This morning, Monday June 9th, we awoke to the aftermath of a storm that did some decent damage. The wifi/cellphone tower had crashed to the ground. There will be no more wifi this week while we finish up our remaining time at Rising Star.
Today I was assigned to oil the feet of the patients. It was a sacred experience to give these people the gift of touch. I met cocoma (coh coh mah) -- a woman with enthusiasm and excitement. She may not have fingers or hands-- but she sure has a smile and eyes that light up when you talk with her.
I got to hold the cutest little puppy. I know. I know. I didn't come all the way to India to hold goats and puppies. I can do that anywhere. I came here to serve the patients in the colonies and the students at Rising Star. But you have to admit-- cute baby animals are definitely a plus.
After the colony we stopped by a hospital that was nearby. It was used by the Germans during World War II, and since then has mostly been left abandoned, but some of the patients still receive treatment like dressing changes there. I think some may even be staying there. We sang to them. Mostly hymns. It started with You Are My Sunshine, then gradually moved to How Great Thou Art, I Need Thee Every Hour, Lord I Would Follow Thee, and God Be With You Til We Meet Again. The spirt was so strong today and a lot of us cried while we sang. The acoustics of the room made us sound nearly angelic.
We can't share the gospel here, but we can be examples and we can bring the spirit with us wherever we may go. I feel like The Lord is using us as instruments here in India so that we can bring the spirit to those who are searching for the truth or looking for meaning in their life. I know that we are the Savior's hands. I know that we are doing so much good. Going home, these hymns will be that much more sacred to me. They mean so much more after singing them here among so many of my new friends in their circumstances.
Today I met a new friend named Avery. She's ten years old and her family moved into the Green House. She's a ginger, with bright eyes and a kind heart. She loves baby blue and lime green. She also knows how to sew-- and she sews her own doll clothes. She sat by me most of the day on the bus. We're best friends forever now.
We also went on a bit of a random boating adventure to an island in the middle of nowhere... Yep. We are still in the middle of nowhere. We saw tons of crabs, and the waves crashed to shore like they do in movies.
Tonight Jackie, Alyssa, and I painted what will be for future nursing semesters, the BYU Nursing mural outside the green house. We (Kendra, Jackie, Dani, Alyssa and Me) taught the kids about personal hygiene and we ( Janeen, Julia, and Courtney) taught the older boys about maturation. After, we did a mass finger nail trimming of the boys' hostel. Tomorrow we'll teach and trim again, but with the girls.
I sure hope the bugs die down a bit. The girls are all a bit freaked out with the mass invasion of every big and terrifying bug in India. The rain storm brought some major bugs with it. But we're surviving!
Our time is coming to a close here and we're all feeling sentimental about it and leaving our favorite students. India changes you in a way that nothing else does. This is our new home-- and now we're leaving and we may never come back. I'm dreading goodbyes.
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