I left Monday morning at 8 AM and 33 hours later I found myself in Chennai, India. The fact that I survived all three flights, every transfer without getting lost, and the man behind me making unusually gross noises, is a miracle. Culture shock set in when I boarded my last flight. Almost every single passenger was Indian and those who were white were easily pinpointed as my fellow volunteers :) I had my own little personal television which would have been more exciting had the only category not have been...BOLLYWOOD! haha Let's just say I figured sleeping would be a better way to pass the time. The only times I was awake throughout the 10 hour flight was when I was brought curry. Curry for dinner and curry for breakfast. I can now say I don't like curry and the smell will probably never go away while I'm here :) When we were finally about to land, we recieved the funniest announcement. "Attention passengers, as per Indian Law, it is appropriate that we fumagate the plane before releasing all passengers. Contact wearers and those with sensitive eyes, please cover your eyes, nose and mouth for your convenience." (LONG PAUSE) "Commence fumagation". I was in tears laughing as two flight attendants walked down the aisles holding a can of lysol in each hand and spraying it in the air. HAHA hmm...I wonder why those 9 shots were necessary before I left. It seems like the Indian people believe that Lysol cures everything! ;)
When I stepped off the plane, I was exhausted and couldn't believe what I was seeing. There was no organization, hardly any signs, and dirt floors left a thick coat of blur in the air as people ran to and from terminals. Luckily, my prayers were answered and both my suitcases made it safely to me. The humidity and heat was definitely a shock and the ride to the hotel through the streets kept me awake. Speed limits are optional, lanes are suggestions, and a steady stream of honking is expected. There is only one way to describe the drivers...Really good bad drivers haha. I wouldn't survive two seconds driving on those streets. When I finally got to the Marriott hotel for the night, the bomb-sniffing dogs checked my baggage, and I headed up to my room. It was absolutely beautiful and the workers were incredibly helpful. It was a much needed rest before I left the lap of luxury.
*This is what I found the next morning when I first reached the orphanage. A warm welcome to India from my worst fear.
These are the faces that make it all worth it!
The power and air conditioning works on and off, the bugs are huge, and the heat is hardly bearable, but a smile from one of these kids will make you forget all of that in an instant. These children live away from home for 9 months out of the year and 90% of them are abused when they return home for break. Their life is drastically different from mine and yet the second we stepped foot on their school grounds they ran up to me and hugged me. "What your name is?" That's their favorite question and even when I told them it was shannon, they just call me "auntie". When I ask for their name in return I hear about twenty syllables. When I try to repeat it they all giggle because I sound so ridiculous speaking Tamil.
The little girl on the right is Nageesh. She was the first one to run to me when we got to the orphanage. She tells me that she loves pink, pictures, and white people (in that order haha). Each volunteer is placed in a family. Every family has about twenty kids and either a house mother or a house father. This family gives them some stability and a structure while they are away from their real family. Nageesh was placed in my family and I have loved spending time with her.
This honestly is the most incredible experience that I have ever had. I'll never be the same after this. There is so much more for me to learn in the coming weeks, but I feel that I have grown up a lot while I have been here the last few days. My testimony has grown so much as I see the Savior's hand in all of these children's lives. There are tender mercies all around me and I know that my Heavenly Father is aware of each and every boy or girl at Rising Star Outreach. Jesus Christ healed the leprosy-afflicted when he walked on this earth and I know that he is still healing them today. As I tucked the little girls in last night I watched as they all pulled out their mats and layed them on the cement floor. At first I winced at the sight of them all laying there without even a pillow, but everything changed when I looked up at the door. There was a large picture of the Savior and I knew that these little girls were incredibly blessed. They are happy and I knew that night, they were going to be safe because they are here.
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