Sunday

I'm not making a ton of sense right now, I woke up really early for church in Chenni. So I apologize in advance for the short and maybe difficult to read blog post.
This morning woke up at 6:30am, left Rising Star at 7:30am, had a real life- Fast and Furious driving experience, got to church at 9:20 just in time for church at 9:30.
Church was wonderful, there was a violin accompanying the piano for sacrament. Everything was in English, and the talks were given in simple truths. It was beautiful. There are three Branches in Chenni as this one just split only a few months ago. And the growth is amazing. Today a girl was confirmed a member, and two more were baptized after church.
The thing that stood out to me the most in church today was a really simple thing. As the missionary confirmed the Sister he said something to the effect of "Heavenly Father needs you to seek him." And the more I thought about this I realized that is really all Heavenly Father asks of us. He only wants to help, he just needs us to get to our knees and ask for that help. So that is my short testimony tonight. To seek your Heavenly Father get to know him, and let him bless your life and those who are around you. I know my Heavenly Father loves me, I am  his daughter, and I will return to him one day. I also know that these people in India are his children. And he loves them so so so much. He put Becky and all the people who have made Rising Star possible-on this earth so they could help these children.
Today we didn't get to spend a ton of time with the children but I love going to their prayer time. They say a prayer together then they sing songs and I love looking into individual faces as they sing. When they are singing and they catch me starring at them there faces light up with a smile- which in turn makes me smile.
We were talking about how none of this really feels like service. We are only doing small very small things while we are here. But the benefits I'm getting from it are Huge.
So I hope that I can convey properly the amazing work the sponsors and you all have made possible. It really is changing the world- even if it is just the world of one child.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Sunday. I sure did.
xoxo
Martha

So Sleepy.

I'm now a day behind (since I fell asleep last night) so I'm going to try and quickly catch up...but without missing the details.

So yesterday was Saturday and we went to Mamallapuram, where there is lots of shopping, ancient temples, and Ideal Beach. So that is just what we did.
The Temples were neat, but without a real explanation the sculptures weren't very meaningful and all looked the same. Mixed with extreme heat, we decided to do these very quickly. Then off to shopping! Shopping was actually way fun. Because I wasn't afraid to Barter prices. We also were all dressed in the Kurtas which made people take us more serious. And even though I didn't get as good of deals as I could have (I later found out). I still feel like I was pretty successful. For instance in the first shop, the man outside told me a good price for a bag, and said he had more inside his shop. So I went in and started looking at them, and the man inside told me a different price- higher. I quickly told him the better price the man outside gave me and he laughed and said okay. So I knew from the beginning I was going to have to be demanding. Then one of the professors that is traveling with us asked him "how much?" for the same bag. And before the store owner could answer I told her the price I had gotten it down to, and he shook his head at me in disapproval. Whoops.
So I felt like I got some good deals. But I'm also already out of rupees. So I might not have been as good at bartering as I thought I was. But I also did feel bad for many of the store owners as we were their only customers for the day. So that might have also had something to do with several of my purchases. But since we were their only customers we spent more time in each store, and spent time getting to know the store owners. One just graduated from college and opened his own store. He is from Kashmir and had to leave because of all the craziness going on there. He told us just a day earlier there were 8 deaths in the area he used to live.
Then in another store, Brittany and the store owner had to go find a credit card machine, so we waited in the store with his worker and talked. He told us he was fasting for Ramadan and that it was "easy". haha We then discussed how us American's could never do it. haha That made him laugh. But then we did share about how in our LDS religion we do fast for two meals once a month. And he thought that was cool. He later also told us we made him miss his prayer, because he was told to stay and watch us in the store. I felt so bad but he said "no, no its fine I will pray after." Sooo hope thats like a normal thing. He then told us he was stopping school and also had to move away because of all the violence in his hometown (which I don't remember where that is). Then he randomly through out that he "Likes Obama" and that we have a very good president. I agreed. :)
Oh I almost forgot the adventure of getting my clothes made. They have many tailors in this town so you just go into their shop pick out the fabric and style- they measure you on the spot and then make it same day. Actually in like 3 hours they made clothing for 3-4 of us. It was impressive. And its all in this tiny shop. Which made it all the more exciting. I made him agree to make me two kurta tops for 600 rupee's, which is like 12 US dollars. So that was a good deal in my mind. But Jenny later told me I still got ripped off. Then I got pants for another 800 rupee's since they were Linen instead of cotton. And I got special ordered pockets and everything in them.
After the shopping we decided to do the Adventure of getting to Ideal Beach. Which is a very nice (for India) resort. Which cost about 74 dollars a night for the nicest beach front condo. So thats pretty sweet. But to get to Ideal beach you need to take a Rickshaw.

Warning Mother: if you don't want to know skip down past this paragraph.
So we (four of us girls) stop and ask one of the rickshaw drivers if he can take us to Ideal beach. He then asked us "what Ideal beach?" was one too many times. So I decided we needed to get someone else. So another guy pulls up, and I ask Can you take us to Ideal beach? And he said yes 80 rupees. (less than 2 dollars). But we were already told by Jenny it should be about 60, and the guy previous had also agreed to 60. That was of course before he even knew where Ideal Beach was- but anyways. I start arguing with the guy and say 60 rupees and he says "No this is expensive diesel gas" So I said then we will go with this other guy. And the rickshaw driver points out the other rickshaw is from Chenni(which is about 3 hours away). So I decided he did have a valid point he probably did know this area better, so I said fine 70. And he said no 75. And finally Tricia decided the .10 cents we were arguing about wasn't worth it. So we all get in, a 3 person rickshaw. And he drives off. He then pulls up to his gang of Rickshaw drivers (who knew that was even a thing) they talk in Tamil, but he repeatedly points to us. And then we keep driving. My first thought was that he was probably telling his friends that we were in a bigger group and more people would be wanting drivers to the same place- but then Trica decided to freak us all out. And points out he is driving in the opposite direction we thought the Beach was. So then we ask "We are going to Ideal Beach right?" And the driver laughs (probably because he understood more English than we gave him credit for) and says "No we go to P..(something)." Then explains it similar to a bar. So then Tricia really starts freaking out, and my motherly calm in stressful situations kicked in. So I then tried to get him to admit he was going the right way and that he was just messing with us, but he just kept laughing and telling us we were going to a Bar. But because I know my Heavenly Father loves me and wouldn't want me to die in India. I just calmly told the Driver I knew it was only a 5 minute drive to the Beach and that he better get us there in the remaining 4 minutes. He then said "okay, okay I joking." And sure enough a minute later we pulled into Ideal Beach Resort. Where he then asked if we would need a ride back. And before anyone else could said yes- since we kind of did. I said "nope we have a ride". We then paid him the 75 rupees. And walked away. :)

Once we were at Ideal beach we quickly changed into out swim suits and jumped into the pool. And had a lovely afternoon complete with Cheese Naan, Orange Fanta, and boys from Minnesota. We then got Jenny to let us just take the bus back with everyone and quickly go pick up our clothing before we left.
The day left me surprisingly drained and I fell asleep at 9:30 and was out until Michelle had to wake me up at 6:30 for church.

Auntie!!

"Auntie, auntie, auntie" is my favorite thing in the world to hear. Auntie is what the children call all of us. Which is just so adorable, and I've wanted to be an Aunt for like ever. And was always jealous when the poly kids would call people auntie. But now its my turn. I now probably respond to Auntie just as fast- if not faster than my name. Which many of them also know because of Soniya. They say "you martha?" and after I say yes they say "you Soniya's sponsor?" and once again I say yes...and Love it!
(also side note-sorry in advance if I repeat myself, I tend to do that a lot, and with blogging everyday its bound to happen a few times).
But (the story above) happens everyday. And I just love it. I wish everyone could come meet the child they sponsor. I mean obviously they really care about the child if they are sponsoring him/ her. But it just a deeper level for me now. I need to see her be successful in school, to get that education that will in turn get her an amazing job. Also Jenny (who is a session director- who has been here all summer) and a group of us were talking about the children's futures. Since they are the children of leprosy patience many many people will not hire them. However rising star has already established several connections, that have promised to hire the children from rising star if they get good grades. Jenny also explained how amazing this is. These jobs are with company's like dell, and other people who have outsourced to India. So with these jobs the children would be making WAY more than the doctors or teachers in India. So these are very coveted and high ranked jobs.
So when you call a help line several years from now and get someone from India, just remember before yelling at them that they might be a child from rising star!! One of my children from Rising Star. So just don't do it. I'm sure they are trying to communicate the best they can with you, and you will eventually work out the problem.

Anyways back to me being in India. :) haha
Today I was in the group to do Construction. Jenny explained to us on the trip there that us doing the construction is much less of a money saver, than it is just the importance of having these leprosy patience see that us (as the highest class, as white people) want to come and work for them. As they are below the untouchables in India's unofficial caste system. Just to have someone not walk to the other side of the street is a blessing to them. It was so wonderful seeing all their smiles, even if some of them were because they were laughing at all of us weak girls. One lady pointed to my RED face and then to the sun, and said "very hot" I smiled and said "just a little." We worked really fast, or maybe just Jenny says that to everyone. However I got very tired very quickly. Which made me disappointed in myself. But we did finish, which is good.
Well wow I have so much more to tell you about today. It was basically a super epic good day.
We do highs and lows every night at dinner, and everyone struggled finding lows. Which is great!
Okay so I will now more quickly tell you about everything else.
Today the children had a special dance recital. Katie who is another one of the session directors she has also been here all summer. Has been teaching the children dances. And so today they performed and I cried. I felt like the proudest parent in the world. They just had these amazing smiles smeared across their faces the entire time. And Katie had them dancing to Micheal Jackson, and just all these adorable moves. At one point she had the little boys doing sit-ups to the song "We will Rock You!" It was THE most adorable thing I have ever seen. I seriously had tears in my eyes the entire time. Not really sure how Man In The Mirror becomes emotional. But I think its when there are 12 little kids all dancing there hearts out, and then a room full of people (none of which are their parents) but all love them so so very much.
Anyways I have no good pictures from that- but there are many blurry ones on facebook for you to look at.
Then it started to Pour, and it rained for like an hour and a half straight. So we cancelled talent classes, and we all had to walk back to the volunteer house in the rain. And since we were already soaked, and we have something similar to a swimming pool in the middle of our house. We did the most logical thing, and had a dance party. We learned a dance to Jai Ho, and we jumped in all the puddles, and just lived up the fact that we were in India, dancing in the rain. Then Sisi and Katie had a slow motion dancing contest and it was Amazing. haha Loved every minute of today.
We also had a delicious dinner.
Then of course we got to spend some more time in our Families tonight. Not sure if I already explained our families. But basically three of us have been assigned a "house". My house has boys that are pretty young most being in 3rd standard. One in 5th and one in 8th. (Oh by the way standard is just like grades). But they are all just so cute. And the one boy in 8th standard did three dance numbers today, and was SO good. anyways I'm about to fall sleep...so sorry if this last bit doesn't make any sense. Here are some pictures to make up for it.

Meet Soniya!
Isn't her smile beautiful?!



Also just another cutie, he hung on me the entire play time yesterday. Just love him to pieces!



This is during my reading tutoring- he was just soo cute that I couldn't resist taking away from his valuable learning time to have a mini photo shoot. haha I mean really look at him!



Also sorry this is so much longer than I planned. I will write less tomorrow- promise!

xoxo Martha

Day 3? wait now I'm confused how long have I been in India?

I now feels like a second or third home. Not like a vacation home but like a "I love these kids so much, we must be related sort of home." Yesterday (its now Thursday Morning 7:30am) I was on tutoring duty. I was super excited, and a little nervous. Because the night before's math didn't go over so great. But we were focusing on reading today. Most if not all the children's reading skills are several grades below what they should be. But hello...this is their second language and they don't have people constantly speaking and reading to them. I think back to when I'm home with Bridger, he gets so much one on one time. And has picked up speaking very quickly. But these children only get the one on one attention they seek out from the volunteers. The Assistance Principle of the school was telling us all about this, and mentioned that the students that speak better, and read better are the students that are more outgoing and hang on the volunteers. So they also encourage us to speak to as many children as we can, and to go seek out those who are playing by themselves.
So for tutoring we had 20 minutes one on one sessions with the children. Which only allows for 6 per person in a school day. But because there were also 6-7 of us volunteers we were able to read with lots of children. And there will be another group tomorrow. It's so nice to feel needed. And so awesome to have a child learn something from you.
Its difficult teaching them to read because they haven't been taught to sound things out, they spell out the word like C A T and then say Cat. Instead of using the sounds the letters make. So I would sounds something out for them, and they would just laugh because they didn't really know what I was doing. haha It's fine.
Play time was so much fun yesterday. We played chase, and then we played a little house, and then I took like a thousand picture of these boys jumping off of different things. It was great.
Well off to another wonderful day in India.
Today will be filled with sweat, and manual labor. Can't wait to haul Bricks!



xoxo
Martha

Surreal finally being at Rising Star!

Today started with a headache. Probably due to the major lack of sleep. Then we went to Breakfast, where me and Sisi were treated like Royalty. The chef personally gave us a tour around the buffet, and everyone was just so overly nice. But I was feeling sick, so I could only eat the yogurt and a "vanilla muffin." Sisi then had the brilliant idea to get some Sprite in me. So we went up to the executive lounge (thank you dad), got a sprite- yes at 8 in the morning. And people watched. The Marriott is on a busy street, and the driving is fantastic. Crazy, but totally made me want to get in a car and try it. Don't worry I'm not allowed to drive anything with a motor while I'm here. It was a 3 hour drive out to Rising Star, but flying through the city on a bus is a surprisingly great way of seeing SO MUCH. I took probably 100 pictures...probably most if not all are blurry. But I also can't wait for you to see the bus. Its awesome. I would upload photos but I drained the battery. We then got to Rising Star and my room feels fantastic with AC. And our new outfits are super legit, they are called Kurta's. I love them so much. I also learned how to use a squatter (sp?). Then it was off to meet the children. It was so fun meeting them all, I probably got asked 100 times today "what is your name?"
I then had a child walk up to me and say "Martha?" And I was obviously shocked, and said yes. She then said "Did you know that your Soniya is here?" Excitedly I said yes, and asked where she was. The girl then ran off giggling. So I waited while the girl went and found Soniya, it was so wonderful to see her big smile. Just that alone is worth the heat and bugs. But then she gave me a big hug, we then talked about her studies. She is in Standard 8. Which is like grade 8, and she is one of the oldest here.

Obviously not everyone can afford to sponsor a child. But there is a whole board of photos of children that still need sponsors. So if anyone is looking for a life changer you should talk to me and I can pick out one of these sweet children for you.

So after this "Play time" is done, they then say prayers and sing songs. They have a Rising Star song, and its overly adorable. We then had dinner which was good. We eat on Mango leaves, which is thought to be more sanitary. I trust them.We also eat dinner on the rooftop, which is awesome! And we got to watch an epic sunset while we ate. We then got into our families. I was placed in one of the boy families. Our jobs are to help their house mothers, read to them, help them with their homework, and then put them to sleep. First off all the boys sleep on the ground, which is just so humbling.
Also I need to re learn my math. The boys have been taught a different way of doing multiplication than I was, so I couldn't decide if I needed to learn how to do it their way, or teach them mine. I ended up doing a little of both. And when we finally finished this boys homework, he looked me right in the eyes and sincerely said "Thank You, Auntie." And practically made me cry, right there on the spot. I could just feel that he was actually so grateful, and it made me realize how I am never as grateful as I should be. So once again I'd like to say Thank You, thank you all for making this trip possible. And allowing me to have even just one moment like this.
Hugs and Kisses from India.
Martha

p.s. I only have 10 actual work days here. So I have to get some rest so I can give it my all in the few days I have left.
On the packet we got on arrival it says "Leave it all here in India" So thats what I'm going to do.

3 plane rides later...

The Adventure Begins, it is now Wednesday the 11th. I left Monday. Other than my body being very confused time zone wise, I have been extremely comfortable. Highlights of the trip over here would be. One last delicious meal with my mom, forgetting my headphones at home, being on the flight with Bob Cook to Seattle, sitting with the adorable Germany family, and very nice (after bad first impression) lady from Norway, eventually finding Sisi, almost missing our flight to India, waiting for baggage-stressful, meeting Sisi’s wonderful friend of a friend, who gave us the Royal treatment on our trip to our hotel. (They even had a sign with Sisi’s name on it). Watching a dog sniff around the car, and going through more security at the hotel, checking in at 2am, not being able to sleep till the morning wakeup call at 7:30am, and finally taking my last beautiful shower for at least a while.
But I think the most amazing things have been flying somewhere between Greenland and Iceland during Sunrise. This was a once in a life time opportunity, and I almost missed it. Luckily the little boy sitting in front of me opened his window right at the perfect time. I opened it my window to find a beautiful pink sky, and Ice Mountains below. I really can’t actually describe it, it was just breathe-taking. There were Icebergs below, reflecting the Pink sky. I took pictures but I’m sure those won’t do it justice either. The other highlight is just the many people I met on my journey that were just so nice, and helpful. Standing in line at Immigrations, Sisi and I met two nice Indians. Both with encouraging smiles, and helpful hints. The thing I have been told to do through this whole thing is to just Be in India, and soak it all in. So I’m ready. We just got our wake up call, and Sisi and I are already for the day. So I think we might go explore the hotel. Hope all is well at home.

Xoxo Martha

Less than a week away...

Passport...check
Visa...check
Plane ticket...check
Immunizations...check
Indian Rupees ...double check!

Really what more could I need. :)
My mother just came and gave me the 100th hug this week (its Tuesday). And just said she has to hug me everyday in case I don't come back.
I'm honestly not worried...yet. I know I'm going with a great program and of course I know my Heavenly Father is with me always. I have always been one up for trying new things. But never this big, or this new. But I just can't wait.
Well I just thought I would check in here while I'm in the midst of getting ready.
I can not say Thank You enough (but I'm going to try) to all those who have made this Adventure possible.

My next post will be from INDIA!!!!

Love,
Martha in Portland