We got off of the vans and were greeted by two long trains of children, all holding the most intricate flower leis I have ever seen and bunches of flower petals. As our team walks down the middle of the two trains (much like what happens at the end of a child's soccer game) a group of girls lead the way singing "Welcome to Rock Harbor team" and dancing. We each get a lei put on us by one of the children and all the kids are throwing flower petals at us as we walk by.
Being greeted at the Harvest India Campus.
A friend on the team later mentioned that he thought they were singing Welcome Home Rock Harbor team. I feel like that version of the song is more accurate. I imagine our welcome into heaven's gates will be very similar to this welcome to Harvest India. The children's faces showed they had been waiting excitedly and expectantly for our arrival. My heart was bursting with joy, realizing I had finally made it there, this was a long awaited arrival. Everyone was rejoicing.
The kiddos in their classroom.
After our greeting we got to spend time meeting and playing with the children. I felt a little like a celebrity. There was this one little girl who stole my heart immediately.
She came up to me and asked my name, then hugged me and didn't let go for the rest of our visit. She gave me a piece of paper filled with telugu words written in her sweet little handwriting, she told me it was her name and the names of her family. It was such a sweet gift.
After spending time with the Harvest India children we visited the International Princess Project sewing center. This organization frees women from the Red Light districts in the area and teaches them sewing skills. They make these awesome Punjamis (a twist on the word punjabi and pajama, it's quite brilliant) that are sold all over the world. Not many of these women spoke english, but they had such sweet spirits. We were honored to be able to pray with them.
We then got back in the vans and traveled to another school location that provides schooling for children in the poorer areas of Tenali. We were able to go into all of the classrooms and play with the little nuggets (an endearing term we used for the Indian kiddos). I wanted to take all of them home with me. I mean look at them, who wouldn't?
We then went back to the Rock Harbor Children's Home to attend a worship service with the children. We laughed and they sang songs for us, danced for us. My heart was so overwhelmed with joy watching those kids dance and sing. By all definitions their lives are not easy. But they know how to celebrate what God has done for them far better than anyone I know.
It was a beautiful but long first day. Adding jet lag onto that, I fell asleep the moment I laid down. Not even the creepy mosquito net I had to sleep in could keep me from rest this night.
She came up to me and asked my name, then hugged me and didn't let go for the rest of our visit. She gave me a piece of paper filled with telugu words written in her sweet little handwriting, she told me it was her name and the names of her family. It was such a sweet gift.
After spending time with the Harvest India children we visited the International Princess Project sewing center. This organization frees women from the Red Light districts in the area and teaches them sewing skills. They make these awesome Punjamis (a twist on the word punjabi and pajama, it's quite brilliant) that are sold all over the world. Not many of these women spoke english, but they had such sweet spirits. We were honored to be able to pray with them.
Being greeted by the International Princess Project women.
We then got back in the vans and traveled to another school location that provides schooling for children in the poorer areas of Tenali. We were able to go into all of the classrooms and play with the little nuggets (an endearing term we used for the Indian kiddos). I wanted to take all of them home with me. I mean look at them, who wouldn't?
The most adorable little nuggets.
We then went back to the Rock Harbor Children's Home to attend a worship service with the children. We laughed and they sang songs for us, danced for us. My heart was so overwhelmed with joy watching those kids dance and sing. By all definitions their lives are not easy. But they know how to celebrate what God has done for them far better than anyone I know.
The worship service at the Rock Harbor Children's Home.
One of the dances the kids performed for us.
It was a beautiful but long first day. Adding jet lag onto that, I fell asleep the moment I laid down. Not even the creepy mosquito net I had to sleep in could keep me from rest this night.
No comments:
Post a Comment