Day 3

Today's post by Amanda McMahon:

February 19, 2013,

We had another wonderful breakfast this morning.  I tried an omelet, and I foolishly told the cook to make it with “everything.”  Whew.  That was a mistake.  Too hot for me.  Also at breakfast, Kathy Bates and I were sitting next to JJ and John W.  We noticed John had gotten a plate of food and left quite abruptly even leaving his phone behind.  Turns out, John W. had fallen ill and was too sick to come to the school today. 

Then we adjourned to the poolside where Deb L., Deb H., Kama, and JJ, shared their stories of what brought them to India.  I feel like we are really starting to find our rhythm as one group not two. 

Each day we take 2 big vans to the school.  My group noticed our driver underneath our van.  As Stan says, never a good sign.  He got it started, but that was the slowest car ride I’ve had yet.  We appear to be missing first gear…

We returned to the school today for a 2^nd day of physicals.  A few adjustments were made to the previous day’s system, which seemed to go well.  The language barrier is definitely noticeable, but the group had some wonderful translators.  The pressure was on to work quickly and efficiently.

By lunch time, it was apparent that more adjustments would need to be made, because this school would not be finished today.  Lunch was bananas, grapes, bread, jelly, 3 kinds of rice, and chicken curry, and some kind of hot sauce.

By the time the day was said and done, only 2 grades are left here. 

Carla Huscher and I had a very encouraging day.  We met a couple from Bangalore who have been doing some amazing work.  We were able to speak with them for about 3 hours, and we had a chance to hear their story and their vision.

In the afternoon, Carla helped out with the medical camp.  I helped Kathy Bates at her station.  Mostly, I just walked around and tried to pronounce kids’ names.

As Stan always told us, you cannot plan here.  So, it turns out, there is some kind of strike tomorrow that will be shutting everything down.  Current plan:  proceed as planned.  Fly by the seat of our pants and try to do whatever we can. 

Edit by Stan: the strike is nationwide, and will affect a bunch of stuff.  There will be a huge reduction in traffic as most of the truck drivers, busses and rickshaw drivers will be on strike.  The schools will be closed, as the teachers will observe the strike.  Banks and most businesses will be closed.  Not sure what to expect, it is scheduled for 2 days.

At today’s debriefing, it was decided that if people wanted to do shopping, they’d need to do it tonight.   Apparently on the drive to shopping one of the vans nearly ran into a motorcycle, people went flying out of their van seats, but no one was hurt.

Carla Huscher and I met with K.S. and her staff from 5-7.  I feel like what we are doing is going well.  Today was a better day than yesterday, for me anyway.

I don’t know how the construction is going, but I know they are working incredibly hard in the heat with one saw and some difficult wood.  Edit by Stan: they are making bookshelves for the schools, and the wood is some strange concoction of wood slats with a veneer over it, so it does not have the strength of plywood in all directions, weird stuff.

Then we all met at the hotel for a supper buffet.  It was amazing.  There were tons of delicious salads, Indian food, pasta, goat, spinach dip, Nan, and the most delicious desserts. 

Please pray for Deb. L. who is struggling with asthma and a possible sinus infection, for John W. for healing, for wisdom for the teams, for an early end to the strike, for protection for all the kids, and for our partners here.

Good night and good morning at the same time.