India: Day 4

Today was a day of accomplishment, conversation, laughter, thoughtfulness, compassion, and heat.

In terms of accomplishment, the team finished most of the painting on the wall. There are still a few small sections that have not received their second coat of paint yet, but overall, the wall is almost complete.

The best kind of sweat—the only kind of sweat I can tolerate—is the kind of sweat one has when he or she is doing something that makes a difference and is for a special purpose. It’s not just sweat because you walked from the gym to your car. It’s not the sweat you get from laying in a tanning bed for 15 minutes. It’s not the kind of sweat that pours in a vehicle that is not air conditioned. This kind of sweat, for me, brings satisfaction and refreshment. I am satisfied to know that I do not have to impress anyone in my sweaty clothes and also to know that the sweat is for the pure benefit of someone else and the glory of God.

The heat today was crazy…or perhaps it was the humidity…or perhaps it was just the relentless sunshine that darkened all of our skin to either red or brown tones.

Conversations. The conversations today were priceless. So many topics. I love talking about goofy things, spiritual matters, life issues, relationship thoughts, and future dreams. These topics make up a lot of who people are and to have the privilege to talk about them with my team members is refreshing and encouraging. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. I really couldn’t ask for a better team. We all get along, we all respect each other, and we all are here for the same mission.

I also enjoyed talking with some of the older girls at the orphanage today. I was talking to future teachers, doctors, and mothers. The girls told me about what they wanted to be when they grew up and those were the popular things. We also sang songs together that we both knew in English.

At one point today, I just stepped back and observed the girls. They were working on a video shoot for something and the rest of the team watched. After playing with them just a few days, their young hearts are so special to me. It’s heartbreaking to think where they’ve come from. It’s also scary to think what will happen to them. Apparently, from what I’ve heard, Home of Love is not an adoption orphanage. They want to raise the girls there and keep them in India. I think there is an important aspect to that—to educate the girls so they can give back to their country well. But these girls don’t have a mom to cuddle with or a dad to wrestle with. Who is teaching them important life lessons? How will they know how to deal with the real world outside of the orphanage?

They are all so special and unique. They are all so desperate for attention and affection. At one point, all of the other children were busy playing or dancing and I picked one little girl up. Then I asked her if she wanted to go and play or dance with the others. She said no. Then I asked her if she just wanted to stay with me and sit on my lap for a while. She said yes. I wish I could know that each of those kids could be cuddled with everyday. They are all so worthy of love.