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