All i’ve wanted since we got to India was to just get started working with the women and children of Goa. Finally a week after landing, we did! After taking two crowed, hot, and smelly buses, we arrived at the community where we’ll be working the next two months.
As soon as we set foot on the ground, we were surrounded by kids, running up to us with huge smiles and open hands shouting “good morning teacher, good morning teacher”. All wanting to shake your hand and give you hugs. They are so hungry for attention and love; there are never enough hugs, piggy back rides or kisses to give them.
I’m sitting in the clinic where we teach about health and bible stories, with as many kids sitting on me that can fit, and I realize I have to put all the thoughts about the dirtiness of this place behind me. The fact that I’ll probably get lice or pink eye at least once while working here (lovely, right?), that the world around us is the garbage can to them, the thought that the ground right outside here is what most use as a toilet and, and not to mention, wipe themselves with their left hand! Which is a bummer when your left handed, since in this culture its considered your dirty hand. Therefore you cant use your left hand for eating, hand shaking, handling money etc. its a challenge for me to say the least haha.
We say a lot here “just don’t think about it” because if you do, you wont fully give yourself and everything you have to offer them. We have to be completely selfless. Its not about you or me, its about them. Most of these kids haven’t seen this kind of love but are so desperately craving it.
Its only been a few days since we started working here, and we already see familiar faces. It excites me to start building relationships with the kids and actually show them that love, and show them the love of Christ. No matter the physical gifts we give them throughout our time spent with them, Christ’s love is the one thing that they can keep long after my team and I are gone.
