From left to right: Sr. Lawrencia, Sr. Annie John, Sr. Rita, Sr. Sophie (standing at my left), Sr. Elizabeth, Sr. Theresa, and Sr. Annie Joseph. Not pictured: Sr. Anna (she's taking the photo), and Sr. Annie Kottaram.Here are some of Sarah's impressions of Home of Hope, from emails that she sent to friends and family while we were traveling:
"India was really amazing; especially living and working in the convent/orphanage. The nuns were really interesting, nice, straightforward, laid back, and kind and loving to the children. Actions speak louder than words and I am really impressed by the way they are devoting their lives to helping children to live out the meaning of what it is to be a true Christian. Looking for a deeper meaning in life has become really important to me and it doesn't get more meaningful than helping abused and damaged children have happiness.
We are back at the orphanage and will leave tomorrow night. The nuns are great fun to talk to and wonderful hosts. One nun spent 3 years in Turin at a convent there, teaching, and said she could hardly stand it because the food was so bland (in the 1970's). Now she says, at least, they put pepper on the table. Another nun took us shopping for souvenirs and supplies and helped me pick out a sari.
Paul Wilkes is here and he is busy getting them supplies like a solar water purifier. He has been spending the past 2 years raising money for them and they have improved the place. So far he has been able to help them get a vehicle, a washer, a computer, a water purifier, bicycles, beds and various other things. They are working on building another building now. Everything has to be on pylons because the water table is about 5 inches below the surface. It floods during the monsoon. And there are open sewers.
India so far is absolutely amazing. We have had a great experience staying at the convent because it is a peaceful refuge from the squalor and noise and because the nuns host many visitors and know a local man who has showed us around - you cannot imagine how hard it would be to get around without a guide.
The nuns are fun and joke a lot, laid back and very interesting to talk to, know a lot about the world. They are taking care of 58 girls with no parents or else with mentally ill or prostitute single mothers. A couple of girls are tribal girls who were found abandoned living in the woods. They can survive there by climbing trees to get jack fruit, etc. Most come from the streets of the town where they are picked up by the police. Some have been through all kinds of abuse, but amazingly they are kind, good hearted, older ones look after the little ones, full of singing and like to dance, etc. This is how they entertain themselves. They are not shy, like to touch you and ask questions (most don't speak much English) but very polite, clean, etc. Very little arguing or teasing at least in front of us. It is absolutely incredible to see. They want us to sing American songs. They asked me to dance. They did some Keralan dances for us.
The nuns are fun and joke a lot, laid back and very interesting to talk to, know a lot about the world. They are taking care of 58 girls with no parents or else with mentally ill or prostitute single mothers. A couple of girls are tribal girls who were found abandoned living in the woods. They can survive there by climbing trees to get jack fruit, etc. Most come from the streets of the town where they are picked up by the police. Some have been through all kinds of abuse, but amazingly they are kind, good hearted, older ones look after the little ones, full of singing and like to dance, etc. This is how they entertain themselves. They are not shy, like to touch you and ask questions (most don't speak much English) but very polite, clean, etc. Very little arguing or teasing at least in front of us. It is absolutely incredible to see. They want us to sing American songs. They asked me to dance. They did some Keralan dances for us.
We left this morning after the older schoolgirls did a performance of classical dance for us which was so entertaining. We are learning a lot of traditional mythology with the aid of comic books Chris bought that portray the life of Krishna etc. The nuns explained a lot of it too. It helps in understanding the temple art."
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