One of the best days of my life, would have to be today! I honestly had very few days in my life that came close to the experience I had today. God is soooo good to us.
I woke up and was really struggling to get out of bed today although I had plenty of sleep last night. We made it in time for mass and had breakfast with the volunteers. I noticed that Sr. Druscilla was loaded some things and I had in the back of my mind that it could of been all the food we packed yesterday.... which might mean that she's headed out today to the village to give out the food. I was really hestitant to ask, but something in me really wanted to see the work that the sisters did, so I got up off my ass and walked over to Sr. Druscilla. "Are you going out to the village today?" ... Yes. "Do you need 2 more people to come along and help you with all the food?" .... Who? " Caitlin and I?" Yeah, sure. Come come. I thought to myself,... Oh my goodness, thankyou God! This will be the coolest thing ever, Caitlin is going to freak out when I tell her! I walked over calmly and sort of whispered so none of the other volunteers would hear. Caitlin, we're not going to Daya Dan today. I have something else in stored for us. What??? We're going to the village! As soon as those words left my mouth, I could see how joyful she was. We both were... and couldn't hide it. Sr. Driscilla told us to finish our breakfast and she'll return to pick us up after all the volunteers left to their sites. So we stayed behind and waited anxiously. We mopped the floor of the volunteer's room while we waited. We mopped it Indian style like the sisters and novists here. With a wet towel... back and forth, back and forth. When we finished and still were waiting we found and I spy book and played that for several minutes. When sister came we rushed onto the back of a huge truck filled with Rice, Dal, Biscuts, and Oil. We carried on a couple benches. There were a couple volunteers that were coming along and besides sitting on the piles and piles of rice bags ... we needed somewhere to sit on our ride back. The ride there was so exciting. I felt as if I was hidding away or something in the back of a truck full of rice bags, with about 15 volunteers and to MC sisters. It was about an hour and a half drive from Kolkata, and during the ride I had a huge urge to take a piss... yes, believe it. I didn't go before and i couldn't hold it. During a stop light I hopped off the truck ran along the sidewalk and peed into the bush. I felt like a total local, because I swear they're peeing everywhere I walk. Anyways, I thought it was exciting enough to share...and I was fast enough before traffic started moving. Well we went to a place called Korea! S. Korea for that matter. So I can tell everyone I've been to Korea. Although it was just the name of the town. It was soooo beautiful there. There were GREENS and less polution! It was great! When we arrived one of the village there was already a huge crowd that was waiting for us. We had no time to waste. Sr. Druscilla gave out earlier in the week to families a card to recieve food with a number on it. We formed a line, collected the card and passed out rice, dal, biscuts, tea, and oil. It was such an amazing experience I couldn't believe what I was doing! I was drenched in sweat and it was just dripping off my like rain as i was handing down the dal. It was hard work but sooooo rewarding. The people that were recieving the food was so thankful and it was beautiful the work of God. God seriously provides for all and it's so easy for us to loose the focus that everything will turn out for the best and God has an ultimate plan and will provide for us. The people we were giving the food out knew that and for myself who had more than enough always loose that focus. Always wanting more and always taking more stuff for granted. Life is too great and beautiful to not share the joy of loving with all we come in contact with.
We dropped off half the food at this village and was on our way to a different village it was a little further into the rual area. When the bus was headed away large group of the children that we just gave food to was running after the bus with the greatest smile on their faces, waving and saying bye, bye, bye! They ran with the bus for about a quarter mile! And was soooo happy and joyful the whole time! It was such a precious moment.
We drove around and got lost for about an hour and finally found the place. Sr. Druscilla looked over at me and said, "do you guys want to see the village?" .........ummm, duh! Is that even a question! I took haste, and followed her into the village and it was the most humbling experience i've ever had in my life. It was so beautifully green. Rice fields in the water and people in it to waist high working the field. There were bamboo tress and all sorts of God's beauty of the earth in one village. The children were naked everywhere and it was the cutest thing ever! Little 2-3 years old naked walk down the street .... by themselves but... towards their home. It was pretty cute. And everyone was just sooo friendly! It was so opposite from the street of Kolkata. There wasn't a single sound of cars for miles and i heard the brids! The air was fresh and the sky was blue! And the people there had such a beautiful white smile with their dark tan skin. They're truly God's blessing to the world. We went through the area where the families expereince flooding up over to half their house and needed some help to get food going for them again. So we went into the areas of the houses walking through calf-high water. It was SOOOO EXCITING! AHHH! I got to speak the little Hindi I knew.... and they smiled and loved it, and talked back. Anyways, while the sister was talking. One of the ladies invited me into her house. And when I say house I mean... room. It was a one room house with a bed. She had two child with her (her grand kids) and their father lived there also but he was at work (rickshaw driver). The room was no bigger than 10 x 10 ft! But it was so comfortable and peaceful as soon as I walked in. They had a shrine for Christ and felt truely blessed. Saying, God's great. If someone that lives in a tiny house, sharing it with 3 others and barely have enough to eat can say God is great... I NEVER should have an excuse to complain to God. Truly God is beyond anything I can fathom and has blested those of the poor to have the eyes to see the beauty of the world. Nothing more pure and innocent was before me that day as I sat and spoke to this older lady. She spoke perfect english and wanted me to come in. "I don't have any tigers or bears... it's okay please come in." Awwww, how could I refuse a cute offer like that. I was bending down starting to take off my shoes since it was covered in mudd. "NO NO NO, come right on in, do not take off your shoes. It doesn't matter." Aww... seriously I was speechless about how this women just wanted to give me attention and make me feel at home and was so selfless. She saw caitlin waiting outside and called her into the house also. She told us of how great God is and how blest she was. We talked a little about her grand kids, and family. She told me she haven't been able to make it to church in a long time because it costs 50 rps to get into town and she can't afford that. Never once have I ever thought of not having the means to go to mass. Sometime I even feel lazy to go and here was this lady that would of loved to spend one day at church but the cost of it was more than she would ever spend for her self when she had to take care of her motherless grand children. God is beyond wonders and has poured out such graces on this lady to give her the joy that she has in such conditions. But honestly, it is I who am poor. What is more valueable? The things we posses materialistically or the things we posses spiritual and morally? I am living in poverty, a spiritual poverty and this lady gave me more than money could buy. More than my plane ticket was worth and more than I could learn on my own in a life time. She gave me the joy of loving, or praising our Lord for everything we have. For being thankful in every situation of life. And having the eyes of God to see, to hope, to offer, and to love.
When we left the village there was a group of villagers that was follow us to collect the food from the main road. In front of me was the cutest little girl, probably about 6 holding her naked 3 years old brother. It was sooo precious and he would always look at us and smile. I locked eyes with him for quite a bit and then it finally broke with a smile. It truly filled my heart with joy and I felt soooo blessed. A lady was offering us her child to take with us, and it moved my heart with great pity. The work that we do... is nothing compared the the Love they had to offer. Love is far more important than wealth but it was so sad to think that a mother, that loves her child so much would offer her child up for a better life knowing that a life in the US doesn't compare to the lifestyle here in the village of S.Korea, India. That the poorest child in the US is the glimps of the poverty here and if I had the means for adoption, i would of loved to adopt the beautiful children here but only letting the parents know that they have so much more to offer. They have such a pure, beautiful love. A love that so captivatig and uplifting and a life style that i would trade for my lifestyle. To rely on Christ and still have the joy in our hearts. Love and joy is something that is so precious and the lost of love is truly the world's greatest poverty. Everything will change if we have love in our hearts. And love isn't love unless it's put into action... our love will consume the world if we begin loving today. All those we come in contact with. Love will build bridges and is the ONLY answer to peace on earth and an end to war. Love must only be given selflessly with the joy of giving. How can I ever begin to learn how to love as everyone here love. I feel so selfish, so prideful, and filled with nothingness by what i've been filling my life with. I must offer this nothingness to our lord... like a broken vessel that God turns into the most useful instrument. We all need much mending and the mending begins in our hearts and in our homes. Love in the US begins to break down in the homes before it does in our lives. As Mother Teresa say "Love begins in the home" and being here I understand why she would say such a thing. The people here are so family oriented and the love they have for each other is reciprocated and overflows to their neighbors and all people they come in contact with.
When we got back to the main road, Caitlin and I were able to hand out directly to those that came for food and it was such a graceful experience in my life. As crazy and chaotic as the lines were ... i had much joy in my heart because I knew God had provided the people the means to have a meal in their time of need. When their crops were flooded and much repair needed to be done.
On our ride back we sang songs in the back of the bus and it was so great! Everyone was filled with joy because it was the joy of giving. And the gift we recieved was love and it consumed our hearts. We sang and clapped to praise songs, children songs, and of course disney songs! Sitting on the benches was pretty insane as the bus was hopping up and down through pot holes, and than the stop and go that jerked us back and forth... but none of us really cared and had such an amazing time with each other. We stopped at Sr. Druscilla's church and had cookies and coffee with the priest, and on the way back Sr. Druscilla and Sr. Rose bought us all Chicken Egg Rolls and sprite which was AMAZING!!! We didn't get back till past 3pm, and the chicken egg rolls hit the spot.
May we only become an example to each other of selfless love and set our lives to the greatest example of selfless love, the example that is before us on the crucifix; the Love of Christ for the world. God is LOVE, so let us become an imitation of Christ.
I woke up and was really struggling to get out of bed today although I had plenty of sleep last night. We made it in time for mass and had breakfast with the volunteers. I noticed that Sr. Druscilla was loaded some things and I had in the back of my mind that it could of been all the food we packed yesterday.... which might mean that she's headed out today to the village to give out the food. I was really hestitant to ask, but something in me really wanted to see the work that the sisters did, so I got up off my ass and walked over to Sr. Druscilla. "Are you going out to the village today?" ... Yes. "Do you need 2 more people to come along and help you with all the food?" .... Who? " Caitlin and I?" Yeah, sure. Come come. I thought to myself,... Oh my goodness, thankyou God! This will be the coolest thing ever, Caitlin is going to freak out when I tell her! I walked over calmly and sort of whispered so none of the other volunteers would hear. Caitlin, we're not going to Daya Dan today. I have something else in stored for us. What??? We're going to the village! As soon as those words left my mouth, I could see how joyful she was. We both were... and couldn't hide it. Sr. Driscilla told us to finish our breakfast and she'll return to pick us up after all the volunteers left to their sites. So we stayed behind and waited anxiously. We mopped the floor of the volunteer's room while we waited. We mopped it Indian style like the sisters and novists here. With a wet towel... back and forth, back and forth. When we finished and still were waiting we found and I spy book and played that for several minutes. When sister came we rushed onto the back of a huge truck filled with Rice, Dal, Biscuts, and Oil. We carried on a couple benches. There were a couple volunteers that were coming along and besides sitting on the piles and piles of rice bags ... we needed somewhere to sit on our ride back. The ride there was so exciting. I felt as if I was hidding away or something in the back of a truck full of rice bags, with about 15 volunteers and to MC sisters. It was about an hour and a half drive from Kolkata, and during the ride I had a huge urge to take a piss... yes, believe it. I didn't go before and i couldn't hold it. During a stop light I hopped off the truck ran along the sidewalk and peed into the bush. I felt like a total local, because I swear they're peeing everywhere I walk. Anyways, I thought it was exciting enough to share...and I was fast enough before traffic started moving. Well we went to a place called Korea! S. Korea for that matter. So I can tell everyone I've been to Korea. Although it was just the name of the town. It was soooo beautiful there. There were GREENS and less polution! It was great! When we arrived one of the village there was already a huge crowd that was waiting for us. We had no time to waste. Sr. Druscilla gave out earlier in the week to families a card to recieve food with a number on it. We formed a line, collected the card and passed out rice, dal, biscuts, tea, and oil. It was such an amazing experience I couldn't believe what I was doing! I was drenched in sweat and it was just dripping off my like rain as i was handing down the dal. It was hard work but sooooo rewarding. The people that were recieving the food was so thankful and it was beautiful the work of God. God seriously provides for all and it's so easy for us to loose the focus that everything will turn out for the best and God has an ultimate plan and will provide for us. The people we were giving the food out knew that and for myself who had more than enough always loose that focus. Always wanting more and always taking more stuff for granted. Life is too great and beautiful to not share the joy of loving with all we come in contact with.
We dropped off half the food at this village and was on our way to a different village it was a little further into the rual area. When the bus was headed away large group of the children that we just gave food to was running after the bus with the greatest smile on their faces, waving and saying bye, bye, bye! They ran with the bus for about a quarter mile! And was soooo happy and joyful the whole time! It was such a precious moment.
We drove around and got lost for about an hour and finally found the place. Sr. Druscilla looked over at me and said, "do you guys want to see the village?" .........ummm, duh! Is that even a question! I took haste, and followed her into the village and it was the most humbling experience i've ever had in my life. It was so beautifully green. Rice fields in the water and people in it to waist high working the field. There were bamboo tress and all sorts of God's beauty of the earth in one village. The children were naked everywhere and it was the cutest thing ever! Little 2-3 years old naked walk down the street .... by themselves but... towards their home. It was pretty cute. And everyone was just sooo friendly! It was so opposite from the street of Kolkata. There wasn't a single sound of cars for miles and i heard the brids! The air was fresh and the sky was blue! And the people there had such a beautiful white smile with their dark tan skin. They're truly God's blessing to the world. We went through the area where the families expereince flooding up over to half their house and needed some help to get food going for them again. So we went into the areas of the houses walking through calf-high water. It was SOOOO EXCITING! AHHH! I got to speak the little Hindi I knew.... and they smiled and loved it, and talked back. Anyways, while the sister was talking. One of the ladies invited me into her house. And when I say house I mean... room. It was a one room house with a bed. She had two child with her (her grand kids) and their father lived there also but he was at work (rickshaw driver). The room was no bigger than 10 x 10 ft! But it was so comfortable and peaceful as soon as I walked in. They had a shrine for Christ and felt truely blessed. Saying, God's great. If someone that lives in a tiny house, sharing it with 3 others and barely have enough to eat can say God is great... I NEVER should have an excuse to complain to God. Truly God is beyond anything I can fathom and has blested those of the poor to have the eyes to see the beauty of the world. Nothing more pure and innocent was before me that day as I sat and spoke to this older lady. She spoke perfect english and wanted me to come in. "I don't have any tigers or bears... it's okay please come in." Awwww, how could I refuse a cute offer like that. I was bending down starting to take off my shoes since it was covered in mudd. "NO NO NO, come right on in, do not take off your shoes. It doesn't matter." Aww... seriously I was speechless about how this women just wanted to give me attention and make me feel at home and was so selfless. She saw caitlin waiting outside and called her into the house also. She told us of how great God is and how blest she was. We talked a little about her grand kids, and family. She told me she haven't been able to make it to church in a long time because it costs 50 rps to get into town and she can't afford that. Never once have I ever thought of not having the means to go to mass. Sometime I even feel lazy to go and here was this lady that would of loved to spend one day at church but the cost of it was more than she would ever spend for her self when she had to take care of her motherless grand children. God is beyond wonders and has poured out such graces on this lady to give her the joy that she has in such conditions. But honestly, it is I who am poor. What is more valueable? The things we posses materialistically or the things we posses spiritual and morally? I am living in poverty, a spiritual poverty and this lady gave me more than money could buy. More than my plane ticket was worth and more than I could learn on my own in a life time. She gave me the joy of loving, or praising our Lord for everything we have. For being thankful in every situation of life. And having the eyes of God to see, to hope, to offer, and to love.When we left the village there was a group of villagers that was follow us to collect the food from the main road. In front of me was the cutest little girl, probably about 6 holding her naked 3 years old brother. It was sooo precious and he would always look at us and smile. I locked eyes with him for quite a bit and then it finally broke with a smile. It truly filled my heart with joy and I felt soooo blessed. A lady was offering us her child to take with us, and it moved my heart with great pity. The work that we do... is nothing compared the the Love they had to offer. Love is far more important than wealth but it was so sad to think that a mother, that loves her child so much would offer her child up for a better life knowing that a life in the US doesn't compare to the lifestyle here in the village of S.Korea, India. That the poorest child in the US is the glimps of the poverty here and if I had the means for adoption, i would of loved to adopt the beautiful children here but only letting the parents know that they have so much more to offer. They have such a pure, beautiful love. A love that so captivatig and uplifting and a life style that i would trade for my lifestyle. To rely on Christ and still have the joy in our hearts. Love and joy is something that is so precious and the lost of love is truly the world's greatest poverty. Everything will change if we have love in our hearts. And love isn't love unless it's put into action... our love will consume the world if we begin loving today. All those we come in contact with. Love will build bridges and is the ONLY answer to peace on earth and an end to war. Love must only be given selflessly with the joy of giving. How can I ever begin to learn how to love as everyone here love. I feel so selfish, so prideful, and filled with nothingness by what i've been filling my life with. I must offer this nothingness to our lord... like a broken vessel that God turns into the most useful instrument. We all need much mending and the mending begins in our hearts and in our homes. Love in the US begins to break down in the homes before it does in our lives. As Mother Teresa say "Love begins in the home" and being here I understand why she would say such a thing. The people here are so family oriented and the love they have for each other is reciprocated and overflows to their neighbors and all people they come in contact with.
When we got back to the main road, Caitlin and I were able to hand out directly to those that came for food and it was such a graceful experience in my life. As crazy and chaotic as the lines were ... i had much joy in my heart because I knew God had provided the people the means to have a meal in their time of need. When their crops were flooded and much repair needed to be done.
On our ride back we sang songs in the back of the bus and it was so great! Everyone was filled with joy because it was the joy of giving. And the gift we recieved was love and it consumed our hearts. We sang and clapped to praise songs, children songs, and of course disney songs! Sitting on the benches was pretty insane as the bus was hopping up and down through pot holes, and than the stop and go that jerked us back and forth... but none of us really cared and had such an amazing time with each other. We stopped at Sr. Druscilla's church and had cookies and coffee with the priest, and on the way back Sr. Druscilla and Sr. Rose bought us all Chicken Egg Rolls and sprite which was AMAZING!!! We didn't get back till past 3pm, and the chicken egg rolls hit the spot.
May we only become an example to each other of selfless love and set our lives to the greatest example of selfless love, the example that is before us on the crucifix; the Love of Christ for the world. God is LOVE, so let us become an imitation of Christ.
8 comments:
Thank you so much for writing your daily blogs. My heart just leaps as I read about your awesome adventures. God is GREAT! What a joyful experience, traveling to the villages and being invited into the humble home of the sweet grandmother. You are very blessed. The people you met in the villages are the purest of the pure (we call them the poorest of the poor? {shame on us}). You are getting what will possibly be the most valuable experiences in your life in India. Continue to spread God's love and reap the joy that it brings!
God bless you, Tuan! Give Caitlin a hug for me.
Dawn
Anh Tuan,
I love you. Wow your day sounds so amazing, nothing like my day. I've just been sitting on the computer catching up on your blogs.:] Reading this blog made me cry I'm not even sure why. I just started crying when I was reading that part about that lady inviting you into her home. I love you and what your doing, honestly I can't stop saying that. I love you Anh Tuan, your in my prayers:]
Dude, I love reading this stuff! Keep it coming!
Dude, what's the temp like over there? I am dying here and I know it can't compare to Kolkata. My dad suggested I wear a sweater to work to prepare myself for August in Kolkata.
Can't wait! God Bless you!
Dawn stone,
I absolutely love getting comments from you!Thanks for keep updated in all that's going on and the love and support you spend out for us through prayers. I think both Caitlin and I realize that this is something more than we ever expected or could pray for. The experience is truly God given and is helping us to see our lives and the world through a different way. thank you, thank you, thank you.... for your love and support. God bless you always and I'll be sure to relay the hug.
hanh,
I'm glad that you're keeping up with my blog. I'm sure the family is too but I don't hear much about it so I love getting comments from home.It makes me smile! I love you dearly and honestly the work that I do here, anybody can do. So don't set me aside from yourself or anybody else. It's just a matter of being moved by love and letting the love take action in your life. I know you have much love to give so begin always loving those around you, even when it's hardest to. Love begins at home and I truly do love you. You're my beloved sister and my prayers goes out to you. Keep up in your devotion to our Blessed Mother and she'll guide you to her Son, our Truly Beloved Lord. I love you sis.
Jacob,
Buddy, my blogs puts me to shame. I'm really hesitant about writing anything on my blog because I know people are reading it and laughing about my grammar or word choices. Now, knowing that you.... a true journalist, is reading my blog .... i'm kind of more hesitate now. haha. But keep me in your prayers. I wish i was as awesome of a writer as yourself. Words, just don't flow well with me. Anyways, keep us in your prayers. God bless man.
Corona -Jones Soda,
What in the world are you doing not over here NOW! come on over! Im anxiously awaiting! The weather is freak'n breeze here. it's nothing to be too worried about. You get so use to it because our hostel don't have air conditioning so, it truly helps us get use to the humidity here quick. It's been in the upper 90's here. But it doesn't feel as bad as you may think. It's pretty polluted. So you don't really get tan or burn. Sometimes when the sun comes out you do. I got a farmer tan yesterday because we were in the village where they had clearer skies. But it honestly isn't that bad here. you never really feel clean though... as soon as you shower and step out of your cool shower, you think that you're not dried off because you become humid and sweaty, while in reality you've already dried off and now it's just.... yuck on you again. But it's great! hahaha. you'll love it here, no doubt about it. It'll take a day or two to get use to but it's not as bad as it sounds. Caitlin said yesterday that it was "cool" and it was in the upper 90's yesterday. So yeah, it's not that bad. you just get use to it.
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