Monday, May 17, 2010

Today we were able to make a trip to the city of Muneer.  Darin, had been able to go to this city with a few team members of our missions team when we were there in 2008, but I stayed in Shah Abad with the rest of the team.  I am excited to see the school that is there and the beautiful children I heard about in 2008.  As Uma, and his children and our family loaded into their vehicle for the day we realized we had a full day ahead of us and the heat had not let up!  Also, on the agenda is to stop by the hotel that Gidget and Shane are staying at in Delhi on our way back so we can meet precious Maiya.  I am so excited!  It is amazing how God answered our prayer to be able to meet in India, even if it will be for a VERY short visit.  It is funny how we both live in the USA, but actually meet face to face half way around the world!.

The drive to Muneer was quite long and crazy as usual.  The traffic here NEVER ceases to AMAZE me.  It is like complete chaos, but carried out in a fine dance of sorts.  I am always taken back by seeing no lanes on the streets, people, cows, dogs, bikes, motorcyles (with multiple people on them WITHOUT helmets), rickshaws, taxis, cars, etc.  ALL on the same road moving in all directions.  Our family could not be more grateful for being driven around India by a trusted friend, who makes it look so EASY!

It is shocking the size of the loads these men pedal around.

We had quite the fun time listening to Toby Mac and dancing about to pass the time.  After much driving we finally arrived at the, Grace Academy School, located in the slum area of Muneer.  As we unloaded from the vehicle we were BLASTED with the intense heat of the day.  We made our way into the school.  This was eye opening for our boys I am sure, as it is not your typical school room from back home.  We watched as the teachers tried to conduct their classes as a family of white people entered the room.  We were told that they do not see very many white skinned people, so we were let's just say a MAJOR distraction!  We didn't say long, but took a few photos and waved and said hello to all the children.  

Our friend and his daughter talking with the children

I like how this photo captures the classroom, children, the beautiful dress that the women wear (even when in the slums), and one of the water pumps that was installed as part of our previous missions trip.

As we left the first set of classrooms we took a walk through the slums.  One thing I noticed was that one of the men who met us there kept a very close eye on our boys.  In fact he held Luke's wrist (not hand) as we walked about the slums.  When I noticed he wasn't holding Luke's hand and only his wrist I began to look about and saw this is very common in India.  I didn't get a chance to ask why they do that, but something I made note of.  As we walked through the slum area of where the children we just saw live, their reality became VERY clear, VERY quickly as we observed raw sewage laying on the ground, muddy roads that are washed away and flooded when the rain comes, to children running around with little to no clothes on, very small children packing around thier younger siblings, raw meat hanging from hooks in little shops, etc.  It is explained to us that education is paramont in these areas in order to break the cycle of poverty.  The faces of these beautiful children will have a lasting impression on my heart and mind.  Some looked in shock and awe at these white people who walked through their community, some were elated with excitement, some scared and very on guard.  How I wish we had more time to just interact and play with the children and soak up a day in the life of these beautiful people.

A common site to see children unattended. 

Another water pump site.  

This little girl was NOT comfortable with the camera or the color of our skin.

The glorious site of clean and drinkable water.  Something a couple years ago they did not have readily available in their community.

The holding of the wrist as I described above.

Who doesn't quite fit into this photo?  :-)

Not something you see everyday back home

Keeping a safe distance from us.  These boys were extremely uneasy with us.

Excited to have their photo taken.

Another water pump.

Beautiful!

When my husband took this photo he was hoping to get a bit closer to capture their faces better, but as soon as he stepped forward this older sibling took off running!  She didn't know who we were and her protective instinct kicked in to protect herself and her baby sister.

As we made our way back out of the slums we stopped at the larger building that held the older grade level school rooms.  Many of the children and teachers stayed after the time they usually go home, because they knew we were coming.  What a sacrafice as it was SO hot (115 degrees that day) and they probably wanted to get out of their sweltering hot classrooms.  We were greeted by the staff who escorted us to a small room that had a couple of computers in it.  We were served soda and cookies. The people of India are SO hospitable, regardless of where you are in India.  The children were so excited to see us and waved and said hello as we popped our heads into each classroom.  We took a little stroll on top of the roof and then headed back to our vehicle.  The kids were so giggly and excited to follow us back to our car as Darin took their photos.  So many beautiful faces were captured that day by my husband.

Overall shot of the school yard.

Up on the roof getting another view

Carriages the horses or cows pull around

 I have to say that when we got settled into the car, I thought I was going to pass out!  The car had been sitting in the blazing sun for several hours and it was like a pressure cooker.  Even though we had air conditioning, you wouldn't have know it.  We continued our drive down the very dusty and bumpy roads on our way back to Delhi.  I would say that this was the hottest I had been so far this trip as sweat literally dripped off my entire body.  I didn't feel so bad as Uma's little girl who was sitting next to me was sweating just as much as me :-)  At one point when the dust died down a bit I asked for the window to be rolled down as I was getting so light headed and it was hard to breathe. I so desperately needed to feel the movement of air regardless of how scorching hot or dusty it was.  On the drive back  I saw my first mini accident.  An auto rickshaw hit a concrete piling.  It caused quite the traffic jam, as if it wasn't already congested enough :-).

On our way to grab a late lunch at a mini Birista before we hooked up with Gidget,  we drove by the India Gate so we could say we saw it.  Due to the heat nobody was around and we didn't get out of the car..

After lunch we arrived at the hotel that Gidget was staying at.  WOW!, what a fancy place.  It is actually a miracle that we actually connected, because Gidget had called me to tell me she didn't think it would work out, but the number she called was my home number in Oregon.  We only had our cell phone for emergency purposes and she didn't have that number.  We were blessed enough to meet their precious Maiya before they left to go to the embassy doctor.  It was so wonderful to see Maiya, this little girl who I had been praying for and to meet her parents for the first time.  After we left our friend Uma, said that hadn't realized that we had never met before, he just thought we were going to be able to visit in India as old friends :-)

Precious, Maiya

Me, Gidget, and precious Maiya

With a very long day under our belts we headed back home (Uma's house) to eat dinner and pack our bags for our trip to Kolkata bright and early the next morning.  I am a bit nervous, anxious, and excited about what tomorrow will hold.  Also, knowing that we will be on our "own" as Uma will not be with us is a bit overwhelming!  I am thrilled to know that tomorrow I will finally be in our daughter's birth country.

Before bed tonight, Uma and his wife, Yaman, presented us with the most beautiful gift for our baby girl. I had mentioned on a previous shopping trip that I would love to buy, Alesha, a traditional set of jewelry before we left India.  To my surprise they had purchased exactly what I had in mind for her. The set is absolutely beautiful, and I can't wait to put it on her.

There are 2 bracelets, 2 anklets, and one necklace.  Such a beautiful and special gift that will be treasured for years to come.