The Hottest Summer in Seven Years

Today it was 114 degrees. There are no words to really describe the feeling of the heat in India. A sauna maybe? With a lasting smell of garbage and smoke mixed with curry? Craig described it as us being baked and steamed at the same time. I second it.

Today I was assigned to wash the feet of the patients in the clinic. I melted today. All of us were sopping wet with sweat. I remember changing my pairs of gloves and having sweat drip out of them like I'd filled them with water from the sink. My mask held the sweat from my face, and I caught myself thinking I had bugs on my legs only to find it was really beads of sweat running down them. Even the water I used to wash feet was near boiling. We're all quite dehydrated. We are never actually hydrated here. It's near impossible.

Me * Kendra * Courtney

I've felt crumby today-- but I'm positive it's the heat exhaustion and dehydration. Don't worry. I'm with nurses. I'm well cared for. Part of me feels like our bodies have been in survival mode with the heat. We learned today that it's the hottest summer here in 7 years. Our bodies are overworked. It's boiling. And we're 12 hours off our normal schedule. No wonder some of us are starting to feel a bit unlike ourselves.

I slept through playtime today and I was so bummed I missed playin soccer with my friends. At dinner this evening Rachel and Ashley told me that a couple of the girls had been asking for me. She had stated they looked at me like -- I want Jessie. Not just any white person-- you simply won't do. It made me feel special to know they remembered my name and that the had been looking for me.

We taught the kids about CPR, choking, heat stroke, nose bleeds, snake bites, and fractures this evening. It was fun. And after, we spent half an hour reading to the older boys and girls when the younger ones had fallen asleep. They requested stories about Jesus Christ and it just about melted every last piece of me that hadn't already melted today. It was a special experience for me to be able to share the story of Alma the Younger with them. 

After the story, they asked me if I had ever received blessings from Jesus Christ. I told them I did. I told them about God answering my prayers even about simple things-- that it happens everyday. Then one of the young girls told us about a blessing she has received. She had been reading her bible while her friends were playing with fire crackers. She wanted to play too. So she prayed and asked God to please allow her to see the fire crackers. She finished reading from her bible and she was able to still see the fire crackers with her friends. 

It's so simple and so easy. I take my blessings for granted so often and I want to be able to remember God and His desire to bless me often. I need to thank him more for all he has done for me. I'm so grateful for the blessings in my life.