Home Safe

Hard to believe I've been home for a week now. Got in last Friday. Was a bit jetlagged, but finally recovered...Still a bit sluggish in getting back to work. That may have something to do with the heat. Thought I was escaping it by coming home, but that has yet to happen.

Exciting things taking place now being home. First I got to see my baby niece. No photoshoot yet. Will take some soon. Went to a great anti-trafficking event last night in Laguna Beach. Was nice to be able to just attend. Have many events scheduled already for the fall. Every weekend in September is booked. Trying to find a little more balance in life...will be working on delegating more, plugging in volunteers to specific positions...excited to see the organization continue to take shape. So top priority here is to find office space, that can also act as a vocational center so we can work with survivors in Orange County. Funny that Steph and I are both working on finding space. Prayers would be really appreciated.

;)

Crunch Time!

I'm only here a couple more days! Hard to believe it's almost September already. Glad to I'll be home to enjoy the last couple days of summer.

Really trying to take as many images as I can before I leave.

Photoshoot

So it's a little difficult to have a photo shoot when you have so many onlookers. And since staring is acceptable in India, there's not much to do about it. I try staring back, but it doesn't seem to get the hint across. Su told me today, "don't worry about them. We have work to do." So i went back to looking behind the camera and took another 50 pictures. At one point I stopped, looked up and saw a crowd gathered on either side of me. Then I stopped and said, "Really? Really?" and stared at all of them. Then I decided to snap a picture. They didn't seem to be fazed by it, but Su thought it was funny. I bet these guys didn't know they'd be published on the world wide web!

The Greatest Dancer!

Driving in the taxi the other day I was trying to be so incognito when we passed some of the slums. I love taking pictures of everyday life. But this little boy, as soon as he saw my lens started dancing and giggling. He was SO funny. I'm hoping to go back and get a few more of him.

Steph

Steph and I have had a lot of fun the past week. Got some good shots of her and the girls. Just wanted to share one of them. Can't post them all. We've got to save some for iSanctuary newsletters...etc.

Traffic

How do you describe traffic in Bombay. It's worse than LA. organized chaos...

Our Sunita!

She's so beautiful! and does an amazing job of coordinating iSanctuary here in Mumbai.

Crunch Time

It's been a little busy. i didn't get a chance to do my blog posts this sunday. It's almost crunch time. Stephanie returns tomorrow, and i have a little less than two weeks left. Still a lot to get done. Went out for another photo shoot today, and hope to bring my camera each time we go to the homes from now on.
This image was taken as we were driving through the market. Su asked the ladies to smile for the camera. They're pretty cute.

Rickshaw Rides

So the other day I was meeting Su at the home. She had gone with me plenty of times and showed me how to get there. I had set my landmarks, and knew what to tell the rickshaw driver....(Aggi right, fire brigade) turn right at the fire station when we get to this certain point...well i hop in the rick, give him the location...ten minutes into the drive i realize i had forgotten to say Curla Road. Meaning take Curla road, which is the way I knew how to go. So i'm sitting there thinking...ok how am i going to find this place. Cause my landmarks now were out the window. So i say my prayers...and sit back knowing that worrying about it wouldn't help. I didn't have a cell phone to call Su cause it had died and I was certain that I would eventually have to turn around and go back home. Traffic in Mumbai is really bad, and it takes forever to get anywhere, so going home and starting over wasn't an option. Well, I started to recognize things. We were just down the street from the home. I got there no problem. God is taking care of me!

Comments

If you're reading this, don't be shy to comment. I'd love to hear from you! I understand if you want to be incognito. I prefer to stay that way too. I'll try to post more pictures now that I've started shooting.

Girls' Stories

I could go on and on about the girls. Each time we visit the homes I walk away with one funny story, or something interesting that happens. So...2 stories.

One of the first times we went to the home I met one of the new girls. She was stern and didn't show a lot of emotion. She didn't know how to make jewelry so she sat with me and worked on some Christmas ornaments. Well the next week when we returned I asked her her name again cause i couldn't remember. She got all mad, saying in Hindi, that i just met her last time and how could i not remember her name. So, I made sure to remember it. 5 minutes later, i was speaking to her and said "Here, Sabiya," she gave me a look and smiled. We were both laughing cause i used her name. She knew. We've bonded.

There are many many languages in India. One of our girls at a home doesn't speak Hindi cause she's from a different region. None of the other girls in the home speak her language, so communication is a real challenge for her. She's become kind of a scapegoat for them. And though she doesn't understand the language she knows full well that she's getting blamed. People are constantly saying, she can't do that. She can't do this...So the girls were signing my arm cause it was Friendship Day. (a holiday) It's just something you do. and of course they're saying, Oh no, she can't do it. She doesn't know how. She even was saying she couldn't, shaking her head. But i encouraged her to try. I figured she could draw a happy face or flower or something. So she copied a few letters from one of the other girl's names. She was very happy. She has an amazing smile. And considering all she puts up with I can't believe how happy she is all the time.

Last story...I hadn't seen my Geeta since I had been here. She's one of my favorite girls from last year. She's been working at a beauty parlor 6 days a week so she's never home when we're there. On Saturday I forgot to ask if she was home cause she hasn't been there yet. So i'm sitting working on a project and I look up and there she was. Of course I got all excited and ran over to her. Communicating the story in words doesn't really sound as good as if you're living it. But we had a few exchanges through translation. I was just glad I got to see her.

Stephanie's taking a Break

GOOD NEWS!

Steph is taking a break! She was suppose to return to India this Monday, but I finally convinced her to stay another week. Su got to take a trip with her friends, and I got my relaxing week in Scottsdale. ;) She hadn't taken a break since, I don't know how long. ...and with Christmas coming, it's going to be a mad dash through the fall.

So on that note, if you hear from her it better not be about work!

Tuesday

On Tuesday we went to one of the homes and we planned to start making a Christmas ornament that my friend Tori had designed. About an hour into it, the ornaments are starting to take shape and let's just say i'm thinking..."I've got to call steph and tell her we better buy that domain name pitypurchase.com cause i don't know how these things will ever sell." The ornaments are little felt mittens that are stitched around the edges. Not too difficult, but it does require straight and careful cutting; a skill most the girls don't have. But they're trying. One of the girls sat down and then got up to go work on something else. She had decided she didn't know how to do it. I called her back and told her I'd help her. A few of the other girls had been working on it, and their mittens came out looking all...let's just say you couldn't tell they were mittens. I smile, and say "great job. Great." and then try to help them get a little better shape and move them onto the next step. Well the one girl that had called back turned out to be amazing. Her mittens were perfect! I was so proud of her! She was too.

One of the girls says to me in her very broken English, "Didi you married?" (it's a really big deal in India.) "no," i said. "No problem." she says. "I pray for boy." i was laughing. she was too.

Jewelry Making

So i definitely have a new found respect for Stephanie and the girls. I don't know how to make jewelry but have had the opportunity to learn more while I've been here. It's NOT easy! It takes me SO long to do anything. I was laughing at myself. Su was laughing too. I'd have it just about right and then it would drop and the whole thing would fall apart. It takes time, patience and skill.

Grant/Vocational Centers

There's a grant that Steph and her mom have been working on. I took a few pictures that I'll submit to go along with it. You can please be in prayer for this. It would be a really great help with starting the vocational centers. We've put looking for a property on hold until we complete our registration. We've been advised that this is the best order to complete things.
Through the OC Human Trafficking Task Force Coalition, we've had a few meetings to discuss involvement working with survivors in the US. They have a great need for vocational training. Looks like we are going to start something in Orange County in the next 6 months. Prayers for office space and a place the survivors can come and work are really appreciated. The main project would be internships with Tori Higa Stationery: the greeting card company that was donated to us 6 months ago. www.torihiga.com

Tea Anyone?

Every morning I make tea or coffee. But the mornings we have to rush out of the house early, i usually don't get to finish so i've poured it in a cup and taken it with me. (Steph gives me a hard time for being a slow drinker.)Well, as you can imagine, Indians aren't walking around with cups in their hands. They have their tea, drink it, and are done with it. But of course, us Americans love our to go cups...lids, etc. So drinking my tea in a rickshaw has been a skill that I've attempted to perfect. You really have to time it right. The pot holes, gear changes, and bumps in the road make it a bit of a challenge. So far there haven't been many spills. One morning I even got Su to bring hers with us. Steph would die if she knew.

Sunita

I've mentioned Su before. I can't say enough about her. She's amazing. She's great with the girls. They really open up to her. She always knows how to handle situations, as you can imagine the things they are discussing with her. There's more that I'd like to say about them, but out of respect for the girls and the caretakers I won't. Considering the circumstances, I'd say everyone is doing all they can.

It's Sunday Funday

So i'm doing my postings for the week. Sorry i wish i could post them gradually, but it's a challenge to get to it during the week. I needed a new addiction and since I don't have my Alias, or 24 dvds here i decided I should give LOST a try. Haven't been a fan. Will let you know if i get hooked.

Trash

The trash man comes everyday. Well he's suppose to. He wasn't coming to pick up our trash and we ended up having a creature visit us. a rat. not my favorite. this was a problem for about a week. until i got some rat cake at the store. He ate it all and hasn't come back. Now I make sure to set an empty water bottle outside to lure the trashman upstairs to pick up our garbage. They recycle the plastic so it has some value. So far it's been working.