Blessed By An Elephant

Well, it's been a crazy few days, and rather than make a blog entry for all of them, I am just going to sum it all up

Friday: Today I built a house....with my BARE hands....ok it was a community effort, and I just threw a lot of bricks at Indian construction workers .  Ooooo that did not come out right, but it's kinda funny so I'm just going to leave it haha.  What actually happened is we were adding a second story to one of the buildings at Rising Star, and as a service project we assisted the construction workers in making it.  I was assigned to a corner of the building, and was put in charge of supplying the men building the walls with as much kal (brick) and kalicum (clay/mortar/cement) as their hearts desired. Many of the construction workers were yelling constantly, but the men I was helping were these two sweet old fellows with rather distinguished snowy white beards. When they needed something, they would gently point at what it was, and I would hand it to them. They would smile in return, and then continue with their labor. It was a fascinating thing to watch and it almost made me want to forget my college plans and spend the rest of my life as an Indian bricklayer.....that was almost a joke :)  At one point during the construction process I found myself standing on a pricarious 5 foot pile of bricks, throwing bricks and handing large bins of kalicum to the workers above. I now had 7 men working in my area, and after a while I started getting confused with who wanted what, and soon had 7 men yelling at me in Tamil. I realized at that point that it didn't matter what language they were speaking because when I help with construction in America I still don't understand what people are saying even though it's all in English.

It was really gratifying work though. I got absolutely filthy. Straight Up, head to toe dirt and grime. Twas beautiful.  I am also a professional at carrying heavy loads on my head, which is a good skill to know.  

Kaylee basically rocks in every way possible.

Inside the building we were adding another story to.

Go Team Scorpion :)

I got wonderfully dirty

Saturday--- I received my first elephant blessing! We spent Saturday at Pondicherry as a break from the work we did this week. Pondicherry is a city located on the eastern coast of India, right next to Chennai. It is the burial location of several famous spiritual figures in Indian history, and has this incredible French influence. From the architecture, the food, and the people everything was distinctly a bit more French.  There was this old elephant named Lakshmi who gives out blessings. You stick money in her trunk and then she touches the top of your head with it. She seemed like an older elephant , and had these incredibly sad, intelligent eyes. I really hope that she is not abused. Her owner did not appear to be a kind soul.  

The man under Lakshmi is her owner....Lakshmi, now may be a good time to get your business done....just sayin.

I love my fellow volunteers! :)

      After the blessing we walked to the bazaar where I got my first taste of an Indian fresh market. It was smelly, noisy, and crowded. There were dogs and flies everywhere, and I swore off fish for the rest of my stay in India.  We went on our first ride in a rickshaw, and ate food at an italian restaurant, where we all ordered "Nocurry"(pronounced Knock-hurry. Said really fast).  Basically that means anything that is "Not Curry." My choice of food was a cheese pizza...which ironically was spicy.  We spent several hours shopping and seeing the sights, and then happened upon a spiritual bookshop. It was basically the Deseret Book of India, and had so many interesting things about the religious culture. After the bookshop, we went the The Mother and The Father's grave. 

    These two have played a huge part in the religious culture in India in the past century. They started a "non-religion" in which believers forsake all organized religions and join a group that believes in peace and harmony. It's kind of like Indian Hippism. When we got to the grave site, we were asked to remove our shoes, and put away our cameras. Signs directed us into a courtyard filled with flowers and people. It was totally silent, and many people sat quietly meditating. A man directed us to a corner of the courtyard where we were allowed to sit. As I sat there watching the people around me, I was touched by the stillness and beauty of it all.  The sarcophagus sat in the middle of the courtyard, and flowers were placed over it. People went up to pay their respects by kissing it and bowing their heads in prayer.  We sat there for 30 minutes, enjoying the stillness and smell of jasmine. (Jasmine is now one of my favorite flowers. Women commonly pin it in their hair so they smell nice, and many people buy fresh jasmine flowers to put in their cars as air fresheners.  It is incredibly strong, and one of my new favorite smells. Note to my father: You will probably not like India. Just kidding, you would love it, but you'd just sneeze a lot.:) 

     

   Well, my computer is about to die. I can't wait to tell you the rest of what has happened. I have had some incredibly cool experiences, that are just kind of difficult for me to put into words. I love you so much, and you can expect to hear from me very soon :)

Peace-----Becca :)

Emmalee, Taylor, Kiran and I experiencing our first Rickshaw

Emmalee and I enjoying our "Nocurry"

The bazaar

Mmmmm

Pizza Pizza

5 Million Rupee Smile :)

         Today I felt like a million bucks! I spent the day tutoring the children in English and Math, and it was a blast. The kids absolutely love to read and learn new words. However, these kids are just like any other kid in the fact that they do not want to be inside doing school when it is so beautiful outside. I had one boy in particular, Karthik, who obviously had things that he would rather be doing.  As soon as he walked in the classroom I could just tell that this kid was not going to want to read today. I am not entirely sure if it's because he didn't want to read or if he was uncomfortable reading in English. He shuffled in, avoiding eye contact. He wouldn't answer me when I asked him what his name was, and I had to look at his reading folder to find out what it was.  The school coordinator, Miranda, realized that he had not been given book so she dashed off to hunt one down for him. Meanwhile, it was Karthik and I sitting in an almost empty classroom with an enormous language barrier separating us.

He is HILARIOUS :)

     I started by asking him if he enjoyed playing Cricket (it is really popular in India). He nodded yes, but still didn't speak. I asked him question after question, but still could not get a reaction out of this kid.  Finally I pull out my journal, and say "Karthik! I draw picture of you!" For the first time he looked in my eyes, smiled, and I began drawing. My drawing looked ruther terrible and had hardly any semblance of Karthik, but it opened up a door, and Karthik suddenly became interested. We spent the next 40 minutes drawing pictures of each other.  I drew a sketch of what camping in Idaho is like, and he drew a map of India.  I showed him my horse Lady and he drew his favorite animal, a cheetah that he named Lacy. I helped him with his reading by creating secret messages that he had to figure out. By the end I had made a new friend, and he was smiling. and benson is awesome sauce. :)  (Dear Benson, thank you for inserting that last statement into my blog. It totally made it flow better dude lol). Thanks Karthik for making my day so good! I really enjoyed reading with you and I am excited for play time today.

This  boy is my little buddy

     I went out to the playground during play time and I saw a small girl laying on a bench by herself. I went over and sat next to her. I tried asking her name and tickling her feet, but she just lay there and wouldn't move. I was starting to get concerned that something was wrong with her at this point. A couple of little girls gathered around her, speaking quickly in Tamil. I asked them if she was ok, and they replied that she was but, "She miss her mother."  I wanted to cry. This little five year old had barely been sent away to the boarding school. Some mother in a colony had wanted her little girl to receive an education, and so she had given her to strangers to raise. That is love.

Missing her momma

The same little girl. Look at those sad eyes.

I love you!

Peace-----Becca

I am so glad that I was raised in a place where EVERY girl received an education

I love that smile!

These girls are inseperable

Breakfast? Curry. Lunch? Curry. Dinner? Curry. Dessert? Gratitude.

What up India??? This photo op was too priceless to pass up.
The most people I have seen on a bike so far is five. Two parents, a small boy,  toddler, and then the mom cradling a newborn in her arms.  It's rather common for one motorcycle to be an entire family's mode of transportation.

   
        In India you eat sitting cross legged on the ground, and all of your food is scooped up with your hands. Straight up, you simply dig your hands into your pile of rice and go crazy. I love it a lot, and have almost totally mastered the technique (a couple of very dedicated 8 year old teachers wouldn't let me leave the dining hall until I got it right).  It is not only a lot more fun to eat this way, but I would also consider it a lot more sensible. You will never burn your mouth because something is too hot. Your hands might not feel too great, but at least you'll preserve your taste buds.

    I was sitting next to a small boy in the dining hall the other day, and we had the most interesting conversation. He was eating his food with relish, and appeared to be enjoying himself. I sat down on the cement floor next to him and asked, "Is your lunch good?" He replied, "No, I do not like spicy food."  Meanwhile he had barely paused his eating long enough to state this, and he still seemed content and happy. I stared at him in amazement because this poor kid lives in India. EVERYTHING is spicy. You have some form of curry for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I swear that even the air and water are spicy here.  That's like living in the US and disliking the taste of sugar and salt. Haha kudos to this boy (sorry I forgot his name) who is bravely facing a life time of curry and spices. What a trooper!  I am so impressed with these kids. I have yet to meet a picky eater. They are just so happy to have a plate full of food.

   I spent my first day at the leprosy colonies yesterday.  It was really touching to see how humble and grateful these amazing people are. When we arrived at the colony, and elderly man with no toes started teaching us a song and dancing. We all danced around learning names, hugging, and smiling. When the medical vans arrived everyone, including the leprosy afflicted, helped unload it. We set up stations that all the leprosy afflicted would rotate through.

Nurses setting up the treatment area. These nurses are absolutely fantastic.

A line of the leprosy afflicted patiently waiting for treatment.

1. Blood pressure and documenting. This was where we looked at medical records and made note of who was at the colony for medical help that day.
2. Bandage cutting. The old bandages are cut off their limbs and thrown away.
3. Wound washing. Volunteers use soap to wash around the ulcers.
4. Oiling. Oil is rubbed around the ulcer
5. Re-bandaging. Dead skin is cut away from around and inside the ulcer. A new bandage is put on top of the wound.  This is done by a nurse with a volunteer there to assist her.
    I volunteered to assist the nurse in the re-bandaging process because I decided that this is where I could be of the most use. It is often incredibly painful for the patient, because although the area around the ulcer does not feel the pain, the inside is still very much raw. They do not have access to any sort of numbing, and so everything that we do is done without anesthetic.  In India it is considered incredibly shameful to cry in public.

This sweet old man's wound was especially painful

  Here is a quick story that will show you the depth of this cultural belief.  Last year one of the house mothers (Indian woman assigned to take care of 20 of the children at Rising Star) was preparing to have a baby. Several of the Rising Star volunteers went with her to the hospital to offer their assistance if she needed it. She lay in a bed with her mother sitting next to her, having a baby in an Indian hospital. The contractions began to worsen and the house mother started to cry. Her mother slapped her and started yelling in anger. This house mother was shaming herself and her family by crying in front of the other people in the hospital room.

These sweet kids lived at the colony. The girl on my right is Alyssa, she is a 17 year old volunteer for Rising Star

     At the colonies during the re-bandaging process leprosy afflicted persons have been known to start crying. It really hurts so badly that even in a culture that is very much against public displays of emotion, they cannot stop themselves.  It was hard to know this, and watch my patients get their wounds worked on. The nurse would cut off the dead skin, and I would put a clean bandage on. The only comfort we had to offer was a hug and kind words.

This guy taught us some songs, and joke around for the thirty minutes before this picture was taken.

       My patients are used to being ostracized from society. Nobody touches them or looks them in the eye. They believe that leprosy is a curse from God, so if you dare to look someone with leprosy in the eye then you too will be cursed.  So when we come in with smiles, hugs, and kind words it is the most amazing thing for them. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father trusts me enough to send me half way around the world to bring love to his sons and daughters who need it most. Everyone is a child of God and has a place in this world. I love you! :)

Peace----Becca

Dear Lizzy....

Dear Lizzy,

         Today I made two new friends!  Their names are Kavya and Nalina  and they are eight years old. They tried to teach me a song, and laughed at me when I couldn't get the words right. The kids here speak an Indian language called Tamil.

         I think that these two girls love cameras almost as much as you sister sue!  Haha they were looking through my pictures today, and found the one of you that we took on the way to the airport.  They asked all about you, and were so excited to find out that you are turning eight soon, just like them!  They both wanted me to tell you hi :) Also, I took a picture and promised them that I would show it to you. Kavya and Nalina thought that they could open their mouths bigger than you can....what do you think? :) I love you so much and hope to talk to you soon!

      Today was a crazy day, and I feel thoroughly, utterly, and awesomelly exhausted. At the beginning of the day I set two goals. I was placed with the construction crew today and spent a good portion of my morning and afternoon cleaning out sheds on rising star campus.  It was at one of these sheds that I saw the biggest spider I have ever seen in my entire life. It was massive!  I was still gasping when our construction coordinator, Carl, looked over and casually said, "Oh he's just a little guy." Thank you Carl! I shall sleep brilliantly tonight my friend.
       Today was such a great day, and I am sad to see it end. Service truly is the best medicine, and I am so thrilled that I get to have several weeks of this.
       Tomorrow I have been placed on medical crew, and will be traveling out to the leprosy colonies. I am nervous for this one because it is unlike anything I have ever come across. In my work as a hospice aide, all of my patients have access to pain medication.  They never have to experience any procedure without being numbed first.  Tomorrow I will be cleaning and bandaging the wounds of people who do not have any pain medication. Although leprosy destroys your nerves so you can no longer feel, many of them still experience immense pain as you clean out their ulcers. It will be a hard experience, but I know it is important that their wounds are cleansed and bandaged.  They will not be able to heal otherwise.
     Well, I truly am exhausted so I'm going to head to bed. To the rest of the world Good Morning! Make a great day! :)

Peace-----Becca

My Life As an Eight Cow Wife

       Today I got proposed to....twice! Don't worry momma, I simply kicked them in the shins and fled the scene.  Alright, maybe I just ran to the bus with the rest of my group, but it does sound like a better story if someone ended up getting kicked. :)

     Well, I am now at the Rising Star Outreach Children's School! This is a boarding school for children of families who have been severely affected with leprosy. Some of the children are orphans, while other have parents who live in the colonies.  They come to this school to receive a good education and receive opportunities that wouldn't otherwise be available for them. The school is amazing. There are several full time teachers, and the kids live in a family like environment. They are separated into groups with a group mom watching over about twenty kids. Wow, those women work hard. They spend all day kissing scrapes better, making snacks, breaking up fights and trying to be a teacher, mother, example, mediator, policewoman, lawmaker, Housekeeper, and basically everything else to  the children she is in charge of.  It is truly awe-inspiring to see. What a difficult thing to accomplish.

       I had heard that the kids were incredibly fun and cute but nothing could have prepared me for the welcome I received upon entering the school grounds. In about ten seconds the kids were jumping on the volunteers, giving hugs, and asking me to come play.  I have never seen such a happy group of children or experienced so much love in such a short amount of time. I played catch, soccer, tag, and just talked and laughed with the children. These kids are absolutely HILARIOUS! Haha and I mean sooooo funny. I think the mango boys should just about sum it up. It's hard to believe, while looking at these pictures, that most of these kids have spent almost their entire lives begging for food and struggling to survive on the streets. 

      Leprosy is a disease that changes the lives of entire families. When somebody has leprosy they are considered to have been cursed by God.  They cannot get jobs and are outcasted from society. Many do not know that leprosy is curable and so are sick for years before receiving treatment, thereby leaving permanent scars on their bodies. These people make a living by begging on the streets, and often send their children out to do the same.  The organization that I am with, Rising Star Outreach, is working hard to eradicate leprosy. We provide medical treatment, education to their children, and microloans so that persons afflicted with leprosy can start their own businesses and provide for their families.  

     Tonight I held a boy, aged 4, on my lap and read him a story.  He listened intently to the Indian fairy children's tale about the sneezing elephant. He giggled at the funny parts, and by the end was sneezing along with the story. When I left he hugged me good night. All these kids want is for somebody to love him. Our Heavenly Father has a special place in his heart for these children. I bet he sends his most important angels to spend time with them. 

    Well tomorrow I am working construction at one of the colonies. It's going to be an early morning. Wish me luck! :) I love you! :)

Peace------Becca

The Pigeon Outside My Window is Named Raj

           

Raj, the Pigeon

     There is something intrinsically awesome about not knowing the names or contents of anything that you are eating. In retrospect I may actually prefer it that way.  I feel like every meal is an adventure, and my eating code basically revolves around watching to see what the kids are eating. No matter what continent you are on, or which culture, I firmly believe that kids know what tastes good.  I am yet to be wrong.
            Well, I got here safe! It was a crazy 30ish hours filled with long waits in the airport and even longer airplane rides. I would like to give a shout out to my new airport/airplane best friends Stefan, David, Katherinne,Shawn, Raj, Ali, the woman in Chicago who happens to have the same birthday as me, and the numerous babies who cried a good portion of my 10 hour flight to Chennai. I think that I have held enough crying babies that I do not find it even remotely annoying. A newborn cry sounds as adorable to me after five hours as it does after five minutes.  Ok...maybe it sounds almost as adorable.
          Chennai is a beautiful city filled with beautiful people. Sometimes I have to look outside my hotel room just to make sure that I am actually here. I arrived on my airplane at 3:35 a.m. EIST (Eastern Indian Standard Time?? haha I don't know what it is actually called, just that it is almost 12 hours different from MST). As soon as I stepped off the plane I could feel the temperature change. It is very warm and humid in this part of India. I am located on the southeast part, and arrived in time to greet monsoon season.  I was originally supposed to met a truly brilliant girl named Mashell in Britain and then travel to India with her, but her flight was delayed, so I got off the plane in India alone. I had heard so many crazy stories about the Chennai airport so I was concerned, but after staring off a couple of aggressive taxi drivers (who wanted nothing more but to grab my luggage and charge me outrageously for a taxi) and then after asking directions from and Indian soldier packing a machine gun, I was able to finally find my hotel driver.

Mani...I brave soul

               His name was Mani and he was a trooper. This kid looked like he was about 16, and spoke very little English. As soon as we had loaded my belongings into the mini van he opened my door for me, turned on the AC and some pleasant elevator music and we were off! Apparently, Driver's Education is nonexistent and there are very very little traffic regulations in India.  The rules of the road are 1. Honk your horn A LOT when you are trying to pass someone. 2. Be aggressive 3. At night flash your brights when you pull up behind another vehicle so they know you are there. 4. As long as you do not actually hit pedestrians it is ok if you pass by 2 cm from their elbow 5. Lanes are not meant to be stayed in. Try to fit as many people as you can on the road. 6. It's ok to go down one way roads as long as you honk the entire time to let people know you are coming. 7. Drive Fast.   It was definitely exciting and I loved it!...although any thoughts of sleep were sufficiently banished for the next three hours.
                It has been incredibly humbling to see the number of people who live homeless here. I can't believe it. When we were coming to the hotel I thought it strange to see hundreds of people on every sidewalk. It seemed awfully early for them to be awake. Then I realized that they did not have homes. These were people who were struggling to feed themselves, and live from day to day.
               Tomorrow I will leave for the leper colonies, and I hope that I will be able to help some people just like those I have seen. I hope to help them for not only one day, but give them the assistance that will assist them in creating a brighter future for themselves.  I am so blessed, and I know that I am where my Heavenly Father wants me to be. Today I was able to attend an LDS church, and it was amazing. Half the meeting was in Tamil, but the spirit was so strong. I am so excited for what the next weeks hold. Thank you so much again to everyone that assisted me in getting here. I promise that not all my blog posts will be this long, and that they will be more consistent. I hope to have a new one sharing my experiences at the leper colonies every few days.

I love you all!  Make today a great day :)

Peace-----Becca

            

Representing Saint A! :)