Guitar TIME

Last night Caitlin and I went out to the movies and saw the new Harry Potter movie! I think it's called harry potter and the order of the phoneix. Anyways, it just opened up last night in theaters... I think it opened on the 11th in the States but I know in Ireland it's not opened yet. Caitlin and I met up with the Irish gals... the prepaid for our tickets a head of time and we met up with them and paid them back. Before hand we went to Domino pizza!! yes... believe or not there was a dominos pizza place right next to the movie theater! it was AMAZING!!!!!!! Because the place was air conditioned! Somehow I'm always mistaken here... usually it's as being Japanese but yesterday my name was Mr. Yuant, on my order for my pizza. I'm not sure how you get Yuant out of Tuan but Caitlin and I both thought it was halrious. "I kepted my ticket stub" It's a keeper. Well the movie was really good, just being in the movie theater is amazing and buying a white moco for ... 30 rps and sipping down a warm cup of coffee was great, although it's warm enough already. At the end of the movie I was extremely tired, I felt as if I was going in and out of dreams. It's horrible because both of us were just so dead tired by 10:30 and was dying to get back to the hotel and fall asleep. Actually, when we got to the hotel that was exactly what happened... brushed and fell dead asleep. I fell asleep half way into my rosary... yes yes, I've been procastinating my prayers again till night. I really shouldn't get into that habbit. Well, we both must have forgot to set ours alarms or slept through them... either way, it was a little pass 9 until I woke up and I woke caitlin and we agreed to take the morning off and work afternoon shift instead, since we're late already but both felt bad if we didn't make it to the shift today since tomorrow we're going to try to go to Nabo Jibon instead of Daya Dan. It was so nice to have all morning to relax and go by slow. We had breakfast at Tirupati and had some AMAZING banana pancake! It was freak'n stellar! I love bananan pancake! Today I also bought a guitar! I was trying to go as long as I can without one and seriously I was dying inside. I figured... I pay more on gas in half a week than I would on a guitar here... that i'd use for over a month and if i don't like it than I can always donate it to someone. Although I know the MC sisters have thousands of guitar... a few at mother house and 3 at daya dan that nobody uses but everybody donates so if i were to donate ... it think i'll just give it to a begger on the street so they can resell it... but as of now, i'm growing really fond of the guitar. I missed playing so much and as soon as I got back i just sat for an hour + playing away at the guitar and harmonica. It's great! It was a cheap little green guitar... looks like a Gibson ES hollowbody but plays like crap. Which doesn't bug me because it was 1200 rps with a guitar case, strap, picks, and a set of new strings. I didn't even bother barginning with the guy... impressive huh? Well, I arrived at Daya Dan today and Sr Capita noticed I wasn't here this morning. Seriously the sisters are so cute! They notice when I don't come, and count the days if I'm missing. They ask me when I leave when I'll be back. It's really great... so much love. Sr. Capita and Sr. Christalata... they're amazing! They're the main sisters I talk to at Daya Dan. Today was different because i was working an afternoon shift. the children needs to get out of bed and put into their seats for ... dinner. They wake up around 3:30 or so and by 4:30 they all have their dinner. I fed Bashker today and usually he has an amazing appetite but today he wasn't sallowing his solids so it made it a little harder and took a little longer. Caitlin fed little 4 yrs old Piya. I think Caitlin is growing extremely fond of Piya. She's such an adorable little girl, that has the most contagious smile, but then suddenly brust into tears. But yes yes... gotta love her; Lil' Piya. After dinner I helped the Massi mopped the floor and they laughed and were a little suprised because I was helping them. They thanked me afterwards and had the greatest smile on their face. Some of the children were put back to bed but many of them remained out in the main gathering area. We had balloons that one of the volunteers brought as a gift and blew up several of them. They children were so happy and the massi had so much fun themselves. The sisters were laughing and everyone was having a great time. Many of the balloon popped but to my suprise none of the children jumped or cried when a balloon popped but rather they laughed! It was total opposite from what I was use to in the states... at the sound of a popped balloon ... i usually hear a child cry not long after. But the children here were just sooo excited and intrigued by the texture and colors of the balloon. It was fun! I loved it. When the day was done we headed back to Sudder on the Metro and had dinner at JoJo's. I'm not sure if it's hitting the week or so and Caitlin's stomach is finally kicking in but today at dinner her stomach wasn't feeling so well.. and she had some plain rice. On the otherhand, I was the exact opposite, I finished a whole vegetables sizzler plate with steamed rice to myself! I was pretty impressive and i was happy I finally got my appetite back to do so. Well tomorrow we're going to try to make it to mass at Nabo Jibon and so I must head off and get some rest now if I'm going to get up in time to make the 40 minute bus ride to Nabo Jibon. Take care and God bless everyone!

Teaching

I had a late night last night and both caitlin and I were dead this morning and didn't want to roll out of bed after being able to sleep in yesterday morning. It took us till 7:05 till we got up and we caught the metro over to Daya Dan with breakfast to go. They made our sandwich wrong today... chicken chesse grilled sandwich with tamatoes... I'm not a big fan of tamatoes. Anyways, when I got to Daya Dan I was working in the class room. Today I taught Mongol. He's such a great kid, he's 12 and we were reading Black Beauty today. We finished the last two pages and I found some words he had difficulties with and didn't really understand. So I created a box with the new words and went over them acouple of times and their meanings. Than I made sentences for him with blanks spot that those words are suppose to go into and he had to pick and choose which words fit where in the sentences. He did extremely well on that. So I Had him do a mulitple choice question... I created sentences using the words incorrectly and one using it correctly and he had to find which one was correct. He didn't have a hard time with that and did far better than I expected. So I asked him create his own sentences using the words in the word box. Mongol was stumped, it took him a while and he didn't want to do it. He kept saying.... "you do it, let's do more multiple choice" ... this and that. Anyways, I told him that i'll give him extra points if he creates his own sentences. I didn't even know I was keeping points but for some reason the word extra point motivated him. And so when he created his own sentences I drew two stars on his paper by the answer rather than one. Sr. Druscilla and Sr. Karina came today to visit Daya Dan and the children were really happy. I got to show Sr. Karina what Mongol learned today and she was quite happy. We than did multiplication and went through our 6s. After class I went downstairs and help lead music time for the children, it was such a great music class today. I think everyone was showing off because Sr. Druscilla and Sr. Karina was here, but either way the children were enjoying themselves. At noon I had my Austria friend, Mickael and a couple of the french gals walk Caitlin back to Hotel Maria because i had to stay behind for class till 3. An extra 3 hours. Sr. Karina dropped off some I Spy books for Mongol and we spent about an hour playing I spy. he loved it! I enjoyed it myself. We than did some puzzel of geography and played some math games on the computer. It was an amaznig day and extremely fun. Today was a great learning experience for myself.
Well, I hate to cut this blog short but I'm suppose to meet Caitlin back at the hotel room in half an hour and it's about 7 which means... it's been half an hour. We're going out to catch Harry Potter but yesterday we saw a dominos pizza place near by and want to grab dinner their before the movie... it's 110 Rps for 2 pizza there!!!! That's amazing! Anyways... I got to get going! Take care and God bless.

A special someone

God places into each and everyone's life many joys and wonders.
He gives you peace and comfort; the reasurrance that everything will be alright.
He blesses your life with love; Love that never ceases giving and takes delight in loving.
He becomes hidden as a treasure in those he truly loves
And reveals himself to you through them.
God truly provides his love in friendships,
His love through caring,
Forgiving, listening,
And rejoices with joy when He finds you happy in Him,with Him , and through Him.

My Lord, the great Giver of Life; has blest me ever so.
He's filled my life with many moments of joy
The comforting peace He's given me through the comfort of a friend,
reassuring me that everything will rest in the comfort of Our Lord, if we offer it up to Him.
That God will provide.
He's blessed my life numberously with overflowing selfless love;
A love that never cease giving and constantly loves loving everyone she's around.
I've found Christ through one of the greatest treasure; the gift of friendship.
Through the bond of friendship
I've learned to love Him more, be with Him, and live through and for Him
I've learned to how to care for others, and feel cared about.
I've learned to forgive and ask for forgiveness
I've learned to listen rather than to speak for he's given me an example of a great listener.
So, i come in thanks to the Great Giver.
For giving such joy, such love and such graces to me
Blessing me constantly with His Love;
That i find through my friendship,
in a glimps of a smile, in tears, laughters, and through the beautiful eyes
that reveals and capitvates the beauty of the world.
Thank you Lord, for my best friend.

Yuca- Sunshine,
I know you read my blogs every morning and some days you should feel more special than others. In your case you should always feel special. Thank you for your love and support. Happy 7 months! May you rest in the arms of comfort of our Blessed Mother and may she lead you to her Son, so we may become united while we're apart through prayers and service of Love to others. I'm proud of all you do. God bless and thank you for blessing my life. ( i know how much you dislke being put on the spot but I thought I'd let everyone know how amazing you are.) And you only dislike it because of your humility... so be thankful! you're truly blessed and loved. Ohhhh yuca.

Chillin out chillin out

It's a thursday, which means volunteers day off. So do you know what that meant for Caitlin and I.... we didn't have to wake up early this morning (although it's sad because we miss mass at 6) but it was soooooo glorious to sleep in! We slept intill about 9:20 am, and it felt AMAZING compared to getting up at 5am. It just felt so great waking up without an alarm clock. I got up and showered and i think i woke caitlin up by my horrific singing in the shower. Anyways while brushing I looked over at caitlin and said, "you know what I'm in the mood for?" ....What ? " An Egg Cheese Grilled Sandwich with Mango juice!" ..... are you kidding me? That was exactly what I was just thinking about!!!! "Fresh and Juicy?!" .... oh yes! Hahah, anyways we went out to grab breakfast at fresh and juicy and got Mango lassi instead and OOHHHH BUDDY was that yummy! Everyone have got to try Mango Lassi at least once in their life. Just image how delicious the mangos are here already... now put a little yougurt into that and make it into a smoothie.... "i'm in heaven....I'm in heaven"Seriously it was great! Our day is pretty slow going today. I made sure I called home and Sara today. Sadly my phone call was cut short because there was a huge line of anxious spanish gals that was waiting on the phone while I was talking to Sara. Anyways, I'm not really sure what we're going to do today. Probably some laundry, and I usually try to write on thursdays, read, and I think Caitlin wanted to go out and just relax at the movie theater so we're going to go catch Die Hard (again, for me) tonight, although tomorrow Harry Potter comes out and I know since I last saw Die Hard I planned to go see Harry Potter with the Irish when it comes out, so Caitlin and I may catch another movie tomorrow also. It's so great... to go to the movies here though! It's so relaxing, cool and breezy, and it's funny to watch the people cheer during scenes. Plus you can buy amazing coffee from Brista next door and bring it in, or chips and snacks for cents and pennies. Compared to the US cinemas that costs .... what, $9 something now? Well well, sorry there's nothing too exciting going on today for me to blog about! But please email the excitment in your days. I'm sure you guys have some fun summer stories. I just feel so disconnected.... have sympathy on this poor lonely soul. hahahaha. I'm just kidding but I do miss everyone! And wish you were with me!

The Village

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.