Rajama, Christmas, and the Orphanage

This is a little recap of our vacation after Thailand.  We also added lots of photos to our Flicker ( go to picture main page).  

RAJAMA

Do you remember my story of Rajama and the peanut grinder?  If not, go back a few

blogs and read about Rajama, her granddaughters,  and her need for a peanut grinder.  Well because of your generosity and love, we were able to not only buy her a peanut grinder, but also pay for Anapriscilla's college bill this semester!!! While we were in Thailand, Heather was able to buy the grinder and have it delivered to her house.  She was so surprised and she's been crying ever since. This is huge that she won't have to rent a grinder anymore.  Thank you for being faithful with your finances even though the economy is crazy.  Thank you for loving an Indian Grandma and her family.  She definitely feels it and thanks God every day!!!  (Pictures: Rajama, her son, two granddaughters Beena and Anapriscilla, and the grinder that looks like a time machine.)

CHRISTMAS

We arrived back in Kodai December 23rd and spent Christmas eve and Christmas day with the Nelsens and the Stewarts.  Kyle says it was a real white Christmas because of all the white folk. It was a wonderful first Christmas as a married couple. If we can't spend it with family, we want to at least be with friends that we consider family.  Great food, Great friends, Great time. (David and Lisa Stewart are sitting next to me.  Heather is in the middle and David's parents behind her. Brian is taking the picture. Oh, and of course all the kids: Andrea, Tiffany, and Elijah Stewart and Cyrus, Isaiah, and Lydianna Nelsen!!)

THE ORPHANAGE

Kyle and I made a trip down the mountain Saturday and Sunday with a few others from the school to visit a friend in the hospital and then to spend the night at Bethania.  Bethania is an orphanage with about 35 kids ranging from age 6 - 16.  Our school has close relations with Bethania and our students often do service projects there. We had a blast playing with the children and learning about them.  Their stories are often tragic and heart breaking. However, their smiles light up the world and their laughter clears the sky.  It's often hard to find words for experiences like this. Your heart breaks but you are so thankful for people like Priscilla, Charlie and other workers who have dedicated their lives to serving and loving these children so they can have an education, a dream, and a future.  Orphanages have had a profound impact on our lives throughout the years.  We have held children in many different countries and we seem to have a huge sense of belonging in places like this.  It'ard to come and go so quickly.  It makes us wonder if we'll ever be able to stay at a place like that for more than just a visit.  

In India, women decorate their bodies with a brown paste called henna. In the states, you'd call it a fake tatoo.  A friend of mine did it to me the other day and it was started to ware off. One of the little girls was admiring it so I used marker to do a simple one on her hand. She loved it. Next time I visit, I'll have to bring a few tubes of henna and do all the girls.