"It's all about love"

Chennai is a huge city, but where I'm living for the next two weeks is more in the country surrounded by villages made out of huts. Gratitude overwhelmed me as I thought about all my many blessings. Why was I born in the United States? Why do I have the comforts that I do? Why was I born into a family with the knowledge of the restored gospel? I don't know why exactly, but I know that "because I have been given much, I too must give" - it made me smile thinking of the opportunity God has given me to be able to be here with these people. I just hope I can make a difference in some way. I want to give it my ALL and be completely exhausted at the end of the day...completely worn out mentally, spiritually, and physically in the service of God.

Here with Rising Star Outreach, I'm volunteering at a leprosy colony - helping to change bandages, clean their wounds, and help those inflicted. I'm also volunteering at the school they have by being a tutor to the kids who come from the leprosy colony and nearby villages. Rising Star Outreach usually does construction projects as well, but my session doesn't get to do them this time - I was pretty bummed about that...BUT READ ON :) :) :)

At dinner time, our director asked each one of us to state the "high" and "low" point of our day. A volunteer shared that his low point was that today, he went to the leprosy colony and he saw some of the people who had lost their legs dragging themselves across the floor to get assistance. He said he felt so sad that we couldn't get these individuals wheelchairs. Then one of the other directors said, "Well this session isn't doing construction. The program fee that you pay, a portion usually goes towards construction. That money went to purchase 3 new motorized wheelchairs for those people. So your low point just turned to a high," - All of us clapped that night at dinner and I know that we all felt a warmth in our hearts. I love the volunteers that I am with because we all came here with a desire to serve and to do something more.

We met the kids today and I absolutely love them! They were so open to us and every single one would come up to you and ask, "What is your name?" and once you told them your name, they would hold my hand, jump on me, play with me, hug me...as if they have known me all along! Tonight after reading books to the kids before bed, one of the little girls named Gidavi kissed me on both cheeks and then on the forehead. On Wednesday, we'll be starting our classes and tutoring. Tomorrow we're heading to the leprosy colony. I am so excited!

I can tell these two weeks are going to go dang fast... NOOOOOOO!!! I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE!!! hahaha!