Another Exciting Day!

Everyday seems to be another adventure here, but I am loving it because everyday I learn something new either from the people here in the colonies, or from just within myself. Wednesday I went out to the colonies again. This colony was about two hours away so I had a lot of time to relax and listen to music. It was great because looking out the window I saw the country of India and it is truly beautiful! We had Raja come with us, one of our translators. Raja is one of RSO's kids that is now shortly leaving for his mission to Provo, Utah. He is the first kid of any RSO kid to leave the school. Raja is such a funny guy and he always keeps us entertained. Thiruttani was the colony we went to. Thiruttani is a pretty interesting colony because we first started to go there last year to help build them a community shelter. When we arrived there a year ago they had their doubts about us working because we were apparently "soft" and "American" and so that meant to them that we couldn't do hard labor, but little did they know that we would come in there and work so hard. In a week we had built this community shelter and they were stunned and so grateful. The people and the president of the colony didn't want us to leave and kept asking when would we return. Today they have a new president and he is corrupt. He has been taking the money we have been giving the colonists for their businesses and using it for himself and his family, so we stopped sending the colony money. It is really sad because they now have crawled back into their old lives of begging and for those that don't beg they have shops along the steps leading up to the temple in the village next to their colony. When we were sending them money we tried to teach them the importance of being independent by having a business, which we setup through our micro-loans, but without the money they cannot afford to keep their businesses running. It really is sad how the wrong doings of one person have caused this colony to suffer. As I was going up the steps of this temple I would notice beggars of all sorts shouting rudely at our group and translators. The beggars would yell telling our translators to try to get money from us so they could get money. This lifestyle is just so sad, but when their country is so poor there is just not a lot they can do. I wanted to help them, but it's against our rules to give out anything to the people because it takes away everything we have set up in order for them to become independent. At the top of the stairs you see this beautiful temple and the view that looks out across the valley is picturesque! One of the cool things about being there was we saw this elephant that was trained to give you his blessing. The way it worked was you had to give the elephant a 2 rupee coin and place it on his trunk, he would then curl it up, hand it to his master, and then lightly tap his trunk on your head. It was by far one of the coolest things I have seen here in India along with that really weird festival. Since we only had a short amount of time that day we didn't get to talk to as many people in the colony as I thought we would, so I only got the chance to talk to one family, which I was bummed about, but still very grateful. It was great to go to Thiruttani and see how much it had changed in a year. Today I went out to the colonies as well. This colony I had been to before and it is my favorite colony because there are two women there that are so amazing! Marianne, one of the women, has sacrificed so much to be where she is now. She gave up all she had so her kids could have a future. She came to this colony and helped build it before her leprosy got bad, and now she is slowly working to pay off her house debt that the government help her build. At one point she thought about putting her house up so her son could keep his job! Marianne is so full of faith. For all those times that I have doubted God I wish I hadn't because if someone who has less than I can have more faith, then to me, I have a long way to go in becoming faithful in all things especially life! Another woman there that is just so remarkable is Mumtaj. This woman was diagnosed with leprosy at the age of seven, had shots for it, but after she got married and pregnant it came back. She fled with her daughter to this colony because she didn't want to be a burden on her husband. She told us about how hard she has worked in order to make her daughter's life the best it could be. Mumtaj is a devout christian. She goes to church every Saturday and Sunday and then goes back home where she is usually laughing with the other women colonists. These two women have taught me what sacrificing really means. It just amazes me how they do not have anything and yet they still are giving to the ones they love and to others! It takes a lot of faith and courage to sacrifice all you have. God truly blesses those that have room to give no matter how much or little we have. I love being here and I love these people! I miss all of you guys so much and I love each one of you as well! Don't lose sight in where you're headed and always have faith in yourself and in your situations. God bless all and take care!