On July 10, 2010 we closed the circle on so much of what we spent two years in India doing. We had our formal dedication of all our new buildings and other improvements: i.e., water treatment plant (reverse osmosis), sewage system, front wall, playground, computer lab, library, Pathway of Hope, made possible by fans of David Archuleta, and our beautiful statue done by Angela Johnson in its place of prominence! (This was a story in and of itself, as we chose for the base a 2 - 3 ton piece of granite, to be cut, delivered and put in place. It reminded us of building the great pyramids, cathedrals, Taj Mahal,etc., with the giant blocks of stone!) The buildings included the Chris and Jessica Community Center (volunteer hostel), the new wing of the Peery Matriculation School, and the Dining Hall and kitchen facility. We all took a deep breath realizing how blessed we had been to bring the campus to where it stood on July 10, 2010. It was truly an auspicious day, with the elements indicating that all was right in the heavens.
We had well over 500 (including our children) present at the ceremony. The lunch that followed had been provided by our great friends the Marriott Courtyard, Chennai, for the VIPs and dignitaries who attended. (Probably 70-80 joined us for that lunch.) The parents and children were given a wonderful lunch in the mango grove, so the families could gather together, which is their most important activity on any Parent's Day. Everyone was happy. The ceremonies included the ribbon cutting on all the buildings, a puja (Hindu blessing), and the following morning, early, a formal dedicatory prayer in the new dining hall with all the children, staff and volunteers present, given by Ron. The children sang their beautiful Rising Star song written by Shaun Perry, as well as "I Am a Child of God" before the prayer. It was lovely. We all felt the presence of the God who made us all, Hindu, Muslim, or Christian.
The children sang and danced their hearts out, having been trained by two beautiful young women who work with Prometheum Spark in New York, and are here for the summer volunteering with Rising Star and creating a dance troupe with some of our children. There were plenty of speeches and much applause. Our great founders and mentors, Padma Venkataraman, Becky Douglas, Amy Antonelli, all spoke movingly of their visions for these people and their children whom we serve. Many thank yous were given followed by an honorarium of flowers and in some instances, a brick with their name for the new Pathway of Hope. It was moving and impressive. Everyone had worked so hard to be ready for this day, and our staff had really given all they had to make it perfect. The Hendershots, our directing family on campus, oversaw the final push, and the children, volunteers, and Indian workers had magnified their efforts to make it all come together. The Indian workers getting the landscaping finished had stayed and worked through the night for two nights. I'm sure the guy in charge made out like a bandit--hope his many wonderful workers got a piece of the pie!
Ron and I felt like we had had a baby--an enormous elephant to be sure--but it was so satisfying to think that from the day we arrived, July 15, 2008, to this day, we had actually been able to see the transformation and completion of a lot of what we had come to do. It was a true miracle to us!!
We feel that we have been so blessed to be here these past two years. We were given a gift far greater than any we could have left. The children will always be deep in our hearts, and we will never meet an Indian person that we do not feel a kinship for. This is a wonderful land and we have once again been taught about God's children, and His love for them.
God bless India as well as America!
(Images following on next post.)
Community Center - Volunteer Hostel
School - Back area, front, and interior lobby.
Community Center - Volunteer Hostel
School - Back area, front, and interior lobby.
