Hola Everyone! Its Callie again! I realized yesterday that I actually really enjoy this blogging thing so get ready for a new post, well, basically every day! So a really cool thing happened this morning: my mom and I were chosen to visit a House, Nabo Jibon, that is run by the Missionaries of Charity Brothers! Nabo Jibon is basically the male version of Shanti Dan, the residents there are all men with physical and mental disabilities. Every Sunday the brothers open Nabo Jibon's doors to the street children for a day of fun and love very similar to a day camp! But in order to make this happen, more volunteers are required than just the amount that usually are helping at Nabo Jibon. Mom, Marie, Ashley and I put our names into a drawing with a ton of other names. 18 names were chosen and to my delight Mom and I were two of the names! So instead of helping at Shanti Dan as usual, Mom and I (and 16 others) boarded a bus headed to Howrah and then changed buses at the station and continued on our way to Nabo Jibon. Finally, after an hour of traveling, we made it to the House and started working with the street children! We (the volunteers and the street children) were separated into male and female and sent to the wash rooms where we helped the children take baths. Many of them were capable of bathing on their own, we were more there to be "police women" than anything else. We were told the girls would try to take the soap or the hair brushes so we would need to watch them closely. At first I didn't believe that these sweet little girls would ever try anything like that but I quickly met reality when I went back to help. These girls were feisty and tricky and very mean to each other. Shortly after being back there, the girls broke into a small fist fight which the other volunteers and I quickly separated. After bath was play time. We took the girls to the front courtyard to meet the boys and other volunteers for games and races and dancing. It was so GREAT to watch these little kids having so much fun and the volunteers totally making fools out of themselves! Everyone was loving it! Skipping and twirling and handshakes and snuggling were on the top of the list of things to do for all the girls and Futbol and Frisbee were all the boys could focus on! Then came lunch for the children. They had a delicious lunch of rice, potatoes (aloo), and a fried egg. Lunch flew by quickly and they were on their way to their families in no time! Overall it was a terrific day! I really truly enjoyed myself playing with these little girls and boys!
On the way home I met some of the other volunteers: Mark from Canada (who is studying to be a priest) and a ton of people from Spain!
I've been very blessed to meet all these different people from all of the world! I really enjoy talking to them and learning about their lives back home! Although most volunteers are considerably older than I am, I have met one girls who is my age! We bonded quickly because we are the youngest here, her name is Shreya. She lives in China but her family is from India and she speaks fluent English. She and I have a TON in common, we are the same age and the same year of high school, we have similar interests and tastes in music, and overall when I talk to her it feels like a little piece of home is with me. In a city and workplace where things are so serious and communication is challenging, its nice to have someone to talk to about the silly little things in life like school, movie-stars, and music! She, along with Mom, Ashely and Marie, really made this trip and less terrible adjustment. Without all of them to lean on, I don't think I would have made it through the first week! I'm truly blessed to have met and to have so many new friends and such a wonderful family!
Also while in India I've learned that I can NOT do it alone, and though leaning on friends and family is nice AND necessary I've learned that I NEED to lean on God. He is the driving force behind the work the other volunteers and I do and He is the one (the only one) with the plan! And although going to Nabo Jibon and working with the kids was fun and rewarding I feel like I may have been sent on that trip to meet Mark. I know that is strange and sounds crazy but his story of how he decided to enter the seminary really intrigued me and made me realize that nothing is impossible for God and no calling is too far out there. His story has convinced me to try to open my heart to God's plan for my life where ever it may take me!
Well that's my story for the day! Love to all and God bless!! Namaste Brothers and Sisters!
On the way home I met some of the other volunteers: Mark from Canada (who is studying to be a priest) and a ton of people from Spain!
I've been very blessed to meet all these different people from all of the world! I really enjoy talking to them and learning about their lives back home! Although most volunteers are considerably older than I am, I have met one girls who is my age! We bonded quickly because we are the youngest here, her name is Shreya. She lives in China but her family is from India and she speaks fluent English. She and I have a TON in common, we are the same age and the same year of high school, we have similar interests and tastes in music, and overall when I talk to her it feels like a little piece of home is with me. In a city and workplace where things are so serious and communication is challenging, its nice to have someone to talk to about the silly little things in life like school, movie-stars, and music! She, along with Mom, Ashely and Marie, really made this trip and less terrible adjustment. Without all of them to lean on, I don't think I would have made it through the first week! I'm truly blessed to have met and to have so many new friends and such a wonderful family!
Also while in India I've learned that I can NOT do it alone, and though leaning on friends and family is nice AND necessary I've learned that I NEED to lean on God. He is the driving force behind the work the other volunteers and I do and He is the one (the only one) with the plan! And although going to Nabo Jibon and working with the kids was fun and rewarding I feel like I may have been sent on that trip to meet Mark. I know that is strange and sounds crazy but his story of how he decided to enter the seminary really intrigued me and made me realize that nothing is impossible for God and no calling is too far out there. His story has convinced me to try to open my heart to God's plan for my life where ever it may take me!
Well that's my story for the day! Love to all and God bless!! Namaste Brothers and Sisters!
No comments:
Post a Comment