So this afternoon we spent time at another school.
These kids were so so great and loving and ready to truly be loved. I can't wait to show you some of the photos and videos.
I am a little behind on my posting, mainly because we have had no breaks since we have been here. I am in the midst of a 90 minute break right now, but that is the 1st we have got, we have been working nonstop.
We were all up at 5 this morning and will be going until late tonight, don't get me wrong, we love it!!!! but we are dead dog tired.
I think we are growing as a group, devotion in the mornings is awesome, our team did praise and worship with Robert this morning for Devo so that was really neat, I think all us crazy pentecostal "white" people might have freaked out the locals, you know us, singers, dancers, and praisers....can you imagine how they would have reacted if C.R. had come.....
yeah.....
I am going to post 3 videos and 5 more pictures right now and try and get a lot more done tonight.
Currently one of the volunteers here has my memory card because hers was full, she has an awesome camera so i let her use it and I will get it back later and upload today's photos in hopes of getting completley caught up for you guys.
Let me just say how awesome it is to spend time with these kids, we truly don't know how good we have it back home, and surely the kids in the U.S. don't either. These kids were so EXCITED to spend a couple of hours kicking a soccer ball around with Rachel, Laura, Michael and myself. they loved doing arts and crafts and singing and dancing with the rest of the group. They are so starved for love and attention. When I went inside after playing soccer, I don't think I had sat down for more than about 10 seconds and I had 8-10 kids climbing all over me, hugging, tugging, smiling, crying. They just want someone to love them. Tiffany and I, like everyone else brought some toys and trinkets to give to the kids, we had stickers, they just went crazy of a simple little sticker. They are so grateful to have anything.
Last story for now, need to upload those videos, but yesterday at the other school, we were passing out pixie sticks....yes...sugar....little kids....parents probably weren't happy with us....anyways....
Laura had passed all of her pixie sticks out and one little girl came over to her with half of one left and begged Laura to take it. why? because she saw that everybody else had them, but Laura didn't....so a 6 or 7 year old girl can comprehend the love of Christ on such a level that she begs Laura to take the only little gift she has probably received this month. It was really moving to see the little kids comprehend the concept of giving out of what you have.
I have hopes of sharing more with you, and maybe some video interviews from some of our team. Again thanks for your prayers, thoughts, and contributions. It is so amazing to see what God is doing, what He has done, and what He is going to do.
The video below is part of the long walk down the hallways of the pediatric ward, this was our first time to stop in and see all the children with their cleft palates, as you will see in the next couple of videos, they are the sweetest little children. Let me also say that this is no state of the Art hospital. They do the best they can with what they have, and they do it well....but it is better described as a low quality version of a Vietnam Field Hospital, we have it so easy in the U.S.
This next video is of a child with a double cleft palate, I don't know how rare that is, but it is rare enough that I have never seen or heard of it before, I warn you now....this is some VERY VERY GRAPHIC FOOTAGE, if you have the heart and stomach to see this footage you should, if you don't I challenge you to still watch the footage for the simple reason of you need to know what these kids are going through, you need to be thankful for what you have, your health, your kids' health, etc. God is touching lives here, the hospital we are working with is the vessel God is using the change the futures of these children. Without the surgery they receive at this hospital, they would be worthless to this culture. Right now they are just "throw aways" Truly sad....and amazing....watch....
****GRAPHIC FOOTAGE*
This next video is of another child in the pediatrics ward, such a sweet little child, innocent, and completley in the hands of God at this hospital, it is so amazing what they are doing for these children.
I am waiting on this final video to upload and figured I would spend that time sharing a little more while I had a few minutes left before we leave again....
Something that we can't share or depict with pictures, or videos, or even words for that matter is the smell here....
I know that sounds weird, but it is such a strong odor that sometimes it is very difficult to breathe without gagging. It seems as though each of us is struggling with the air at different times....but listen to this....the smog here is so bad....that breathing here for 1 day is the equivalent of smoking 3 packs of cigarettes.....yeah...terrible...
But the people urinate in the streets dump their waste in the gutters, the #1 fossil fuel is cow pie....you think I am joking? They cook over cow pie fires....I will post a picture of cow pies stacked upon each other like what we do with fire food...
Imagine the worst stench you have ever smelled in the world....then....lock it up in a room for 5 years and let it mutate into mutant stench....then and only then could you begin to imagine some of the smells we have here.
arghhhh have to leave no time for photos, will upload later, server is very slow here.... :-(
Kolkata (Calcutta) Time
