What a day we had on Saturday...my heart is full and my head is overwhelmed with many things to process...
After having breakfast in the hotel, we traveled to the Purnea girls hostel, before the road closings. The protests happening were in relation to a law put in place in Bihar in the last year, on no liquor. Students were protesting in agreement with the law...liquor and alcohol have caused so much pain and brokenness in families here. It was encouraging to see young people standing up for this cause.
Upon arrival at the girls hostel, we were greeted by many of the young girls. The older girls had already gone to school. Joel shared with us about the hostel, the area, the needs there and their dreams for the future. Joel has stated that "SPICE has been the backbone of the community" - so many people have gone through the program and are now leaders in the community. That day alone, we learned of at least 8! That has been one of our goals on this trip -- to collect stories of how SPICE has changed lives of people. We are bringing those stories home with us. It is very moving to hear how life changing this program has been for so many.
We were served lunch -- so delicious! I am eating so much here -- this hospitality is very much part of their culture. Everything has been delicious! So much rice...so many carbs...too bad I cannot get more running in!
Joel and Panuwel showed us where the children sleep and eat. The girls were happy to demonstrate to us how they sleep together at night.
After lunch, Tom did some videotaping and interviewing with several people, collecting their SPICE stories. Ken was involved with translating. So, Pam, Vicky, Renee and Jim were left with a group of smiling, shy girls, who didn't speak much English! We started singing with them, silly songs with motions to loosen them up -- hokey pokey, Father Abraham and Deep and Wide...as they warmed up, we asked them to sing a song. They broke out in some songs, teaching us motions. So much fun...smiles and laughter translate the same wherever you go.
After 3:00, we were able to travel on the roads again, so we left the Purnea hostel and traveled about an hour to the Banmankhi boys hostel. The boys were all sitting, patiently waiting for us as we drove in. They welcomed us with a song and presenting us with marigold lays. They shared a few songs with us, not too many, because we will be seeing them again for a larger program in a few days.
As in the other hostels, we were shown their sleeping quarters and where they eat, bathe and wash clothes. In all of the hostels, among the blessing of having the lodging and food, there is also a large grass area for playing. Many of these children would not even have this available to them in their home village areas.
The boys loved the matchbox cars and soccer balls we gave them. Soon, the field was full of boys laughing, running and kicking the soccer balls. It was beautiful chaos!
As darkness set in, we piled back in the vans to return to the hotel.
I opted for a light supper at the hotel, some tomato soup. We debriefed about the days activities and talked about what was ahead for Sunday. On Sunday, we are traveling to the Barial boys hostel.
What a blessing this trip has been for me. I am able to understand so much more than I did on my last trip 5 years ago. On that trip, I was only in my job for 2 months, and was still learning so many things. I am so overwhelmed by the warm hospitality I am receiving. Very humbling...
Please pray for our team. These long days with much emotion are catching up to all of us. Five of the 7 are getting colds (I am not one of them--pray that it stays that way!). Also, please pray that we can communicate the SPICE stories well when we return home.
After having breakfast in the hotel, we traveled to the Purnea girls hostel, before the road closings. The protests happening were in relation to a law put in place in Bihar in the last year, on no liquor. Students were protesting in agreement with the law...liquor and alcohol have caused so much pain and brokenness in families here. It was encouraging to see young people standing up for this cause.
Upon arrival at the girls hostel, we were greeted by many of the young girls. The older girls had already gone to school. Joel shared with us about the hostel, the area, the needs there and their dreams for the future. Joel has stated that "SPICE has been the backbone of the community" - so many people have gone through the program and are now leaders in the community. That day alone, we learned of at least 8! That has been one of our goals on this trip -- to collect stories of how SPICE has changed lives of people. We are bringing those stories home with us. It is very moving to hear how life changing this program has been for so many.
We were served lunch -- so delicious! I am eating so much here -- this hospitality is very much part of their culture. Everything has been delicious! So much rice...so many carbs...too bad I cannot get more running in!
After lunch, Tom did some videotaping and interviewing with several people, collecting their SPICE stories. Ken was involved with translating. So, Pam, Vicky, Renee and Jim were left with a group of smiling, shy girls, who didn't speak much English! We started singing with them, silly songs with motions to loosen them up -- hokey pokey, Father Abraham and Deep and Wide...as they warmed up, we asked them to sing a song. They broke out in some songs, teaching us motions. So much fun...smiles and laughter translate the same wherever you go.
After 3:00, we were able to travel on the roads again, so we left the Purnea hostel and traveled about an hour to the Banmankhi boys hostel. The boys were all sitting, patiently waiting for us as we drove in. They welcomed us with a song and presenting us with marigold lays. They shared a few songs with us, not too many, because we will be seeing them again for a larger program in a few days.
As in the other hostels, we were shown their sleeping quarters and where they eat, bathe and wash clothes. In all of the hostels, among the blessing of having the lodging and food, there is also a large grass area for playing. Many of these children would not even have this available to them in their home village areas.
The boys loved the matchbox cars and soccer balls we gave them. Soon, the field was full of boys laughing, running and kicking the soccer balls. It was beautiful chaos!
As darkness set in, we piled back in the vans to return to the hotel.
I opted for a light supper at the hotel, some tomato soup. We debriefed about the days activities and talked about what was ahead for Sunday. On Sunday, we are traveling to the Barial boys hostel.
What a blessing this trip has been for me. I am able to understand so much more than I did on my last trip 5 years ago. On that trip, I was only in my job for 2 months, and was still learning so many things. I am so overwhelmed by the warm hospitality I am receiving. Very humbling...
Please pray for our team. These long days with much emotion are catching up to all of us. Five of the 7 are getting colds (I am not one of them--pray that it stays that way!). Also, please pray that we can communicate the SPICE stories well when we return home.
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