Day 3-Our first full day at Happy Home

Last night we all got to sleep in a real bed, for the first time since Saturday night. It was FANTASTIC! :) After spending the afternoon with the kids at Happy Home, the the girls went back to the hotel to clean up, and the boys headed into town with Roshan to exchange some money and buy some water for us all. Side Note to the mom's of the guys on this trip: They are being such gentlemen! Taking great care of all us girls, being protective and considerate, and so very servant-hearted. You mom's taught them well and should be very proud :)
On the way back from town, Roshan got a phone call from Kumar, the man who drove our rented bus from Bangalore to Shimoga. He is a devout Hindu, but expressed a love for the worship and prayer time that he had watched us all have when we first arrived at Happy Home, and wondered if he might come and listen some more. Wow! Ben invited him to come out this morning for breakfast and worship time at Happy Home. He came, and Roshan was kind enough to translate the prayers being offered up, and to give him a Bible written in Kanada (the local dialect). He has not recognized God's love for him yet, but we are all praying for him, and he promised to come again tomorrow. God is so amazing!

So...for those of you who are praying, please remember to pray also for Kumar.

Here is a picture of the crew this morning, with Kumar in the center, between Theresa and Danielle:



And some more pictures from our time playing with the kids yesterday afternoon...

Ben decided to leap onto this coconut tree from the roof of the kids' building(at Roshan's urging, of course).....and then while trying to climb down, sliced his big toe open. :( (Don't worry Danita, he's fine...nothing but wounded pride)

(photo by Tiffanie)




Jeremy Reedal....the gentle giant spent the afternoon one-arm lifting all the kids. I think he probably slept the best last night, due to the sore muscles!



Amanda (in one of Reema's saris) playing clapping games with the kids



Kaitlynn and Gayatri




Ben and Mahalaxmi did quite a bit of dancing during the afternoon


Allison and Chitra tired each other out and needed a nap...


Tiff is probably the most popular with these kids. They absolutely LOVE her (and with good reason, of course!)
(photo by Melissa)

Ben and Madhu, enjoying some sweet picture books
(photo by Tiff)


Today we are going to help Irene mop the entire orphange, get a washer and dryer bought and hooked up (currently they wash their clothes in a bucket and then hang them to dry on lines. Needless to say, it is TONS of work), and just do some more loving on these kids.

Prayer requests: Healing for Ben's toe (ha ha ha), continued health for all of us, wisdom to discern the best way to share God's love with Kumar, and any other people we come in contact with, and lastly, that somehow we would be able to convince Irene to let us actually do some WORK!!


More to come.....



.rebekah