India: Part II

Get a load of this sunset skyline view. I was standing on the rooftop of the girls home, memorized but this view. I think it took me almost half of the internship to discover that there was rooftop access to the gorgeous jungle. Needless to say I stole away up here as much as I could, to pray, to reflect, and to hide sometimes (lets be real).

Here I want to share the more sacred lessons I took away from my time in India. My time with the girls was so special and so very ordinary at the same time. What I mean by this is daily life in the home was more or less what I was doing in the States. 

7 am wake up
8 am morning devotions
8:30 Breakfast
9:30 School
9:30-12 was English with Teacher Marissa who made EVERYTHING up on the spot, you are welcome.
1-3 Rest (Everyone took a mandatory nap for 2 hours each day. You guys this was the BEST!)
3-7 Teaching classes and helping with English homework
7-7:30 Evening devotion
8 Dinner
9 More studying (yeah I know, this is where Marissa was ready for bed and looked at the clock every 30 mins until it was 10:30 and acceptable to leave)
11 Bed

Okay, well aside from the late nights it was the same. However, the everyday moments was where the special was woven in.

It will be helpful to understand that I was very understandably asked not to take pictures. In order to respect and protect the women and children of the home, I was happy to comply. This is why I don't have many pictures, but I do have many memories.

Back to the rooftop. It was a rainy day at the home. I was with a few of the older gals who were on break from exam studying. They urged me to join them on the roof and since I was in between classes I said yes.

Not minutes later, it began to rain and then it began to really rain.  In India where the climate is hot or hotter all the time the rain became a warm water play ground for us. The girls began dancing and splashing around and I followed in suit. It was soooooo much fun! We laughed and danced and hollered. I felt free. I was so moved at the joy that they expressed that day. I remember thinking, "I want that kind of joy". 

All too soon the fun was over when we heard the bell ring for study time to commence. Reluctantly we started leave. That is when I noticed the girls get giggly and dramatically act afraid. I finally asked "are we allowed to be out here? Are we in trouble now?" Their giggles told me everything. We all descended the stairs to our rooms to change quickly. My room was conveniently located on the first floor. I had to stealthy make it down four flights of stairs without drawing attention to my dripping self. 

About half way down one of house moms saw me. Without thinking I blurted out that I was getting my closes on the rooftop clothesline and I got caught in the rain. I don't think she bought it in the least. She just gave me a half smile that seemed to say "uh huh, sure". I laughed internally at myself and hurried to keep from make a puddle.

This memory makes me smile for more reasons than one. Yes the silliness of my sheepish lie makes me smile, but mostly the look of the girls faces as they danced in the rain. It was a moment I could tell would stay with me for my lifetime.