Another rewarding day

Covered in dirt and sweat but I am still smiling! Today we got split up into 3 groups which consisted of one group helping tutor kids all day, one going to the leprosy colony, and the other doing construction. Since Matthew was in a group with Audrey and I we got lucky and went to do construction ha! We thought we would be building toilets but instead we got a job that required more demanding work. The construction site had three huge holes and they needed to level all of the dirt off to a certain height. They handed us our man made looking shovels and we hacked into the dirt. Best part about the whole day was the Indians just watched us do their work and were laughing because Audrey and I were singing. The first song I started to belt out was, “God, Bless America!” ha ha One more thing I found I am thankful for is the machinery that we have in America. The labor here takes so much longer and is not the easiest thing for them to do. Audrey suggested singing an uplifting song and we both broke out into, “You raise me up!”, at the same time. We are getting to know each other way to well. From the second we started working we didn’t stop and I felt like I had jumped into a pool but we were having so much fun it didn’t matter. It feels good to work hard. Dad you never thought you would hear me say this but I appreciate you always making me cut down trees, mowing the lawn, and taking a chain saw to bushes. If I had just done laundry like most women this job would not have been the easiest. We were all covered in dirt and had it dripping into our eyes; blinded! I was amazed at how much we got done and how fast we did it. I can see how having a positive attitude allows me to learn things that I may not have been able to with a bad attitude.


It was now time to head back and eat lunch and take a break. The bucket shower never felt so good. I have really come to love these bucket showers and that is not a joke.
From 4 to 6 was playtime with all of the little kids. While most of the volunteers chose to play jump rope with the little girls I decided to play soccer with all of the boys. Matthew was one captain and I was the other. Sad to say my team fought a good fight but we lost by one point. These kids are so talented at soccer and have such a passion for it! The little ones have no fear and would go full force to try and kick the ball. Playing soccer for an hour and a half about did me over. These kids are like energizer bunnies.
Dinner was served early, which was fun because then we got to go watch the kids eat.

My best friend Nagaraj, who gave me candy the other day, is a genius. We sat down next to each other and he told me my birthday, how many people were in my family and Matthews birthday. He had remembered all of that information from the day before which astounds me because I can only remember a name for 5 seconds then its gone from my memory. He is very special and so smart. I watched him tell everyone to pray for their meal and the kids began to chant a certain prayer; they were bobbing their heads back and forth with hands clasped. If this wasn’t a sight to see I don’t know what was. I couldn’t even get my camera out in time because I was frozen. Nagaraj aspires to be an engineer when he grows up and I don’t doubt he will do it. Everyone in this world is born with a certain gift or talent and Nagaraj was born a leader. Later I will explain why I see this attribute in him.
I had the chance to read the children books and tell stories for an hour before it was time to go to sleep!


The same reoccurring thoughts that I seem to find myself thinking are about how these children have changed me for good. I have learned from them passion and brilliance! Indian children are very unique and so lovable. School is one of their favorite things and they get so excited when you start counting or recite the alphabet. There is one little boy named Cartig that ran around all day like a chicken with his head cut off. He was so fun to watch and carried a teddy bear around that sang. As it was getting closer for bed I noticed Nagaraj handing everyone their toothbrush and telling them to brush their teeth. Let me remind you that this kid is the same age as everyone he is directing. Everyone listens to him and then he pulled out the mats for everyone to sleep on. Tonight took forever to get everyone to calm down so I asked Nagaraj if he would tell everyone to lay down and they did. It was like baby geniuses, something from a movie you don’t see everyday. He acts as an adult figure and has the biggest heart. Nagaraj shows me how to be selfless and to take action when help is needed. The little things like remembering information someone tells us makes others feel special and being aware of where to offer a helping hand. These things are what I learned from a ten year old boy.
Rising Star helps all of these children to get an education and help them to have a life they may not have been capable of reaching. They see their families for the Holidays and once a month. Just to see what opportunities these children will now be able to have gets me so excited. My heart is so full and many times I just find myself in awe with the people I am surrounded with. Watching Cartig go to each person and play his teddy bear song for them was the cutest thing. I received many kisses goodnight from the kids!
Thoughts that I have had today are ones about losing yourself through others to find you. When we are charitable is when we are able to be the person we strive to be. My favorite scripture is….
Moroni 7:45
And charity suffereth long, and is kind and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Nagaraj is only 10 but we talked about Jesus today and he told me he has many pictures of him that he would like to show me. I talked to him about heaven and how much I love Jesus too. He told me that he would love to come visit my in America and I promised him that someday we would meet again. The children have taught to me to embrace every moment in life and not care about the small and stressful things. I want to become someone and do the most I can throughout my life. Seeing the hopes and dreams of these children makes me want to continually push myself and remember the sky is the limit. Not everyone in other parts of the world are given the resources we have to do and become what we want. I hope I can remember to always work my hardest and that is when I will receive the greatest reward. These children are given very little but that doesn’t stop them from reaching what they hope to become. I love these children like they are my own and the way they love others and me reminds me how to love everyone I meet.