Be the Cause – Page 168 – Make a Difference

dec 29 update

Posted on 12/29/2005

i believe i am 13.5 hours ahead of the rest of the world, so it’s dec. 29 my time.

a little more on the music of india. some of the other btc’ers who went on the trip to south africa said that it reminded them of the african tribal music. everyone enjoys music and dance in india, not just the few who are bold enough (like in america). it is very refreshing to see people savoring the sounds and feelings of song and dance. i believe it was shritl (sorry, i totally know i’m going to mispell everyone’s names) who said that dancing is a form of meditation. i have to agree. the feeling of pure spirit and freedom that can be achieved by dance is amazing.

countless times while we have been here, all we needed was someone with a drum and a few people clapping, and everyone just broke out into dance. the kids at manav sadhna welcomed us with a rousing dance that just screamed happiness and joy. at nirali’s house the other night, everyone did their best girba(?) impression.

just before we left the blind school on monday, the kids packed into a room, a few people manned the drums, and one of the elders crooned out a wonderful song with accompaniment from the children. it was beautiful. the energy and emotion was indescribable. the children were so happy to have us there and were already asking when we would be back. it is very sad to think that although i would like to see them again, chance and circumstance may say that i never see them again. i don’t know what the future holds, so it is impossible to say, but there are many places left to travel, many things beckoning back home, and many forks in the road. hopefully, i will return. because the people in india aren’t asking me when i will return out of courtesy; they are asking out of love.

yesterday, we made visits to sam vedana (i know, i know, mispellings everywhere) and utthan, the mentally handicapped school. this was actually my first visit to sam vedana. some of the others had been there before to paint, and i saw the fruits of their labors. people had painted some of the walls with lively pinks and green pastels, in a kind of southwestern color scheme. those walls looked much better than the older, cracked walls in older parts of the school. and i know how hard the btc’ers worked because i would see them come home with paint all over their clothes and skin and hair. i’m sure the kids appreciated everything you did for them, guys. they sure loved it the time when i visited.

time for an internet intermission…

RICH IN SPIRIT

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)