Where do I begin....

Well, we are all here safe and sound and we are going on day three tomorrow....I think. All of the days are starting to run together as yesterday (the day we arrived) was possibly the longest day (which was really three) EVER!

This blog is from a newbie's perspective, so be sure to check in with one of the veterans to be sure I got this all right...pretty much my eyes are as big as saucers!!!

I will try highlight some of our adventures for you over the past couple of days.

Traffic---wow, the traffic in India is as bad as they say and they are not kidding when they say you can't really watch and it is absolutely crazy! Yep, it is....NUTS! When we arrived on Sunday, our Indian brothers and sisters picked us up at the airport and it was so incredible to see them. They are just so fantastic, so welcoming, so loving, and SOOOO giving! Thankfully, they are also amazing drivers too! Indian traffic is a bit like organized chaos if there is such a thing. There is a yellow line, but no one really adheres to it and mostly, they honk the horn constantly. We had a stand-off today with another bus (we were in a van)....neither car wanted move....so, after about 5 to 10 minutes of constant honking, the bus that was picking up passengers in the right lane (which is our left lane) decided he ought to move. Yep, craziness!

Food---food isn't so bad....most of the team is doing well eating the food, however, there are a few members who will scowl at me for even writing this down. The first day was a little rough on the food side of things, but we are getting more used to it. It may be different when we go into the villages.

Accommodations---we have actually been very blessed. We have stayed in a couple of very beautiful hotels. The one we are staying it for the next few days actually has an American shower. I'm not sure if it has hot water yet, but I will let you know tomorrow!! Makes a person a little guilty when we are serving the least of these and come back to such glorious accommodations...but, there most be a reason, so we are just going to be so gracious!!!

Shopping---wow, what an experience. There were about 8 of us that went shopping...I think. It's all running together now. What we thought would be a fairly simple trip, turned into about a 4-5 hour ordeal, one person getting sick, and a lot of salwars later. It worked out great in the end, but man, sitting in a long hallway for a store with about 30 people in there after being awake 20 hours....not such a good idea!

Our Indian brothers and sisters---wow, what incredible people. On Sunday we went to a "special" service on the base. It was just a fascinating experience. There is so much faith, devotion, conviction (a word used by one of my team members...and so accurate) and love among these people, you can't do anything else but give it all right back to them. I have kind of just stood back in awe of it all....usually trying to always push my chin up! It is so wonderful the humility they have....they all want to have their picture taken and they just want to look at themselves. How interesting, huh? They are quite possibly the best hosts in the world. They get everything for us, gave us the hugest celebration/orientation yesterday....it is absolutely incredible to feel such love and commitment from a group of people. They are all so devoted to their positions and their calling....

Poverty---I know I keep saying wow....but wow. We have such wonderful lives at home....the way people live here is just out of this world. A person doesn't understand what it is really like and how bad it really is until you step food into this world. There is trash everywhere....I mean, EVERYWHERE; homeless, sick dogs everywhere; women sweeping up the streets with straw brooms; beggars (even small children or the smallest, most fragile old women will come up to the van and just stick their hand in the van, with the faintest of voices, begging, pleading for something). The hardest part is the beauty also in India and how the downridden, oppressed, filthy, poor, go so unnoticed. They are in every person's site, however, they are invisible to their own brothers and sisters. I suppose one would say that is true in America, however, I'm not sure it is on the same scale. In fact, I know it isn't!!

Today we actually got to have somewhat of a day of rest. We were able to some beautiful tourist attractions and just enjoy great laughs, wonderful conversations among the team and with our Indian brothers and sisters. It was a great day to get re-energized for what I hear.....the next 10 days!

The team we have is in phenomenal. Each individual here is just that.....they add something unique to the team and provide a piece of insight or experience someone else may not have. Casey, Sarah, Carla, Alicia, Suzie, Jen, and Adam all performed a skit to the song "Everything" by Lifehouse (try to check it out on YouTube) for our Indian brothers and sisters as a part of the special service. It was absolutely beautiful....at certain parts of the skit, they were cheering, I had goosebumps the entire time, and at the end, when I looked out amongst our Indian brothers and sisters, all I saw was tears. They understood what we were telling them....we were telling them they were loved.....no matter what....

I couldn't have been more proud of my team yesterday when they performed that skit.....it was just so awesome!!

There is just so much happening all in one place. So much beauty, yet, tremendous poverty and filth...

I am really excited for tomorrow (and nervous) because it will be our first medical camp. I think the next 10 days will be absolutely nuts, but I am really looking forward to it. Actually, showing so many so much of what they deserve....love and respect!

Thank you for your continued support and prayers.