5/17/10

Highlights of the past 2 days:

Avalanche Camp is this week for the girls, but other girls from IJM (International Justice Mission) and girls from a Hindu rescue group called Rescue Foundation came down for the camp as well! A team from a church in Texas came down to lead the camp, but this first day was a day for everyone to become comfortable with one another and tour around Ooty of the day.

• What a treat it was to work with girls from both FF and IJM (since I have been attracted to both of these organizations for a long time)! It was a dream come true! Girls who hardly knew me were affectionate towards me and called me "sister".
• I had a great time spending time with the "American team" (which was actually made up of many Europeans!) too and swapping stories of how they felt called to India.
• Jesus, may you bless this camp--take what little seeds they give you and multiply the harvest like a wild vine!
• Went to the boat docks after coffee* (cough or cake in my case. . . for breakfast with tarrah) and rode a small motor boat in the lovely [sewage] water. (The water is so bad that apparently a few days before all the fish in the lake were "belly up". )
• Went to the Rose Garden (a different garden from the one I went to the other day) and it was absolutely breathtaking! I've never seen so many types of roses in my life!
• Experienced what it's like to have paparazzi--with the white skin, we became part of the tourist attraction; I was asked to take so many pictures to teh point that one of the IJM staff said to charge them... ha, I can see it now. I'm holding up a sign "Rupees for grad. school!"
• Tasty Indian lunch at a fairly clean restaurant!
• Finally saw Mala (first time in what 5 years?!) Tlked with her on the bus ride to her house for the girls to get a taste of "horse therapy". I could frankly see myself as a "Mala wannabee" (she and her husband began FF)--she's simply lovely.
• Horse therapy at the Malsteads--so fun! Helped the girls brush the horses/saddle them up etc and begin to build trust with these once abused animals. Got to lead the horses as they courageously mounted and rode them! For many of the girls, this was their first time on a horse!
• Malstead's home is one of the most beautiful homes on earth, and they deserve every inch of it after living in the heart of Mumbai for 5 years and in Ooty for another 5. In fact, I just learned this is the first house they have ever owned, because they have been renters their whole lives! I am so happy for them!
• Took an auto home for 50 rupees, which means I didn't get "ripped off" (which is more than typical as being a "white" foreigner.