Best summer ever!

I'm full of emotions... tomorrow is my last day at Rising Star. I leave Saturday morning to go to New Dehli for a few days before I head to the US. I am so in love with India and the people. It warms my heart as we pass the village each day and wave to them - their whole face lights up! I also enjoy the country side - green grass, tall palm trees, cows everywhere, haha. In the distance, you can see a man carrying bundles of sticks or a woman carrying a water jug on the top of her head. India is like a painting on God's canvas...so colorful, bright... but like every painting, there is something that captures your eye - sometimes your heart... in India, it is the people.

If someone has leprosy in India, there is a social stigma attached and they are considered as an outcast to society. Even if one does not have leprosy, but one of their family members does, they too are considered outcasts. This affects their way of life because they are socially discriminated and are left to begging.

Today we went to a more developed leprosy colony. "Rising Star fosters small business growth as an alternative for begging." There are woman in this colony who do not have leprosy, but since they have family members that do, they cannot get jobs. They started a little business called "Pearls for Hope" and were trained in the skill of jewelry making. This gives them the opportunity to work, establish a career, and earn for their family instead of begging. Last week, they came over and displayed their jewelry for us. They were beautifully made and by the looking at these women, you could tell that they were proud of their work - as they should be! They were awesome! I bought a couple of pieces. I'm not a big jewelry type of person, but I was in love with their purpose and goal. We are aiming to end poverty and to promote self-reliance to these people. This is how these women earn a living and I wanted to support them.

After taking care of the patients today, we got to go to their art studio in this little home. There were hundreds of colorful paintings all around. I was overwhelmed in awe thinking how these people have created such incredible pieces with missing hands and fingers. I found a colorful painting that really spoke to me. As I picked it up, a woman named Uma came up next to me and said, "Mine," with a smile on her face. She was one of the patients I helped earlier for treatment. I told her that I wanted to purchase her painting and she was so happy! I know that whenever I look at this painting, I will be reminded about this experience that has changed my life.

I met the barber of the colony. His case was the worst I have ever seen...both of his legs were just ulcers all over from knee down to his feet. I helped to oil his legs. It  made me emotional...but wow. Wow - he was smiling to us... thanking us... being so strong. I write this with tears - these people who are affected by leprosy are the ones who have taught and served me so much. Whenever I come to the colonies, it is impossible not to feel a heavenly presence. They are so inspiring to me. I feel like these people already are in for God's kingdom because of their purity, immense love, and humility. I pray with all my heart that I will be more like them - more fit to be in the presence of my Heavenly Father.

And then there are these awesome kids! Rising Star also helps to educate the children that come from the surrounding villages and leprosy colonies. As volunteers, we helped with tutoring in math, writing, and reading. I am in love with them....every single one. They never fail to make your day! Today, their little choir sang "I Will Follow God's Plan" and I started to tear up. They were so excited to sing to us and I was so proud of them! The song says that each of us have a purpose and each of us have a plan - that is so true. I know God loves these children and He has many wonderful things in store for them. Priyanka saw that I was crying and asked me why.... it's really because I don't want to leave! Maybe I just shouldn't come back home... haha ;)

IT IS OFFICIAL! I have a little girl here at Rising Star who I sponsor! Her name is Shalini and she just turned 5 last week. The Spirit was swelling within me as I kept thinking about sponsoring her for the past 2 weeks and I feel like it BURST with JOY when I made it official!!! Tonight, I went up to her and said, "Shalini, guess what! I am your sponsor!" She smiled SOOOOOOOO BIG and said, "Sponser?" and pointed to me and then to herself. I nodded and said, "Yes!" - if it's even possible, her smile got even bigger! She started jumping up and down, clapping her hands, and did a little dance. AHHHHHHHH I ALMOST DIED! LOVE HER! LOVE HER! She then jumped into my arms and hugged me really tight! :) :) :)

Oh that baby girl has stolen my heart! I want her to do so well and to succeed. I feel that way about all of the kids - and they will. I believe in them. As I mentioned several posts earlier before I came to India, last semester was very hard for me. I really never felt so heart broken before, but I knew that this was going to be the best summer ever! EFY and India - being in God's service is what I needed. My heart is healed all thanks to the Lord and the people He had led into my life!

“I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things” (Alma 26:12 - Book of Mormon)

Serving in the colonies

This week we get to go to the colonies four times! I love going to the colonies and helping out however I can there. I really can't think of a better way to spend a week! This might be a long post... but WHATEVER IT'S MY BLOG! haha :)

Sometimes in the routine of life, we can get caught up in what we lack instead of what we have. I hope that we can count our many blessings and recognize the good hand of the Lord. The colony we went to today was located more out in the country. These people live in huts, wash their clothes by hand, do heavy labor out in the humidity and hot sun, sleep on the floor... This morning I was reading in Alma in the Book of Mormon and it asked for every man to be bring themselves down to the dust of humility - every day here in India, I am indeed humbled. I just wish I could do so much more.

I did bandaging today and it was an incredible experience. I sat next to the Indian nurse and asissted her. Each patient would sit down, lift their leg on a stand and she would use medical scissors to cut away any dead and rotting flesh off. One man had a flap of skin that was hanging on to the surface of his foot. The nurse cut it open to completely take the dark skin off - revealing his pink flesh underneath. It pained my heart seeing her do this because the patients would wince at times and the ulcers would start bleeding. Sometimes I would grab the patients hands or gently place my hand on their knee to comfort them. Tears would form in my eyes because I didn't want these people to be in any more pain, but I held back the tears. I kept having to remind myself that it needed to be done so it wouldn't get worse.

After the nurse cut away the patient's dead skin, she would place pads on the ulcers and that's when I'd grab the bandaging tape and wrap it around their feet. I'll never forget the old man with glasses who couldn't even walk because he had bad ulcers on the bottom of his feet. He had to drag himself to get treatment. I had to wrap his feet as he was sitting down on the floor. This man taught me such an important lesson.

One of my favorite hymns:
"Because I have been given much, I too must give.
...I shall divide my gifts from thee with every brother that I see

who has the need of help from me.

Because I have been sheltered, fed by thy good care.
I cannot see another's lack and I not share.
...That he too may be comforted."

Again, I don't want to focus on what I feel like I seem to be "lacking", but to endlessly praise and thank my Heavenly Father for all that I have been given...but also to give back. I want to do whatever I can to comfort my brothers and sisters everywhere: here in India and back at home. I want to be so close to God's Spirit to recognize His promptings - to be His healings hands to lift another's burden.

Yesterday, we got to go to a different colony. My station was the washing station. I loved it. I would pour water from a basin into a tub and wash their feet before they went to get their feet oiled and then bandaged. I had to gently scrub away any dirt surrounding their ulcers. I want to tell you about a woman named Maria - a woman with some spicey curry in her! Haha, she was a character for sure - loooove her! She's an old woman with very long graying hair going down her back. She was wearing sunglasses and the biggest smile. She always puts her arms up in gratitude. She had lost all of her fingers - her hands were dark brown with pink spots everywhere where the disease had affected her. She went to Allie first to get her old bandages snipped off, but Maria unraveled it by herself. She then came to my station to wash her one foot that had an ulcer around the size of an egg at the bottom of her foot. I washed her very gently because, again, it pained me to see this sweet woman with that. After she had gotten all of her treatment, she grabbed my hands with her palms and hugged me. She then gave me a kiss on the cheek. She had one of the most beautiful souls you could ever encounter.

Man...people like Maria are an inspiration. Here is a woman who is sick, but yet found every reason to smile and to bring smiles to other people's faces! We passed her little house and gave each of us flowers from her tree. Such an example for all of us.

John 13: 4-5, 14-15, & 17

"He riseth....and laid aside his garment; and took a towel, and girded himself."
"After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded."

"If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet."
"For I have give you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you."

"If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye DO them."

How lucky I am to be having this experience! I am constantly thinking about the Savior and His love. It is so true - I really am happy when I follow the example of Jesus Christ. Emcompassing your life with loving others is what brings you the purest form of joy. The summer theme here at Rising Star is "It's All About Love" - it definitely fits :)

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Mariyambee is probably my biggest fan - hahaha! We're best friends and every night before she gets into bed, she gives me drawings and little notes. Yesterday, she showed me her right arm - with henna, she wrote my name out on her arm! Tonight, she showed me her other arm, my name was also written in henna on her left arm, hahaha! She grabbed my arm and put her name on it (and a couple of the other girls did too).

So........ I don't want to go home, haha.

I love India <3

YAY WEEKEND!




SHOUT OUT

On Saturday, we went to a town called Mamallapuram and saw some awesome temples and ruins. There was also a beach and it was beautiful! Well, okay, the beach is beautiful from a distance and looking off into it, but then interesting when you look at the sand which had all sorts of buried treasure: seashells, dead fish, a dead, dried up puffer fish, crab claws, sea sponges, sandals, tooth brushes, bottles... we then found a shortcut to get us back to the streets, but as we were walking, Allie goes, "Is that a snake?" I was right beside her, I looked down and there was a sickly green, long snake curled up. I stared at it for a second and then I think my brain finally registered and screamed. Everyone else screamed too and ran away, but I grabbed my camera, hahaha. Once I snapped a photo, I ran away. Ohhhh my GOSH, that snake was HUGE. I didn't see how long it was and I didn't know where his head was, but if was as thick as my lower calf! We're pretty sure it was dead. After I had my scared moment, I just was laughing so much because I was so happy! It was my goal to see a big snake before I left and I DID! WOOOO!



Saturday night was movie night with the kids and you know what we saw??? THE BEST MOVIE EVER........but not really, hahaha! We watched an Indian comedy movie and I had no clue was was going on. The girls would try explaining it to me what was going on, haha. I have to say, my favorite parts were these random scenes. You  could tell the main character was in love, so they would then show these mini-music videos of him running on a beach or wearing thug clothes in a field...what the... hahahhaha!!! I thought it was SO FUNNY and would laugh, but the kids would look at me and I would ask them, "Oh wait, is this not a funny part?" and they would say, "No Auntie," - oh my bad.. I apparently I laughed at the wrong parts. Even though I had no idea what was going on, it was such fun being with the kids and having them trying to explain it to me. Instead of watching the movie, I caught myself looking at them and smiling: man oh man oh man....I love these kids!





Today we traveled 2 hours to Chennai for church. Our directors informed us that church is usually English, but them is also Tamil spoken. When we walked into the chapel, we took our seats and listened as the choir sang hymns. I opened up my hymn book and started singing along and one girl motioned me to join in. It made me so happy singing with them! It was fast Sunday...MY FAVORITE! There incredible Spirit so present. Indian Latter-day Saints express their happiness and as they testified of Christ and of His gospel, their whole countenance shined bright. I got up to the podium and beared my testimony. I want to share it with you all as well: It is so amazing that the church is the same no matter where you are in this world and that same Spirit of God is present. I was so happy and filled with such love that thats how I know God's love is real...everywhere and to everyone. I love my Indian brothers and sisters. Sitting in church, it just felt like home.  They are my family. I know that Jesus Christ died for everyone one of them as He did for me - joyful tears were going down my face and it touched my heart seeing the congregation smiling at me and nodding in agreement.



I noticed that another van came full of several kids from Rising Star. Some of them are actually members, while others just come waiting to be 18 to be baptized or by getting permission from their parents. Wow, I didn't know that! I asked the girls if they come to church every Sunday, but they come every other. Since there are not enough vans, the older girls and boys alternate Sundays. Next week will be the boy's turn. I wish they had a bus that could bring them all together! It made me realize even more what a blessing Rising Star is....not only providing a way to education, but also it opens the door for missionary work. A lot of these kids are either Muslim, Hindu, majority Christian. I am so impressed by the youth here. Anytime they spoke or participated, they declared and testified with boldness and confidence. And oh my goodness Relief Society and the sisters....such passion! These women love the Lord and as one sister put it "Nothing will come between me and the gospel! Nothing!" It is the same for me :)

FAVORITE QUOTES by the kids:

- "You would look better black!"
- "Why are you yelling? I am right here!" - dang, am I really that loud??? hahaha

- "Your name is Moose? I will call you snake or peacock!"

- "In America, how do you clean yourself after using the bathroom?"

- So Mariambee gave me a heart necklace and I asked her, "Are you sure you want me to have this?" and she replied, "When I give someone a gift, it is theirs forever." I said to her, "Well you can have my real heart forever!" and she replied, "If I had your heart in my hand, you would be dead!"