Category: Inspirational

Today we awoke to Jayesh Bhai from Manav Sadhna awakening us and a heavy, but heartful drum played by Jaget Bhai to keep us awake…since our flight left for New Delhi at 6:30 in the a.m.

Some of the core group from Sughad…ESI institute…also were wide awake and accompanied us to the airport.

Last night, we had a phenomenal night…it was our goodbye and thank u to the group and Sughad, which included many of the Manav Sadhna crew, and some children, adults from other service projects we were a part of during our time in Ahmedabad.

It was a joy for me to serve this night…I learned how to spill colorful sand onto the floor in a design called Rongoli…a few days back, I learned how to do not too shabby of a job…rolling burritos. And then there was a repeat performance last night…where we made quesadillas, tacos, burritos for 50-60 native folks that we have befriended and will always hold dear in our hearts.

So we made food, decorated the premises and showed a slide show of much of our journey…thanks to Laura and Brittney who got the pics in a powerful slideshow…that brought back these incredible lessons and journeying into service…from washing kids in the slum to painting pillars at a local school to working with mentally challenged adults and blind students…who we guided up stairs and down slides…what an experience…valuable and one not ever forgotten—with the bonds we made and such.

The beauty of India has touched our hearts…the weather is cold…the streets are dusty…but the spirit of the people burns bright…even the sounds of the horns on the street…kind of beats to a common song.

So we conclude the service part of our time in India…but I am confident some other service opps will be in our midst…some other random acts of kindness…presented to us.

Happy New Year’s everyone!!!

Angel & I are SO glad that we didn’t pass up the opportunity to be here. It’s so much more than we could have imagined.

We knew we would be doing service for others, with some fun and cultural experiences mixed in, but we didn’t anticipate being on the receiving end of so much generosity. Particularly from the local Indian volunteers, who live with so little material comforts themselves. (Read Albert’s blog – we second the sentiment!)

All the demonstrations of warmth and giving may be partly to help inspire us in our service, but mainly because this is just the way they are all the time! We were told this is ingrained in the Indian philosophy.

Our first day exploring the city, we walked around the “old part of the city”, past shops, street vendors, mosques, temples, cows and goats. There were families living in slum apartments there. One family invited us in to see how they live. Bharti said it would be normal that, if we had said we were hungry, they would have offered to share what little food they had. There is an Indian saying that “Guest is God”.

That same saying is posted in the Seva Cafe, which is open to serve 50 or more people every evening, for free. Payment is always only what you are able to give and inspired to give, to help keep the restaurant going. Most months, there is a profit, but whether or not there is, a fixed amount is donated to varous charities in the city.

Our service days have been pretty packed with activities. Playing games, doing crafts and dancing with the Manav Sadhna kids, bathing them and dressing them in the donated clothes, painting at a nearby school, visiting a school for the blind and another for mentally challenged (they performed for us!), cooking and serving at Seva Cafe, etc. We sang Christmas carols at a huge Christmas party at Manav Sadna. Don’t think we sounds too great; most of us have colds. ;-)

Re: communication, we’ve learned only a few basic words, but smiles communicate the most. Both ways. Quoting Laura from our group, the people may be poor in material goods, but they are immensely rich in spirit. There’s also “Namaste”, which for those who don’t know, means “I honor the God/spirit in you”.

Blessings to all here, at home and wherever you’re reading this!

Marcella & Angel (Jose)