We're Official!!!

We got a call this morning from Norma, Stephanie's mom, announcing to us that we got 501c3 status! This is a huge answered prayer. Steph's been working on the non-profit status, application process since back in January. The government offices were back logged 6 months and kept sending letters that they needed more information. Finally, finally, finally!!! This also allows us to formally apply to events as a non-profit organization. It's a huge relief.

Water

The rain is really coming down out there. Monsoon season. Yesterday we drove through a foot of water where it was flooded. Thank God for our safe dry house. Well, most of the time. The other day Steph woke up to an inch deep of water in the kitchen. They fill the tank everyday and for whatever reason, that morning it didn't stop. So we mopped up bucket after bucket. The irony of it all was that we couldn't get water from our kitchen faucet or the drinking filter cause it was broken for days. It happens every couple weeks, then they send the plumber, he comes to fix it, we have water for another couple weeks until it stops again. They can't figure out what the problem is.

So after we mopped up the kitchen floor the plumber came. His wrench in hand was the only tool he arrived with. Steph and I were working in the front room, until I hear this... "uhhh..." and I go in the kitchen to see water all over the floor. Apparently he opened the pipe without placing a bucket under it. This happened the last time he came too. I don't think we really would've cared except we had just finished mopping up the entire kitchen. We throw him a couple towels and I'm telling him this is the second time today, but of course he doesn't understand a word I'm saying. After I explain my frustration I say the typical "No problem, no problem..." which he understands.

30 minutes later he has it working. We have water coming from the sink faucet and it's trickling out of the filter which is normal. As he's walking out the door Steph yells, "Thanks! See ya next week!" I was dying laughing. You had to be there.

Tonic anyone?

Today I took my computer to get fixed...Sometimes when I go out I take a drink with me just to prevent dehydration etc. So today I went out with my tonic in hand...I love drinking tonics. Steph thinks they're too bitter, but I love the lemony taste.

Anyways...I take the taxi to the train, take the train 3 stops, get in another taxi and finally make it to the computer shop. I dropped my computer off, left and hopped in a taxi. With my tonic in hand, I pop it open and suddenly it starts spraying everywhere. I'm yelling and holding it out the taxi door. (They're open air rickshaws.) He pulls over, looks back, and can't figure out what was happening. He was high as a kite. It was hilarious. It had sprayed all over the man's back. I felt horrible for that and kept apologizing profusely, but it was raining so everything was wet already. I guess reading the article in the newspaper yesterday about the 4000+ potholes in the city sort of affected my tonic. I should've known better, but it was pretty funny.

Making Cards

When Stephanie and I started working in the homes we set up different groups based on ability levels because not all the girls were good at making jewelry. Well some of the girls were not too happy about this, but their skills were just not up to par. Not everyone can be a jeweler. We wanted to give the girls other opportunities to excel.
Well my group, being the new skill was viewed as the "low" group. They were sulking and had attitudes like all teenage girls can. I just gave it time, knowing that eventually once they actually learned how to make cards, they'd really enjoy it. So of course the glorious day came this week when finally the girl that gave me the most trouble came up to me with a big fat smile. She says "Dee dee" meaning sister, "I like making cards." and I just smiled and smirked to myself and said "I'm so glad." It was pretty cute. ;)

The neighborhood

I wonder how we come across to our neighbors. We live down an alley of a small street. It's a small town feel cause you see the same people everyday. There's the corner store, the tailor, the pharmacy, etc. but we stand out. Everyday we return with large bags. (They're filled with all the supplies we're purchasing to create products.) Then we bring the supplies back and forth from our house to the homes. We pass the tailoring man everyday. He's given us some looks as we've passed by with bricks. I always say to Steph, I wonder what they think as they see us exit the taxi with our hands full, carrying random things.

We Stole 4 More Bricks

We were in need of shelving and had looked at some furniture that was quite expensive. ($100 for a wooden shelf you could get for $20 at Target or Ikea, and it wasn't even stable.) So Steph comes up with the brilliant idea to build shelves. All we needed was some bricks and some glass. (She's out purchasing the glass as I type this.)
A few days ago we were riding in a taxi and she tells the man to pull over. "Ekk minute," she says, meaning "one minute." She comes back carrying 2 bricks and then threw another two in the taxi. The man just stared at her, turned around, and resumed driving us home. Not amused, no slight smile, or strange look...just a dead straight faced stare. Indians have an incredible sense of humor and are very funny people in conversation. They just aren't amused by some of the silly things we are I guess.

Eat Crow

So I never really understood the phrase "eat crow" but now after living here I can say I've grown to hate the buzzards. They never shut up (they're repeatedly squawking even now...) they dig through the garbage and eat the nastiest things. Last week I saw a crow eating a dead rat twice in one day.
(...just a few of the details about india i thought you would appreciate. ;)

Home Visit

Last week while we were at one of the homes we had a visitor. The home is a Catholic retreat that sits on more than ten acres of property. They have several different projects taking place on the grounds: a school, a home for unwed mothers, AIDS/HIV children, an orphanage, etc.

While we were sitting there getting started, one of the sisters (nuns) walked in with a man and stood there quietly exchanging a few words. The sister eventually introduced the gentleman. He had been a orphan there 30 years ago and wanted to come back to visit. It was quite a powerful moment; a testimony to the home and to the girls. It was an example for them to witness the success of someone who had been in a similar situation as theirs.

Feeling Better

So Stephanie and I have both been sick the past week. We're feeling much better and just have a little cough left over. Thanks for your prayers.

The Sounds of India

As I was waking up from a nap yesterday I counted all the sounds I heard....

The man on the bicycle ringing his bell...
The children yelling and playing in the alley below...
The people talking downstairs...
The dog barking...
The distant sounds of the taxis honking on the street...
The door shutting two doors down...
and then, just in time-my favorite "call to prayer" from the mosque.

Sunita

Sunita is Stephanie's right hand. Before I got here, all I heard was, "Sunita, sunita, sunita." After meeting her I could understand why. She's graceful, patient, loving and beautiful... at the same time she has an incredible sense of humor, and is quite a fire cracker--- she's only 22 yrs. old!

Isanctuary is so blessed to have her. She of course is our saviour in translating, but adds so much to our days and is so good with the girls. Please pray blessings for her as she's transitioning right now in her life: career, living situation, etc.

So I'm up....can't sleep...listening to my ipod and checking email...4pm CA time!
Tonight Steph and I planned and did some sample products for the home we're going to visit tomorrow. Who knew I'd actually be using my teaching skills. I get to be an art teacher after all! ;)



Prayer please...
As we're preparing for the fall and winter sales, the demand is increasing. Expansion is wonderful but it's also a little nerve racking. We are only in two homes right now and to think of the logistics required to establish ourselves in another at this point is overwhelming. Please pray for all the details entailed in the future direction, & that we may be able to move forward wisely.

International Sanctuary

www.isanctuary.org

International Sanctuary, a non-profit organization, offers H.O.P.E. to survivors of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.

Stephanie's not feeling well

Please pray for Stephanie as she's sick right now.
We have a lot to do over the next few days, and a home visit on Saturday.
It takes a lot of energy to be out and about in India. Please pray for her healing.
Thanks

Our Angel

Melissa had prayed for a helper for us because it's quite difficult to find what you need in a city like this. It's like a scavenger hunt-except the weather is hot and humid and you can't speak the language ;) So after our long day in the market we had one last stop at the paper store before we returned home. You never know if your trip to the shop is going to strike out, or be the discovery of the century. After purchasing all the paper we needed, one of the men that worked there took it upon himself and calculated the exact measurement, how many pieces we needed of each to make our cards and envelopes. Since it was closing time, he walked us down the ally and made a left, directing us exactly to the cutter shop. He communicated to them exactly what we needed and in 10 minutes our paper was cut perfectly. Then he walked us three doors down and led us to the shop that could make our envelopes, and then around the corner to the place where we could get them folded. We would've never known they were all there. He was our miracle. At the end of our day, we were too tired to even think. We had a box of chocolates we were going to give to the man, but after carrying them around all day they were completely mush! We'll stop by with a thank you tomorrow when we return to pick up the orders.

Market Day

Yesterday was a market day. We went to downtown Bombay, similar to the fabric district in downtown Los Angeles, and purchased all the supplies we need to start creating new products for the girls. Stephanie will be continuing on with jewelry, creating new designs, and I'll be working with the girls on greeting and Christmas cards.

So we're downtown shopping and walking for miles. We come across this one stall where I see a template that was perfect which we could use. I start to step into the shop and this man starts shaking his head and waves us out. He refused to sell to us. It was so bizarre. We were right next to a mosque though and I assume it had something to do with the fact that we are American women. funny...

While we were there, the mosque had it's call to prayer over the loud speaker. Listening to the beautiful singing we wondered why our neighborhood mosque has such a bad singer. Steph says he sounds like the pelican on the Little Mermaid. He only sings for 2 minutes, 5 times a day....and yes in the middle of the night. ;)

Toward late afternoon, Steph & I are both getting tired and worn out. We decide to take a break to eat, but we stumble upon this man selling fabric and trimmings on the street. We finally nickle and dime him down to a fair price with broken English, we're trying to figure out how many meters we need. We're both looking at each other like "?????" It was just quite comical. I'm squatting down, wiping the sweat out of my face, hunched over the piles of ribbon trying to decide what colors, how much we need, and if this is something we could actually use. The man is getting impatient wanting to close the sale, while Stephanie is making faces at him apologetically for my indecisiveness. Meanwhile all of Bombay continues with the traffic and the honking, as we're inches from the cars driving by.

Home Visit

We went by our main home on Saturday where I was able to meet the girls. Stephanie gave her presentation and report about selling the jewelry. They saw the website and photographs of all the earings they made. You could see they were so excited and felt very proud of their work.

The girls are so full of life. Many were more energetic than I was... (I get worn out by the heat.) Most of them look like they're about 15 years old. Since they appear as such normal typical teenage girls, it's hard to believe they've been through such difficult trauma. Looking at them and meeting them you would never know it.

While we were there two European flight attendants who were passing through the city stopped by to purchase some of their handmade products. While Stephanie was home in America the girls used the skills she had taught them, and made more jewelry from the beads the nuns had purchased. I was so impressed. The ultimate goal is to teach them skills they would be able to use themselves, and here, just a few months later they are already accomplishing it!

Mission Accomplished!

So Stephanie, Melissa (our roommate) and I all sleep in the same room. 3 snug bugs in a rug! (It's the only room with air conditioning.) So in order to make it feasible we needed to put Steph's bed up on cinder blocks. You have to understand that the majority of Mumbai is "under construction" and there are bricks laying around left and right. So we had been eyeing piles of bricks for days, trying to figure out how we were going to get some...."Can we purchase them from the construction guys?" "How would we ever explain to them that we want to buy bricks?" Finally we found the perfect site. It had a ton of bricks since they were laying the pavement on the street. So Stephanie and I, carrying two canvas bags, "inconspicuously" walk down the street. (There's no such thing as inconspicuous. We stand out like two sore thumbs.) So we pass the place where the guys are primarily working, and see 4 perfectly square cinder blocks. They are just sitting there in a pile of "trash" on the side of the road. So Steph goes, "quick, pick them up and put them in your bag!" This is all in broad daylight, though we had discussed going at night. So I'm trying to pick up these blocks that barely fit in our canvas bags, while she's keeping an eye out, watching. A man who we assume is the foreman begins walking over and we're thinking he's going to tell us to put them back. Meanwhile, we're oblivious of the whole crowd at the bus stop that is watching us. (Staring is completely acceptable in India.) So the foreman walks over, shakes his hand motioning "no problem" and waves down a rickshaw (small taxi) for us. We loaded the four heavy cinder blocks in the taxi and we were off. It was pretty funny. We were laughing. Maybe it was one of those "you had to be there type moments."

No pictures yet!

I'm sorry I'm not able to post any pictures yet....It doesn't make for a very exciting blog. Pictures are the best part!!! But with the internet as it is, and my laptop being down, I can't upload photos. I'll try to continue to paint visuals with my words.

Irony....

So Stephanie was in the market purchasing supplies for all the products the girls are going to make. She's in one of the fabric shops and there's one other customer there. He's purchasing all this flashy fabric. After he leaves the shop keeper tells her the customer was buying things for the girls in the redlight district---and here was Steph, buying things for girls who have been rescued out of the redlight district. Quite ironic!

Happy 4th of July!!!

Love from India!

Eat a burger for me!!!

In the words of Michael Scott....

I will give more general specifics later....

This was a bit of a rushed job with all these posts, but finally the internet has a good connection I wanted to get them up. We've been watching a lot of Office episodes lately which keeps us laughing and helps us relax after a long day. I just found out tonight that J.J. Abrams is the director. He also did Alias and Lost. just a little trivia for ya!

Week 1

Today we went to one of the aftercare homes and I was able to meet some of the girls. It was a very special time. The girls were thrilled to see Stephanie. It was apparent they missed her. We sat around as Stephanie presented the website, photographs, and images of the jewelry they had made and shared with them about the sales in the US. You could see how proud they were. It was all so professional. We sat and ate lunch with the girls and followed up with a meeting with the head sister (nun) in charge. She sat wide eyed and smiled so proud as Stephanie shared with her that a boutique in America is interested in selling the girls' jewelry work. I wish you could have seen her face. It was priceless.

Day 2

Stephanie arrived that night and we were excited to get unpacked and organized. By the next afternoon I was thoroughly hot, the humidity had built up, and my stomach was having a party inside which felt like a bonfire. It's amazing how many things can be affected even when you're just sitting...the heat, the noise, the smells, your health, etc.
Earlier in the day a girl had entered our flat (a new intern from the fellow organization) and I saw the look on her face. She was in utter discomfort. She looked at me and asked if I had been in India long. Tugging on her long shorts, and scratching her misquito bites...along with the sweat and humidity, she shared with me about her unwelcoming living situation, one I knew all too well. So the girls and I decided it was time for a break and went down to the Hyatt for a nice respite. It was a cool quiet evening of serenity and laughter. I got a yummy chocolate shake, chocolate mousse, and we shared some french fries, which were perfectly American...just decided to pass on the spicy chili ketchup though.

Now to get from our bumgalow to the Hyatt is an experience in itself. Walking down the alley, watching my every step to ensure I'm not stepping in a puddle of muck, passing a rat carcas and a man skin & bones on the street in the midst of the chaos & traffic. I forget how hard it is to live here. (Even as I write this the Mosque begins its song over the loud speaker.) But honestly, everything about living in India is difficult. I have so much respect for Stephanie, her dedication and decision to continuously return. She is a great inspiration to me and I'm so thankful for her.

Day 1

I was sad to leave the team and Little Flock Orphanage. It was a great 2 weeks. A lot was accomplished: medical, dental, optical clinic for villagers, over 700 villagers were seen, a chicken & turkey coop was built, and English classes were taught. The team sent me off with prayers, love, a book of encouraging letters, and even a bag full of rupees. I stayed one night in Chennai with the director's family and then flew to Mumbai in the morning. The flight gave me plenty of time to question and wonder why I had chosen to do this...The Indian airline food, in flight entertainment system that shut off every five minutes, and dirty headphones all made me wonder why I wasn't with the team in Singapore relaxing for a couple days??? That's when the fear set in: would I be living in the slums for the next few months? what in the world am I doing. Yes sanity occasionally comes to mind...not often enough for decision making...but just sometimes!

I arrived in Mumbai with a slight encounter with the taxi driver regarding the fare: this required the emptying of all my luggage and 10 airport security men. (Have no fear---it's completely normal to have a group discussion on the street involving several people who aren't remotely involved) Once I met up with my new roomie Melissa, she showed me the way down a quaint alley and up the steep stairs (it's a ladder) to our new bungalow called home. My luggage had all made it...and I was able to breath a sigh of relief. It was charming in it's own small way, and I wasn't living in the slums of Bombay as I had feared.

Our new neighborhood

Photographs will come later, in the meantime, I'll paint you a little picture of my new neighborhood for the next few months. You turn off a the main drag of the Indian market, to a side street, go past the mosque which has singing over a loudspeaker 5 times a day, turn left down the alley by the sign that says Mhendi classes, watch your step as you come around the bend a "one by one" yellow house with an arch is in front of you. Climb up the ladder and you've reached our bungalo/flat. It's actually quite a quaint neighborhood, though many have referred to it as the "slums." Don't worry it's not. ;)
So I was getting a mattress made by the local shop on the street ($30, 4 inches of foam sewn with a cotton cover) and we come to find out that he is our neighbor that lives directly behind us. (He had clearly seen our other roommate walking around town the past month. No matter how much we try to blend in, the 3 American girls definitely stand out.) Because it was raining he offered to deliver it on his motorcycle, because it would "make us look bad" if we walked home carrying it overhead.