carry the cups and coffee thermos to the mountain top reminded her of a Columbian coffee commercial.
After breakfast Mary and Anitha came and wrapped us in our tailor-made saris (One of our gifts from Henry) he wanted us to wear them to the medical camp. A few of us learned the importance of tying your skirt tightly, which is the structure of the whole outfit. Those people have probably never seen so many flashes of white belly skin as we pulled and tucked all day, trying to stay together. The camp about 5 minutes away, was held in a brilliantly painted one-room church. Inside, tables and chairs lined the perimeter and people were packed wall to wall waving slips of paper and babbling rapidly in Telegu. We treated the children with vaccinations and a few doctors from the clinic volunteered to write prescriptions and see patients. The school children pushed their faces against the bars yelling "Sister, what is your name? Sister, come!" until a teacher would rush at them and scoot them away. Towards the end of the day they were brave enough to wander inside and we sang together. They taught me how to do a traditional Indian dance. I'm sure my teammates were amused.
After the medical camp we went back to the mission. Henry offered to take us shopping, but the children were out and we decided to spend the evening at home with them. Their demeanors had changed a little from earlier in the week with a lot more head drooping and lip pouts. It was clear that they didn't want us to leave. "One more song, sister. One more!". A young girl who cannot speak or hear wandered into the hostel. I followed her in and sat with her for a while. She goes to a school that teaches her sign language, but nobody at the mission understands it. She is usually in the back of the crowd hanging back with a sweet smile on her face. I was wishing I knew how to talk with her. Communication has been a difficulty this week. The poor girls get so frustrated when they can't say enough in English. The relationship has mostly been formed through games, hugs, songs, and what few words we have in common. they started calling me "momma" today. That is not making it any easier.
At 7pm Henry held a children's meeting at the church. We were able to give all of them (including some of the elderly gypsies who wandered in) stuffed animals, candy, gum, and other treats. A few hundred little hands waved in the air, reaching for our gifts. I've rarely seen a child so excited about a gift and never about a pack of gum. Afterwards, Praveen's son, Sam sang "Give thanks with a grateful heart." (He is actually 10 yrs old) and the children extended their hands to pray for us. We lined up outside the door and the children exited the Ashram one at a time and said their goodbyes.
At night, a few of the girls came over to put henna designs on our hands and feet. Sue and Bonnie in particular are covered with bold designs stretching up from their feet to their knees. Nathaniel, Tara, and I stayed up with the girls and gave them ice-cream as a late-night snack. They are so grateful for everything and most refuse gifts numerous times before accepting.
These people are amazing and saying goodbye is so hard. More to come. This bus is bumpy and it is making it difficult to type.
By his Grace,
Team 11 in '11
He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." Mark 9:36-37
