Whew...that was a long one!

Our last days in India seem to all blur together now that I lay in my oh so lovely bed with all my fluffy pillows surrounding me in my oh so quite, peaceful house. It's such a blessing living in America and yet, sometimes, it's a curse. Curse maybe too powerful of a word, but at this point, I'm not sure what other word to use. It's so beautiful to have freedom, to have fresh air, hot, clean water, an array of places to eat and not think twice about if it's safe or not, clean spotless streets, safety, comfort, electricity....a plethora of options. The list is endless. But many times, all those things limit my view...limit my scope....limit my vision....limit my heart. I don't see what it is really like....or feel or know or begin to understand what it really means to be poor. To only have one meal. To work 16 to 18 hours of manual labor. To walk miles for clean water. To never be touched. To not be wanted by your own family...your own mother who gave birth to you. To not be free. It's something we pondered and grappled with all week....of what it would be like if we really depended on Him for everything and not just out of convenience, but out of necessity. I think whether these people know it or not, their faith and relentless persistence through this life is incredible and amazing....and awe-inspiring.

The last few days in India were a blessing for our team. As Carla said, we all really had to dig deep to go the extra mile the last few days. I can't speak for the whole team, but I was ready to come home last Sunday. To think about providing two more medical camps, traveling 4 hours to one place, 3 to the next and then coming back to meet up with Stan, Nate, and Carla to leave for home was a daunting thought....but we did it and of course, it was very fruitful and a great experience. We had the opportunity to work with a great team of people, see beautiful parts of India I never imagined existed, and touch beautiful people who have worked countless, endless hours of hard labor through bonded slavery....who are now FREE.

Thursday was a LONG day to say the least, but by far the best day of the week. We started the day about 7am and were at the medical camp site by 8:30ish. Our first patients came around 9 and I don't think we stopped moving and seeing people until around 3:00. Needless to say, it was much more busy than Tuesday and we had the opportunity to see so many precious souls. So many run down, beaten up, run ragged through the deepest mud, stretched beyond imagination were the people who walked up the dirt road to our medical tent. Their histories and life stories were written all over their faces, their dry, cracked hands and feet, and their skin and bone bodies. Wow....our small medical camp that provided a few pills to relieve the pain for just a few days didn't seem quite adequate or enough....but, as I handed the interpreter the pills to explain to each person and tried to shake their hand as they left, connecting with them through touch and looking them in the eyes, each one was so grateful and I believe felt His love. My hope and prayer is they felt like kings and queens for just a brief moment...that they felt our touch, our love, our hope for them, our blessings for them....because each time we touched them, we felt honored and blessed a million times over to be in their presence. It was an exhausting medical camp....but such an honor and SO worth it!!

As we ended the day, we had one last meal with our friends from IJM and got to celebrate the wonderful week together. What an amazing group of people and people with such HUGE hearts for His justice in this world. They are His hands and feet everyday and putting in the grueling work of providing peace and hope for these people every single day. What a pleasure and honor to walk beside them on that journey for just a short time!!

And then, after dinner, we headed back to the hotel, packed up our stuff and headed to the airport around 11:30pm. Our flight left at 3:40am India time....so I think Thursday lasted about 3 days for some of us....or 2...or whatever...it was LONG!

As we landed in Chicago, it was kind of surreal. It didn't feel like we just went on a two week trip across the world. It felt like we should have been going back and starting all over. It's hard to stay and you miss home, but a piece of you is still there...a large piece of your heart remains there. You cannot not be changed. He is doing amazing work over there. He is doing amazing work here in all of us. He is everywhere....which is incredible and there aren't even words to describe how and what that really means.

Needless to say, it was an amazing trip....again. I don't think I ever realize how amazing it is until I return home. Sometimes, it's hard to always be in the moment when you are there because it is so overwhelming physically, emotionally and spiritually. But as I transition back into my life in America, I am forever grateful for my eyes to be open a little wider, my heart to be touched a little deeper, and for my faith to be a bit stronger.

Thank you to everyone for your prayers, your support, and your love throughout and beyond this trip. We couldn't do it without all of you and we know in our heart of hearts that your love was also spread throughout India the past 14 days.

With love,

Katie

And we are off...

It's been an incredible journey....10 people, 1000+ medical check-ups later, I think we are ready to head home. Well, I'm not sure you are ever ready....but my ticket is already bought. (I do have to admit...I am excited to see the ocean and smell some fresh air!!!)

Please pray for safe travels and we will see you all very soon.

With love and gratefulness for all of your prayers and support.

Katie

PS...I will write more when I arrive back in America to tell you about our awesome week!!!

The last lap...

These last 2 days are going to require that we dig deep for our "second wind" like runners on the last lap.

We had a GREAT day in medical camp yesterday. I looked into the eyes of people about my age. I tried to imagine what they have been through. Most of the people we saw yesterday have been freed from slavery sometime in the last 2-3 years. They are making a way in lives as free men and women. Most of them are "daily laborers" which means they find manual labor work somewhere, but now they are actually paid for what they do. It still isn't easy, but they are free!
Katie and I manned the pharmacy, with some extra help from Jessica now and then. One after the other came with scripts for tylenol and ibuprofen for joint pain, arthritis, back pain...and my mind kept thinking about the years of back-breaking labor they were forced to do, and honestly, as I counted out 20 or 30 pills, it felt so inadequate... after all they had been through. I somehow wanted to erase their experience, to undo what had been done. Bit I couldn't. Sometimes the internal challenges we experience here....I struggle to describe them. It's like I have no pathway in my brain to process the painful reality that I am seeing before me.

On the other hand, as I handed out those medicines, I watched as many of them proudly showed off their new reading glasses (thanks to Jane and her heart of gold, and thanks to Dr. Pape for his donation of many pairs of reading glasses). We had to give instructions several times that they should not wear these for distant vision, because each one wanted to wear their new glasses right away! They were soooo excited to have help with their vision! In fact, once a few people left the medical camp with new glasses, several others started showing up....evidently good news spreads quickly!

Once again, Celeste, Amy, and John did great jobs taking special care of these precious people, and since we had smaller numbers, each person received personal attention and plenty of time with a caring medical provider. I cannot tell you the gratitude and joy on each face as they left the medical camp!

Once there was a brief lull in the action and Katie and I wandered across the street to see a little baby that was being held by her grandmother. We asked how old the baby was. The answer: "2 days" Wow! She was a beautiful little girl. We had a chance to talk about the importance of breast feeding, health for the new mom, and just bless them with our admiration of this new little life.

Now for the final lap....Tomorrow, the medical camp will be bigger. The team will be stretched since Stan, Nate and I are back in Bangalore. I will be visiting Jeeva's Training Center for Women. Nate and Stan are doing training and handling computer maintenance. Nate put in a VERY long day yesterday and got a lot done. He said he could use a few more days, but will do his best to get everything up to par before tomorrow evening. Those of you who know how frustrating computers can be and the snags that come up, you know how to pray for Nate! The team will return tomorrow evening, we will have dinner and debrief with our hosts, then return to the hotel to clean up, pack up, and check out by about 11 pm. We'll head to the airport, go through a very chaotic and long process of customs, check-in, security, etc. And then wait for our flight which leaves at 3:40 a.m.

We can feel your prayers, and we would not be able to do this without you!

No internet....

We have been without internet for a couple of days, the city we traveled to has sporadic electricity and not internet hotspots we could find. Did a medical cammp today, around 70-80 patients. Went well, then Carla and I returned. The rest of the team travels tomorrow, then have a medical camp Thursday before heading to Bangalore and flying out. We head for the airport in 48 hours. Team is doing well, we are split, which isn't fun, but will maximize our contribution while here. Too tired to continue, so heading for bed. I'm sure Katie will be back soon.

Stan

Kids are amazing...

Well, as only He would have it, we were quickly reminded why we are here this week and our energy was restored once we got on the bus to start our day. We were greeted with open arms by old friends we had worked with in the past. It was nice to see some familiar faces and to be able to catch up! The service we attended this morning was a tad bit long (3 hours...a little, okay, really long for this girl) but the message was good. It was about the Truths of Living a Tremendous Life....now, how about that for a Sunday morning! And I would say the 10 of us feel as though we have had some pretty tremendous opportunities here this past week and know more lay ahead for us in the days to come.

After the service ended is when everything went away for me. We walked out of the service and got to meet up with the kids from the orphanage. So many of the kids from last year are still in the orphanage, so it was absolutely fantastic to reunite with all of them. Their precious smiles, tight hugs and sweet kisses are enough to make a person want to buy them a plane ticket to come home with me!! Then when they call you Auntie and thank you a million times for coming to see them....well, there really isn't anything better! I mean, really, they are thanking us for coming to see them and for all the things we have bought for their house. For example, they thanked us for the washing machine we bought them. I didn't even know what a washing machine was until I moved out of the house and I sure as heck never thanked my parents for buying us one when I was younger.

Then we got to meet precious Sthuthi. Wow, what a miracle!! For those of you who don't know the story of Sthuthi, our friend Jacob rescued her last year from a mother who felt her only choice was to poison her because she was born prematurely. She weighed 2.2 pounds when she was born....she now weighs about 14 pounds and is interacting with all of us...laughing, playing, and smiling huge!! It was a huge gift to all of us, as sometimes we don't really "see" the impact we (I include all of you in the "we") have in India, but to see Sthuthi and how she has grown and developed was absolutely amazing!

So, all of your thoughts and prayers were answered throughout the day and I think we were able to allow His love and compassion to flow through us and we were able to feel it, too. Which was a good thing and something I think we all needed. Those kids are a breath of fresh air and rejuvenating. Many of them will grow up to be forces in India and will be fighting the world of injustice when they get older.

So, onward to our next mission. We will be traveling a lot this week, so please keep our team in your prayers. Please pray for safe travels, stamina, and our continued focus on spreading His love and compassion throughout India.

Katie

Uncertainity is a scary thing...

As our team gathered this morning, it became very clear how comfortable we were last week and how uncomfortable and uncertain we are with what lies ahead. It is the point where we are being tested in our patience, in our faith, and our ability to see and remember why we are here.

We were blessed to have the comforts of knowing the plan and working the plan last week. Now, we have to trust the chaos of uncertainty.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers today as we go forward to understand what we need to do today and the days ahead. Please pray for guidance, for faith, for compassion and love to flow through us, and to see His plan through the chaos.

Thank you for your unending support and prayers.

Katie

Week one...check!

Well, we are on now on our last stretch of being in India. As we drove into our new destination today, we are realizing how lucky we have been the past week. The traffic was horrendous...imagine the worst traffic jam you have ever been in and multiple it by a hundred. Well, honestly, the traffic jam probably wasn't the worst of it. It is the fact that all the cars, motorcycles, rickshaws, etc, in India don't have much for exhaust pipes and I'm not sure many of them ever get an oil change....or at least not every 3000 miles. The pollution, the smog, the exhaust, was almost unbearable. In fact, a couple people got a bit nauseous, most of us put on masks to breathe, the backs of our throats were sore, and our faces had a layer of dirt from all the dirt and dust. It was quite an experience. We quickly realized how awesome our accommodations were last week and how much cleaner and less congested it was there. I never thought I would say that in India....it actually didn't even feel like India last week.

I'm not sure there are quite words to describe this past week, but I feel as though we all have a knowing that we touched people's lives this week and each one of our lives have been touched. We provided almost 800 physicals in 4 days...simply amazing!! We also had the opportunity to see so many other areas of India in need and areas in which TEAM India can focus our mission and efforts. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Tim and Karla....they are doing amazing work here in India!!

We finished up the physicals yesterday so we didn't have to see any children today for physicals. However, we did head back to the school to finish filling the prescriptions and the staff and children at the school wanted to do a program for us. Tim and Karla both stated it would be a "short" program and we would be leaving the center around 1ish to get on the road to travel to our next destination. Well, two things... 1. We didn't leave the center until about 2:30. 2. I hope when we host guests in America, they feel as important and appreciated as much as I did today. As I sat there and looked at the clock and noticed this program was now going on for over a hour, I found myself a bit irritated and my stomach was growling because well, it was about 12:30 and it seems as though all we have done the past week is eat. (Yes, I know, we come to a developing country where people are starving everywhere and we gain weight...I didn't think it was possible) Anyways, I sat back and brought myself back to reality. First, I wasn't experiencing real hunger...the children we helped this week have all experienced real hunger pains. Many of them told us they had terrible headaches and stomachaches on Saturday and Sunday....well, that happens when you don't eat all day and you only eat at school. Second, I realized how much time and effort the children and teachers put into this program. How precious this time was that myself and our team were being honored and blessed for the time we had spent there this week and our efforts. They were showing us their gratitude through songs, skits, and dances. All for us.....they planned a whole program for us. Needless to say, I sat back in my chair, clapped to the rhythm of the songs, admired all the children and teachers in the audience, and soaked it all up!!

As we waved goodbye to all the children, many of them gathered around us to shake our hands to say goodbye. They just want to touch our hands. They want to speak what little English they know to us. They want to know our names. They want to look us in the eye. They just want to be close to us. They just want to be noticed. When you say their name, they blush, they look down, and shy away, but are SO excited you honored them by knowing their name. When you ask them what they want to do when they grow up, they give the standard answer, but you can see the yearning in their eyes, the curiosity spinning in their minds, and the burning desire to tell you more...but their is this language barrier. Even though we couldn't always understand the words they say, we understand their hearts and to the best of our ability we tried to touch each one of their hearts this week. It was simply amazing.

We have been blessed...and we still have 6 more days to go. Tomorrow we get to celebrate Sthuthi's 1st birthday at the orphanage. It will be great to see the kids again this year and give them all lots and lots of love! Again, we appreciate your support and prayers....each day we extend your love and hearts....some many children in India have been blessed because of your support. AND the 10 people on this team have been blessed a million times over because of you....thank you!

Katie

Some more pics...

So Much to Blog About...

There is so many stories to tell about the past few days. Honestly, we have had experiences of a lifetime and probably ones many will never ever have the opportunity to hear about, let alone see and witness first hand....AND to be able to give back just a smidge...not much, but perhaps a drop in the ocean.

Again, I am falling asleep as I write this, but hopefully I can at least give you a little bit of what we have experienced over the past few days. It's been a hectic, crazy, exhausting, exhilarating, mentally draining, hopeful 3 days.

During our medical camps, we saw approximately 480 children. Each child was provided a dental assessment with treatment on Thursday and Friday, a medical physical, which many have never received, and an eye exam. The medical camp was held in a house located two houses down from the school. There were 3 clinical rooms set up in the single car garage, Pat and John conducted physicals in a room off the garage, and my mom and I completed eye exams in the living room of the house. We can improvise with the best of 'em! It was awesome and so much fun to work with the little kids. They were all terrified we were going to give them injections when they came in. Fear and terror were written all over their face, but they soon figured out we weren't as scary as we looked! : ) It was just an incredible couple of days....I am so blessed to be working with these 9 people....they are all pretty much amazing. And Tim and Karla and their staff are the bomb, too!!

Just one short story about the medical camp. A girl came into the camp on Monday and she had on a sweater, a long sleeve button up shirt, and a scarf. Remind you it is 90 degrees here. Her skin was so dry and it appeared as though she had been severely burned. Her hair was thinning like a 90 year old woman....she looked so old and frail....trapped in a 10 year old's body. After assessing her and understanding a little bit of her story, we sent her to the hospital and had several conversations with her grandmother and eventually with her mother. She has a severe skin disease (Carla or John will have to explain it better later), but it appeared her skin was so dry everywhere and it was just flaking off. She said it hurt to be in the sun. She was a little slow and couldn't communicate very well with us at all. She was so precious....her beautiful eyes just looked at us with pleas for help....although, I'm not sure she even knew she needed it...and I know she didn't think she was worthy of it. My writing doesn't even come close to explaining this story well enough....basically, after two days of talking with the mother and grandmother, we came to the conclusion that she is not receiving the treatment she needs and she is most likely not wanted in her home. Her mother doesn't want her....she is not wanted. She is a burden.

Yep...there are many more stories like that from our first two days of medical camp.

Then, today...whoa...it was a heavy day!!! Carla said it was our day off, but I have found that our days off quickly become our busiest days. So...I have a lot to say about this day...but I'm falling asleep...so I will write more tomorrow. But I do have to tell you one story.

We went to an Indian prison today...amazing! Amazing, but I had a stomachache the entire time walking through the compound. We walked through the different sections for men and women. Walking through the women's section was absolutely brutal. There didn't seem to be even a glimmer of hope....the face's of these women...so bleak and hopeless. Their eyes just empty. It was heart-wrenching. Some of these women are in jail for homicide, etc....but, some are in jail for being sex trafficking. However, they were being sold...they didn't have any papers, and they got picked up. The police didn't go find the pimp...they throw the woman in jail. And in India, you are guilty until proven innocent. THEN, on the way to our next stop, we found out some of these women are in jail because they have a debt. A debt of a 1000 rupees. If you don't know the conversion rate....well, that is about $20. With all the rupees I had in my bag...I could have freed about 6 women...still might...the trip isn't over yet.

Anyways...it was amazing. Then we went to a beggar's colony, a government hospital, and a nursing home (A Home for the Aged, as they call it here). An amazing day and I learned so much....and have a new appreciation for healthcare, cleanliness, four stable walls, a roof over my head, and my own room.

I will do my best to blog tomorrow to fill you in on the other adventures we took today. I'm off to bed. We have our next medical camp tomorrow, so I have to be ready for those eye exams. H-V-O-T.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support. We can feel them and appreciate them more than you know.

Katie

PS...I think the jet lag is kinda starting to go away for most of us. We are still fighting the food battle, but I'm not sure we can win that one! :)

A New Love for Shoes

So, I have always liked shoes, but now I know how I can put that desire for new shoes to good use!! As we did over 480+ physicals over the past two days, we saw children of all ages with their cute little green checkered shirts, their green shorts, their ADORABLE green tie, either white or green socks (that usually were WAY too big and held up by rubber bands), and their black shoes. More often than not the black shoes had holes in the toes, the soles were wore down to the ground, the child had outgrown the shoes MONTHS ago, or the straps and the seams had come out of half the shoe, so it now has become a slip on shoe...even though the other shoe still is on. Imagine running through the streets with one shoe on and one shoe off. Imagine having your socks on, but your toes stick out the front of your shoe. Imagine if your shoes were two sizes too big...or three sizes too small. Imagine walking with a shoe that only covered half of your foot. Just imagine walking through the cleanest streets of America like that....now imagine it in a place where you walk next cows, trash fills the sides of the street, open sewage lines one side of the street, and there really is no such thing as a sidewalk through the neighborhood. Just imagine...

So, my goal....to buy 900 children a pair of shoes every year. I want each child to feel what I feel when I go buy a new pair of shoes. I want them to feel motivated (it's usually what I do to motivate myself to workout!). I want them to feel special. I want them to feel worthy. I want them to feel proud. I want them to know they are important and their bodies are important and precious....even their feet.

They are worth it...

Katie

A few pics for ya...

A Day between...

Yesterday it came down to the wirre at the end of school day to finish the last of 480+ physicals before school was dismissed. We ate lunch in shifts to keep the flow going and when the announcement was made that we had 40 physicals to complete in 25 minutes, the team responded beautifully without compromising compassion and love for each precious child and we finished on time!! Way to go TEAM India!!

Today, we take a break from physicals (the children aren't in school today) and have some rich opportunities planned. First we will have breakfast with a couple who are professional networkers and just entering the work of anti-human trafficking, Then I will lead a Study with women at church. My topic is the role and value of women, so those of you who know me, know I'm thrilled to do this one! Meanwhile, Pat and Jane will handle getting all medicine and follow-up needs of students from school #1 transferred to the head mistress who will see to it that the kids who need further care and treatment actually receive it. The rest of the team will set up for physicals that start tomorrow at school #2. In the afternoon, a variety of activities are planned, including visiting a women's prison, a hospital (for infectious disease like TB, AIDS, etc) and a nursing home. Hopefully, there will be a bit of time left over for much needed relaxing and maybe even a little shopping!

Thanks to all of you who are praying for us!! You have no idea how much we appreciate that and feel your support and prayers.

Gold Mine!!!

We are all very thankful for a discovery found last night! Especially because we were worried for Jessica, Amy, and Janer! Are you all on the edge of your seats!?! After a few days of eating authentic Indian fare and trying to navigate an Indian menu for those taste buds who do not like any spice (which is virtually impossible), we found out one of our restaurants has "continental" fare. You maybe wondering what "continental" fare consists of...well, french fries, gourmet mac and cheese, Chinese noodles, and ice cream!!

We are all very thankful for a break from the spicy curry taste...although Janer insists they put it in everything!

Today, we are headed off to finish up the medical camp at the one school....should be a great day! Hopefully, I won't be falling asleep tonight as I blog about the medical camps because we have some great stories to tell all of you about the children we are serving....they are SO precious and definitely gifts from heaven!

Sending our love and gratefulness!

Katie

A wee bit tired....

Well, it has definitely been an exciting and exhausting couple of days. So much so it has been difficult to find time to post because I usually fall asleep the minute we walk into the room and lay down in bed. For some reason, the jet lag is particularly difficult this time for some of us...or me, I guess. The whole 36 hour travel thing and maybe one year older this year hasn't made it any easier to adjust to things. Oh well, I think we are on the brink of getting adjusted to India time, so keep us in your thoughts on that subject! :) I think once we get fully adjusted (yes, it will be time to come home), but we will just have more energy to love, to care for these young children, and just be open to what is in store for us.

Yesterday, we went to the campus where Tim and Karla and their four children live. They live on the campus of one of the schools they manage...it includes a crisis center, a sanctuary, three or four extra living quarters for those who are living there as a part of the crisis center, an extra living quarters for guests and interns, and then enough room for the classrooms. A vast difference between the other school we are working at through the beginning of the week, but still amazing nonetheless. The church service was packed to the brim with people from all walks of life and so welcoming....they of course called us up to the front and praised us for being here and making a difference here in India. It's amazing how happy our Indian brothers and sisters are to see us and to host us. You would think we are VIPs or something....quite different than America! :)

I did learn how to play cricket yesterday. It is a pretty fun game, but I definitely have a lot to learn. You think we would pick up quick because of our relation to baseball...well, it's quite different when the batter can hit it anywhere 360 degrees around them AND they have to hit it off the bounce....plus, keeping score is about as confusing as they come. So, needless to say, I still have a lot to learn about cricket, but it was a GREAT time to be able to connect with Tim, his family, and all the neighborhood children through such a cherished past time shared by them and this nation. Plus, they were sweet enough to let the girls play with them! (Jessica and I did a good job of holding our own!)

Okay....that is just a bit from yesterday and I will blog more later about our first medical camp today! I'm falling asleep as I write this post, so I will post more in the morning before our second day of medical camps....I'm sorry the posts have been few and far between, but we are getting there! Stay tuned for more...and I will post some pics in the morning.

Thank you again for your support and prayers.

With love and good night.

Katie

Day One...

Well, I'm probably not going to be the one to blog with the most exciting day for their first day in India. My first day consisted of breakfast, a nap (which felt like a little bit of heaven actually sleeping horizontally), a visit to the two schools, lunch and tea with Karla and Tim...and THEN, back to the hotel for some much needed sleep. So, I must say, a bit uneventful compared to last year, however, some of the others stayed at Tim and Karla's to play cricket and partake in a "English conversation Cafe" at the school. John, Nate, Amy and Jessica will have to tell you more about it, but by all the stories they had to tell, the excitement in their voices, and the smiles on their faces...they had an awesome time. It was a time where 60 people (they usually only have about 20 or so show up) from all different countries and nationalities come together to learn about each other, create relationships, and use language as a means to relate and learn new things about this world and thing we call life! How cool is that?! So, anyways, I will leave the rest to those who attended.

I must say it is good to be back. I'm fighting the fatigue right now and feeling the pressure of missing out on today's activities, but I think the rest was much needed. It's sometimes hard to remember you have 14 more days and it's not always good to get sick from exhaustion on the first day! I also must say that I'm a little perplexed at how I feel about being here whether I'm excited or whether it's just "another" thing or if I really know why I'm supposed to be here. Before I got here, I knew I had to be here....now that I'm here, I don't really know what I am supposed to do. So, I am hoping with some rest and being refreshed will make it a bit easier to find my purpose. Do you sense any ambivalence?!? :)

With all that being said, I still can't believe as I look around, as we drive through the cities, the people, the poverty, the filth, the faith, the kids, the dogs, the COWS (I saw them roaming around last year, but it's still crazy to see them in the middle of the road, in the city, tied to a tree), the women, the infrastructure, the rickshaws. As we were eating dinner tonight we were talking about how many people are here in India. I'm sure our estimates are far short (I didn't do my research to verify), but that there are 4 times as many people in India than in America with a fourth of the land we have in America. My numbers may be off a bit, but I think you understand my comparison. It is very difficult to explain and express to you, the people...the sheer amount of people....and everything we use as human beings.

As I walked off the plane today and we got into the bus, everything just came back. The smell of India is like no other...I wish I could bring everyone back just a little smell to test your senses just a wee bit. As we were driving last night with the windows open, there were a couple times, I felt the nose hairs burn a bit...it's amazing what we take for granted in America. And I promise you, I take clean, fresh smelling, salt water filled air for granted every day!!

It's amazing what each person considers to be their "normal" and how our "normals" are so different, but so much the same. As we walked through the schools, you see how we are all the same and we all want to have the same things. We all want to be appreciated, loved, and noticed. The kids just want to be noticed as they crowd around the van and get their pictures taken. The teachers are so proud of their school and want us to be proud, too. We all want and desire those same things. Maybe that is why I am here? (Sometimes I just need to talk/write through things...) To make people in India feel like their normal is like my normal and make me feel like my normal is like their normal. Whatever normal that may be....if there is such a thing! :)

Anyways, I'm hoping tomorrow brings a little bit more clarity for myself, but also hope I can continue to open my heart. I watch the members of my team interact with our Indian brothers and sisters and they are so good at it...so open, so free, and so loving. I'm so proud to be a part of all of this and keep hoping I will learn and be able to do the same.

A couple things about the school we went to today. Tim and Karla showed us two of their schools today...one school was about 35 ft wide by 56 ft deep and 3 stories high. The kicker, 450 children attend this school....yep, 450 in that tiny space. The kitchen to feed all of these children is about 8x8. It's amazing!! We are holding the medical camp in the garage and front room of Tim's father's house that is next to the school....what generosity. He will have around 450 kids going through his home for their first physicals ever....what a blessing he is giving! I know these medical camps are going to be amazing!

Okay, well, I think most of the team is fast asleep, so I better get myself headed in that direction. Ambien might be my new bestest friend! Tomorrow may be a little more structured of a post and not all over the place...I'm blaming lack of sleep!

Our continued gratefulness for all your prayers and support.

Katie

All I Can Say...

Is we made it!! Jet-lagged, cramped, exhausted, excited, shocked and all, we are here. We arrived on time into our destination and then had to travel about 4 hours in a van and small SUV to get to our FINAL destination. All in all, I think we traveled 36 hours....India, you are the only I would travel that long for....well, maybe I will change my mind someday if someone asks me to go to Australia or something. Anyways, that's the jet lag talking.

It is so good to be here and we are so blessed to have made it here safely with all our bags in stow! (Put on the roof of the van for the 4 hours trek to our hotel...yep...a little nervous on that one!)

Alright, I have to sign off for now....heading to the school to see where we are setting everything up for medical camp.

Thank you again for your love, support and prayers. Keep 'em coming!

More later.

Katie

Shuttle is here....gotta go!

Thankfully, my last night in my own bed for 14 days, was a good one. A bit difficult to get up, so I sunk in a little deeper for a little longer this morning. I unconsciously took a long shower with lots of really hot water. In fact, the hot water started to turn cold and I got out as soon as I could as I know it's going to be that way for the next 14 days. I took a short walk in the Florida sun this morning, listened to the bird sanctuary that seems to be outside my house, enjoyed the fresh salt filled smell of the air, and then sat in the deafening silence of my house with a COLD glass of water...for just a little bit longer.

Soon, we will be white knuckled in our van traveling on the roads of India, praying our drivers doesn't go down the wrong way on a one way and have a stand off with a semi-truck to see who is going to move first, the air full of pollution, curry, and dirt, trash everywhere, people everywhere, horns honking, dogs running through the streets, women sweeping up dirt and excrement, children running around with no pants on, rickshaws packed to the brim weaving in and out of traffic....yep, I can feel the heart rate rising and my palms getting sweaty.

I'm excited though....I'm ready. I don't know what it is about this trip, but my suitcases are packed...I'm not sure what is in them. I don't care. I know I will have enough. I know it will be good. If I don't have it, India might have it, I'm sure one of the 9 people I'm traveling with have it...if not, I didn't need it anyway. It's not about me...it's about them....I say it's about them and they will make it about me....amazing.

My goal on this trip...to open my heart a little bit more. To see what I couldn't see last year. To hear what I couldn't hear last year. I know I can't save the world. Don't really want to....but I know I can love one more person in India. I know I can listen to one more woman in India. I know I can touch and hold one more child in India. So....that's what I'm going to do.

Stan said it best...this trip would not be possible without all of our supporters. Your commitment to this country, to their people, to us, is unwavering. We are so grateful for each one of you and we will do our best to bring your gifts and love across the world to be an extension of you. Thank you for your thoughts and your prayers as we go forward on this journey!

Katie

My own little world.

In Matthew West’s song, he talks about how comfortable we get in our own little worlds, worlds where we are in control, life is comfortable, we have “earned” the right to be warm and well fed and happy. Then he sings this phrase:

“What if there’s a bigger picture,
what if I’m missing out,
what if there’s a greater purpose,
I could be living right now,
outside my own little world?”

In less than 48 hours I will leave my own little world. This team and I will spend 36 hours or so traveling half way around the world. We are leaving behind our comfortable world, internet access on our cell phones, TV shows we can’t miss, driving our own vehicles, our families, long hot showers, beef.

We go to be the hands and feet of Christ, to serve those who have so little. We are honored to be called to go.

We are going to help and encourage those who have dedicated their lives to serving the oppressed of India. They are the ones who live in this world 24/7. They are the ones who are changing lives in India.

But for these 2 weeks, we are privileged to walk beside them, work with them, share with them. Maybe give them some new ideas, maybe help them do what they do a bit better. But for all we will give them, we will receive infinitely more from them. It is the most humbling experience I have ever had.

Thank you to all of you who have made this trip possible, with your donations, your prayers, your encouragement. We truly go as an extension of all of you. We will do our best to be worthy of that.

Stan

Pendulum Swings

This is trip #8 for me and I enter this familiar and unpleasant pendulum swing in my gut every time I step into the packing mode.

The whole team has worked so hard--sacrificed, saved, prayed, and we know to our core that what we do on this trip allows us to dip our souls deeper into God's mercy and grace and love for the poor, those who lack access to so many of the things we would never think of doing without. So why is it, when I'm shopping for things to put in my suitcase, that 90% of my thoughts are about trying to cover every possible need/want for myself? Mints, gum, plenty of hand wipes, a travel coffee press, collapsable water bottle (coolest thing from Eddie Bauer!), cheetos, .... you name it, I'm packing it! Shopping for extra apps, songs, and movies for my iPad to entertain me during the two international flights and a 6 hr layover in Frankfurt. Then I grab pills for colds, pills to help me sleep, pills for headaches, and heart burn.... Preparation has swung to alleviating every possible discomfort, and is fueled by self-obsession and anxiety.

Then I look at the stack of "stuff" piled in my suitcase and think of those kids..... They sleep on a mat, probably in a one or two room house with several family members. They bathe using a small bucket of cold water. They put on their school uniform and it makes them feel a foot taller as they proudly walk to school. They don't have a backpack full of contingency supplies; theirs is full of opportunities in the form of notebooks and textbooks. Their smiles are contagious, their gratitude is overwhelming, and their need, from my perspective, is staggering. The pendulum swings...so I dump the suitcase and start over.

9 days...

In 9 days I will get on a plane again....

In 9 days I will travel with 9 other people across the world....

In 9 days I will have to open my heart again....

In 9 days I will be unsettled, unnerved, and uncomfortable....

In 9 days I will leave all the comforts of my home, my job, my friends, my family, my faith....

In 9 days I will trust this is the journey I need to be on...

In 9 days I will trust the 9 people I am traveling with to touch lives we don't know, we don't understand, we can't fix.

We will be on a journey together to open our hearts, to be His hands, to care and nurture those who have never felt the comfort of His precious touch, and to love those who have never been loved. We will love them without walls...without expectations...we will love them unconditionally.

It is amazing to walk into a world of unknown and have so many feelings....so many feelings words can't describe...there are no words that can explain the gifts we will receive in 9 days. We receive more gifts than we can possibly give....yet, our Indian brothers and sisters think we have sacrificed and blessed them a million times over. Amazing, isn't it?

It's amazing how I thought it would be different this year since I have been to India before...but it's not. It's all the same. It's hard because I am starting to get settled, I have a foundation, but now, I am going into the unknown again. I will be unsettled in my faith, again. I will be unsettled in my foundation, again. Why would I do this all over again? I ask myself every day....I don't know. I just know I'm supposed to go....