Demonstrations of Joy

Note: I'm sorry this post has taken so long to get out, I was very sick with a stomach parasite for about a week at the end of October and it has set me back quite a bit on work and blogging. I'm fully well now though, so be expecting a couple of rapid fire posts coming up!  

Left to Right: Rasheeda, Me, and Aysha in the Mall's Juice Bar!

Monday October 22nd I was blessed with the opportunity to meet my Compassion International sponsored child, Rasheeda in Chennai, India. It was a whirlwind of a trip of course, what with it being my first time traveling on my own in India, and having to plan it all myself! But God was on my side and I made it across the continent to Chennai! Chennai is a super clean city compared to Kolkata. There was less trash in the streets, better pavement, it even smelled pretty good! (Though, being by the ocean, I'm sure all the pollution just gets blown off elsewhere, unlike Kolkata where it hovers and turns your boogers black.) Anyway, It was a pleasant surprise to find such a nice place awaiting me, and after a real shower and a night on a real bed (!!!!!) I was very excited to see what my day with Rasheeda would hold.
I was picked up by the compassion office's visit coordinator, Shauline, and we went promptly to get Rasheeda and the project workers with her from a nearby YMCA where they had stayed since arriving at 6:30am by bus. They had traveled all night to come see me. As we pulled into the parking lot of the YMCA I saw two girls in bright purple and orange salwar suits breaking into enormous smiles. The two are very alike, but after a moment I realized that the taller of the two, the one in purple, was in fact Rasheeda. The first thing that struck me about her was that she was so tall! I'm used to being taller than almost everyone in India, and most other Compassion countries, but Rasheeda is at least four inches taller than me! She gave me a huge hug as soon as I stepped out of the van and hung on tight, fighting off tears. She introduced me to her younger sister, Aysha, who she brought with her, and the project workers Maithily and Jessi who accompanied them.

Our whole group: Rasheeda, Me, Aysha, Jessi, and Maithily

It was the girls' (15 and 14 yrs old) first time in the big city of Chennai, so from there Shauline whisked us away to a shopping mall (I have never done this on a child visit, I guess it was because of the child's age and the fear of bad weather) where we were told to look around, buy things, whatever we wanted! We spent a lot of time in a department store looking at toys and stuffed animals. Rasheeda seemed very content just to be close to me, but Aysha was very excited and bold, grabbing my hand and dragging me from one place to another to look at things so that I had to grab Rasheeda and haul her along just to keep her involved! The best part was their reaction to the escalators in the western-style malls. They hadn't ever seen them before so the idea of jumping onto a moving stairway or ramp was both scary and immensely fun to them. It was something I never considered as a source of joy! At a juice bar at the mall Maithily explained to me that Rasheeda and Aysha's mother had left their father when the girls were very young, and now lived in another village with another husband and daughter. She said the girls' father had given up everything to keep them, and that he now works as a bicycle mechanic while his mother, the girls' grandmother keeps house and cares for them. This sort of mother-abandonment is not common in India, and I get the sense that it is seen as very morally wrong, and an absolute miracle if the children become anything but destitute afterwards. Yet, here are Rasheeda and Aysha, grinning, tall, healthy young women full of life! It reminds me that God is so good. Maithily told me that Rasheeda would like to become a school teacher when she grows up, and her best subject is language. I was very exicted to hear she has goals for her future and tried to encourage her that it was a great idea.
After an excellent lunch at a restaurant we headed to the church of Saint Thomas, located in Chennai near the ocean. I have no idea how St. Thomas the apostle of Christ made it all the way to India, but I plan to look it up cuz he's there alright! Or, well, his tomb is. It was the grandest church Rasheeda and Aysha had ever been to. Aysha had me taking pictures of all the icons because they were so pretty. I have seen many grander cathedrals in my life, but their awe and happiness at this one made it more special to me than the others.

Enjoying looking at the Indian Ocean!

Finally, there was one more first for the girls. We were going to see the Indian ocean! And at Merina Beach, no less, one of the largest, most popular beaches in Asia! They were both very excited, having seized on the idea from the moment Shauline mentioned it and insisting on seeing the ocean.When we pulled up the the quarter-mile wide expanse of sand I could feel their excitement. They almost dragged me out into traffic when crossing the road to get to the sand. Rasheeda spoke the most in English she had all day, just repeating "What a super place!" When we made it to where the strong surf was sucking away at the sand the girls couldn't stop giggling as the water hit their toes. They just stared out at the sea and laughed and played. When we tried to get pictures standing at the water's edge a particularly large wave came up behind us and soaked us to the knees! The girls just laughed all the harder. The hot, dirty water of the Indian Ocean was a wonder to them. Seeing their joy made me remember that awe in small things is often lost to those of us who live in a bustling, industrial world. But two young women from a rural Indian village showed me again what joy in simplicity is.
When she left Rasheeda cried a lot, sad to have to leave, but also just overcome by all that went on in the day I think. We hugged a lot, and I reminded her I loved her and would be writing to her and Aysha often. In the end she smiled and waved at me as the car drove them away, and I knew her overall feeling was one of happiness. Mine was too. I am truly blessed to have such opportunities, and I thank God for reminding me so well of his joy that lives in the most unexpected of places.