Dancing and Dental!

We have had so much dancing in the past week!  The Marriott Day was our turn to entertain them for a change (although they did bring a great magician with them.)  Katie Winder, one of our fabulous volunteers who is a student at the Boston Conservatory, was here for a month and worked tirelessly each day working on new dance routines with the children.  On the day the Marriott associates were here, along with a great program by the children, Katie also did a beautiful ballet routine out in the middle of the mango grove.  She looked so lovely and for many of the adults, it was the first time watching ballet.  Also, her students loved seeing her dance.  Also performing that day was Rhadika Kannan, our newest volunteer (here for a year.) She was born and raised in California, but her parents and grandma are from Southern India, and Rhadika grew up bilingual (Tamil being her other language). She has taught in the public schools in California, is ESL certified, and performs and teaches Indian Classical dance.  She is an answer to many prayers!  She is going to teach a variety of subjects in the school, has prepared a wonderful curriculum for our housemothers to improve their English, and will be teaching dance for the year!  How incredible is that.  She is such a lovely example of both cultures that make up her background.

 

Becky was here for almost a week, and we were grateful for every day.  Everyone is so thrilled when she comes, and the children are just ecstatic.  She lifts and encourages each and everyone of us.  She and Padma and the Hansons had a great day working on the Micro-finance program. We are excited to see the direction it is taking, and thrilled that Padma is truly enthused about it all.  She had such a hard time when her father died, and we were afraid we would never get her back.  We are going to join with a national group, Mitra National Forum for Leprosy Rehabilitation, which will give us a far wider sphere of influence, but still we will be able to maintain our autonomy in the colonies we now work with.  Padma is on the national board, which will give Rising Star Outreach more clout.  Exciting step forward.

The dentists (3 from Utah with family members) arrived yesterday, and by 9:00 Monday morning were ready to see their first patients.  They came completely ready to work with three complete dental set-ups:  chairs and all equipment needed for fillings, extractions, and any other requirements.  They will see every child in the school during the next five days and try to head off the awful problems we see with the older people, particularly in the leprosy colonies. This great gift has come about through Scott McGavin, who is David Archuleta's dentist.  David got excited about the project and raised funds to help make it financially possible and Scott got two of his dentist buddies to sign on with him. Thanks go to David, Scott McGavin, Steve Aste and John VandenBerghe, and family members who are working as assistants.   On Friday, they will visit a colony or two with help for some of the leprosy affected people.  The full story will follow in the next post!    

Pictures:  Children, finale; Katie Winder; Rhadika Kannan; Katie, Becky and Rhadika; Reagan VandenBerghe with Satish; Lance McGavin and Dr. Scott McGavin, Dr. Steve Aste

...whereas I was blind, now I see. (John 9:25)

What a month we have had, including a wonderful report from our Dr. Senthil Kumar and his success with a man called Mr. Karuppiah from Bethel Nagar Colony.  Mr. Karuppiah has been blind for 20 years--he had never laid eyes on his grandchildren, age 16 and 18.  He had never seen the many volunteers over the years who had come to wash his feet and hands and redo the bandages.  He never saw Lucy Williams who spent a whole day with him at Ramachandra Hospital where the surgery was done, escorting him from one office to another, sitting and waiting, and singing.  He had never seen Dr. Senthil Kumar who has come every two weeks to his colony to serve those who need him. They had done a major screening in the two biggest colonies for glaucoma and cataracts.  Six were taken for surgery out of about 25 found needing help.  The ophthalmologist didn't want to operate on Mr. Karuppiah, saying he was too old--why bother, he'll die soon anyway.   Dr. Kumar convinced the ophthalmologist with 2 hours of reasoning, " yes he's old, but why not give it a try:  nothing to lose!"  Finally, the ophthalmologist agreed.  The result was stunning.  He now has one good eye, to see with after 20 years!  Dr Kumar wrote, "he wanted to thank the unseen and unknown American volunteers who washed his feet, and who took pictures with him."  He had help in making a couple of signs expressing his feelings for those who had helped him.

Last Saturday, Ron and I were in Bethel Nagar Colony to see the computer teaching that is now taking place for young people in that Colony, thanks to Dell Computer Company.  They have provided laptops, money for a teacher, transportation to cover trips to and from the colonies. It was so inspiring to see many young adults and high school age youth so excited about this program being offered to them.  While we were there we met with Mr. Karuppiah outside the community center.  He was praising God, in all directions--all by himself.  I went out to talk to him, and had blessings placed upon my head, and "hallelujahs" in all directions. He speaks just enough English that there was no misunderstanding what he was talking about. What a thrill for him and for us, to be a part of this small (big to Mr. Karuppiah) Indian miracle.

Lazy, days of Summer -School!

Education is our most important mission here at Rising Star Outreach.  In the Peery Matriculation School for Rising Stars, our principal, teachers, and volunteers are working hard to help the children achieve their potential--not  just in the basic subjects, but most especially in English.  We're working in a language that is REALLY foreign to them, just as their language Tamil, is REALLY foreign to us.  They are being taught and tutored in this very foreign language (English)--even the words of Shakespeare! They go home to their families--the children from the village, every night, and no one speaks this English that they are working so hard to become fluent in. How can you read Shakespeare when you can hardly read a basic primer that our American students might read in 1st grade? 

India does not have a national language. The official language of the Republic of India is Hindi, and its subsidiary official language is English.  India has gone through some dramatic periods with language:  trying to make Hindi the compulsory language for the country caused a near civil war:  knocking out all the local languages such as Tamil and the Urdu language where much of the beautiful poetry is found, as well as the other 22 regional languages now recognized with official status was not well accepted.  After the British left, there was also a feeling to rid the country of all things that reminded them of the hundreds of years that they were one of the great British Empire colonies.  Speaking English seemed all wrong.  In the 21st century, however, English is the language of business in a global world.  Those who will get successful jobs and be successful in the university arena, will not only speak Tamil, Hindi, Urdu or many of the other state languages, but will also speak English.  English is now a required subject in every government and non-government school.  Those who learn it best come from an English Matriculation school, where every subject is taught in English!  

Our little kindergarten children will have no problems--we know that the younger they begin to face the daunting task of learning a new language the more successful they will be.  We have several students in the older grades who are doing very well, but many who struggle to master complicated subjects in a complicated language are failing.  Our volunteers, this summer, are spending part of every day in the mango grove, where one on one, they work on the subject where a student is falling behind and do it in English. These volunteers come in all shapes and sizes--Charlie Googh is in "our age" category:  he's here with his cute granddaughter Tessa Barton, a good friend of our granddaughter Hannah.  We have the son of our driver, Mani, who just graduated from 12th standard and will be entering the university here for the summer. The director of the tutoring program (pictured with David and Ragu) is Ashley Erekson.  What a job she is doing.   It looks like the Lazy Days of Summer, but actually it is a very intense and vital part of the learning process. 

One area of near total success is the computer program.  Children, the world over, seem to understand what some of us feel so challenged by.  One of our volunteers today made the comment that the 10 year olds were learning to do spread sheets!  I put my name in to sign up for that class.

Shoes and Helpers!

We've had such a nice week--including an overdue visit from our architect and the structural engineer.  There were parts of the building that could go no further without an onsite visit and we actually had them both show up together on Friday.  Many questions were asked and suggestions made by our very fine architect, and approvals given on structural dilemmas by the engineer.  We will continue to move forward, with a bit more knowledge.  None of this, however, makes us feel like we will be ready to move volunteers into the new quarters by the middle of July--one month from today!  We keep reminding everyone, This Is India, and we move at a different pace.

The first group of volunteers left at the crack of dawn today for Delhi and Agra, before returning to their homes.  A few will return to Rising Star for another two weeks with us.  They have been an outstanding group of young people--qualified in such a variety of areas.  The coordinators made the comment that when they read their resumes they wondered why they should feel qualified to be their directors.  The coordinators are fantastic and did a wonderful job, and the volunteers worked so hard in tasks that were often menial, difficult, hot and miserable, and heart-rending, without missing a beat.  It was pure service at it's best. 

Our children, as mentioned before, are now wearing shoes and socks to school.  They look so darling and are uncomplaining, although I know that having gone barefoot all their lives these new stiff shoes and hot black socks cannot be very much fun.  The little ones invariably have them on the wrong feet.  I often see one of the older children changing the shoes around on the feet of the little ones.  Bad enough to have them on the right feet!  It feels like a new era: a city school, sophistication in our program, 21st century at Rising Star to see them in their shoes and socks. When they come home they quickly put them away for the day, and become once again little country Indian kids, with the toughest feet you can imagine.  I think I like it best that way.

From the pictures, it looks like we need to work on the zippers, next!  Also note one boy who may have lost?? his shoes.

We're Back!

Doubt there are many left out there to read this after a long absence of writing. Got a note of reminder/chastisement from Elizabeth this morning letting me know the last entry was April 23. Oh well--no excuse, except my month spent at home was probably not what anyone wanted to hear about.  Ron returned on May 16 (we were both scheduled to return), but I was delayed until May 31.  It was hard--he was miserable in the heat, no children yet returned, and concern for me. I knew it was difficult for him to be here alone, but he is the best foreman around in regards to our building projects, and he had to come back. Jenny allayed some of his concerns that I too was miserable when she said I was eating out every day at Neiman Marcus, Rothchilds, Javiers, Pascals etc. with family and friends.  It was also 70 degrees in Laguna, versus 100+ in India. However, we have been happy to be back together, and I'm just happy to be here.

The children returned on Sunday, for a return to school on Monday, June 1. We were so happy to see them back. They have returned with a variety of illnesses, wounds, and a few young children with a lot of tears. (How we are missing Dr. Karl Kirby and "nurse" Vickie Gibb.)  Life in the colonies may be fraught with conditions that are less than ideal, but mom or dad, or a loving grandparent or aunt or uncle, are hard to leave.  The children are very brave, as are the parents who seem so stoic, but are often seen out in the mango grove after leaving their child, sobbing all alone. It's touching, to say the least.  I will write more about the children next week and include a picture of them with their new black shoes and socks, which are now a requirement as part of the uniform. They look sharp!

The volunteers also arrived.  We have 14 here--4 men and 10 women.  They are darling, and working hard in this incredible heat.  The program, as designed by Amy Antonelli, and now being implemented by five coordinators is running so smoothly.  We feel lucky to be a part of the action with them.  More to come on this outstanding group of young people.

Today was an exciting day for the building process.  With an early morning puja and a huge increase in the numbers of workers, they began the around the clock task of pouring the 2nd story of the school floor.  It's so incredible to watch--like toys I remember where you wind them and everything begins to move.  The concrete is mixed on the ground--1 bag cement, 3 buckets of gravel and 2 of sand--in the big mixer.  A large bucket goes up and down which receives the newly mixed concrete and rises up to the top where the mixture is put into the dishes the women carry on their heads to be dumped at the appropriate spot. It's round and round--for 24 hours or more it will continue until the entire floor is poured.  They are all walking on tied rebar so they watch carefully not to fall as they carry their heavy loads.  The contractor told me there were about 80 people working on that job.  There are still others working on the guest hostel and the dining/kitchen block.  Progress is being made. 

Our new Reverse Osmosis  (RO) Plant is nearly completed, and the equipment will arrive this next week.  The  plant sits between the two hostels on a concrete platform that houses the pumps for the water tanks.  A small structure has been completed for the RO.  It got painted a couple of days ago--like everything in India, the yellows don't quite match but they are close.  We will be so happy to have clean water, and be able to do away with these big plastic bottles that clutter us up everywhere.  We did get a lot of painting done in the hallways and rooms, with some vivid new Indian colors on the walls!

More soon--hope somebody is still out there checking to see if the Hansons are still "Walking in the Sand."

Pictures:  1) Making concrete, 2) Parade of workers (mostly women) carrying concrete to dump, 3) Getting ready, 4) Guest hostel-entrance, 5) Dining block, 6) New RO plant between hostels

  

Quiet after the Big Week!

The children are all gone--a few of us old folks are here for another day or two, but the house mothers and cooks will be gone by mid-day.  We feel a bit lonely and are missing all the activity!

It was a wild week, to put it mildly, but it turned out so well.  The children's excitement for the Marriott Day of tree planting, and the Annual Day with the wonderful program, was only exceeded by having their parents or family member come to take them home for 5 weeks!  That was the happiest thing of all.

The busy week began with the Courtyard Marriott team coming to plant 12 trees in recognition of Environmental Month.  It was a truly wonderful day, with a group of about 30 coming to help the children get the trees in the ground (we had pre-dug and prepared the holes for them). They sponsored an art competition, complete with prizes, about awareness of the importance of clean, green, and being ecologically friendly. Lunch under the mango trees is also included when the Marriott team comes.  The children loved every part of the day, but it pointed up to us they need more time for art in their lives; they loved the drawing and we should encourage more of it.

After an exhausting previous week completing exams, and the big Marriott day, they had an all day session of practice on Tuesday for our Annual Day program.  It is very hot, and as you can see from a couple of pictures they were tired!  I wish I could lie on a cement floor and sleep like that.  Tuesday evening for us was an evening out with our friends Vickie and Gordon Gibb.  It was to be their last night before returning to America and resuming his teaching at BYU.  The American team piled into our new bus and headed to our favorite truck-stop/roadside stand for parrota and omellet.  Not too fancy, but mighty tasty.  We are so sad to have them leave--their contribution has been huge and they have become very dear friends.  After the Marriott Day on Monday, they were honored by the teachers and the principal.  It was very touching to hear the tributes to both Gordon and Vickie, and the love they have for them.

The finale on Wednesday, Annual Day and heading home, was another exhausting effort, but a big success.  We have had 5 very hot days in a row, with not a bit of moving air to cool us. Wednesday, was no exception.  The program was long (just handing out the awards for the children's achievements took a good 45 minutes!)  There were speeches and recognitions, then the program the children had worked so hard on.  It was darling--song and dance and a great "English Drama" created by Amy Kirby and Sara Zabawa.  The children and their families loved every minute of it.  We were melted puddles by the end of the three hours!  

Following the program, we had a lovely lunch on the rooftop for the Board Members and other special guests, prepared by our great cook Padmini.  A Board meeting followed the lunch.  It was a marathon day, but so satisfying.  Our great sadness was that Becky's plane from Boston to New York did not make it in time for her to catch her flight to India, so she was absent--greatly missed by all.  

Children left with their parents ready for a well deserved rest, and we are quiet!  We will be in the US by next Wednesday, stopping for a few days in Washington with Natalie and Matthew and their family.  Next update from home.

April!

What a busy, exciting month April is shaping up to be!  Ron and I have attended several events in the role of the Directors of Rising Star Outreach, India, as Honored Guests, recipients of gifts for Rising Star Outreach, and the representatives as the giver of gifts.  From Assan Memorial Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology we were invited to their Annual Day, and Ron was asked to give awards to some of the graduating students.  At the Rotary Club of Madras Central we symbolically received the gift that they had provided of 40 desktop Dell computers; and from the Women's India Association, we cut the ribbon to begin a new project of making sanitary pads for underprivileged women that came about from a Micro loan from the Agel Foundation.  We felt very privileged to be here to represent Rising Star Outreach on each of these occasions.  We have found the Indian people to be wonderful friends, with giving hearts and concern for the needy and underprivileged.  They continue to provide more and more help to Rising Star.

One example, is the groups that want to come to the school and be with the children.  This past week a team from the Cobra Legal Solutions came to spend a large portion of Good Friday with us.  They were so well prepared, having arranged ahead of time for awning covers, sound system, and coming prepared with games, relays, prizes, skits and dramas.  What fun it all turned out to be.  Our amazing cook Padmini had prepared a fabulous lunch for not only the children and all of the employees, but also for all the lawyers with us for the day.  Everyone ate together, with the Cobra people serving the children, and all of our employees (drivers, land workers, office administration) participating.  Not only did all our employees participate in the food, but also had a wonderful time playing musical chairs, and participating in the races and other games.  The children loved it!

The Marriott group come every month, and they will be with us next Monday for Environmental and Conservation day, bringing trees to plant on the property, and a contest they have planned for the children.  The people who come to visit show the children so much about what they can become:  attorneys, managers, people with good jobs who have achieved because of attention to their education.  Through fun, many things are taught, and our friends from Cobra and Marriott are so generous and loving--they brighten our lives as well as the children's.

On April 22, Rising Star Outreach will have their Annual Day--the last day of school, until June, and special guests, including all the of the Indian Board of Directors of RSO, the Punjayet from our neighboring village, District School leaders, and of course all of the parents of our dear children.  We will have a full program, including a talk by our Guest of Honor, Becky Douglas. Everyone is so excited that she is coming--even if it is only for two days.  The children have a wonderful program of song and dance and drama prepared, and then they will head home for the spring break.

Many of our Rising Star friends will also be heading home at that time, their jobs completed, including Gordon and Vickie Gibb, the Kirby Family, and Matt and Sara Zabawa.  We are going to be very sad and very alone with them gone.  We will go home for two weeks in May.