I have taken SOOOOO many pictures since I have been here so it was hard for me to think of a "theme", if you want to call it, of pictures to upload today. I decided to go with raw, uncut, sad , REAL pictures of what is going on EVERYDAY not only in India but all over the world. The pictures of the children along side some pigs estanding in piles of trash and sludge and human feces, yes that is where they live. Tarps for roofs, various types of unstable, unsanitary and unfathomable floors that they sleep, play and LIVE on, on a daily basis; sheets for walls, no toilets and the list goes on. What makes this particlular situation so sad is many of these families did not foolishly waste their money away on drugs and alcohol, they are not too lazy to work, they are in a "class", NO I take that back they are BELOW all casts in India. They are also called the "untouchables" and when you google Dalit this is how they are described: Not to be touched, out of reach, unobtainable, loathsome or unpleasant to the touch, a member of the class that is excluded from or considered unclean and defiling, beneath all four Hindu Castes. Due to the discrimination they face on so many levels-almost every level infact, they do not have access like others to education and medical facilities and cannot live or work where ever they please. Things are VERY rough for them and what shocks me the most is their endurance, the smiles on their faces, their love for eachother. Many people are so focused on the racisicm of the past that we forget that it is still going on today, within a society shunning their own people. Why is my typing so small now?? what on earth?
This is an interesting page I stumbled upon when reading about them: I still am really bad with this blogging thing so yu probably are going to have to copy and paste the link, I need to take a class when I get home on how on earth to be at par with most 8 year olds on computers these days :)
http://navsarjan.org/navsarjan/dalits/whoaredalits
Here was another quote I read on National Geographic website: "More than 160 million people in India are considered "untouchable" - people tainted by their birth into a caste system that deems thrm impure, LESS THAN HUMAN." <--------- OKAY that is what blows by mind! It all makes me absolutely ILL but Less than human!?!? Who is anybody to make such a decision? Have you seen the precious faces on these amazing Dalit people? I truly have never met such respectful, friendly, intelligent people in my life. They are eager to help you, eager to please, EXTREMELY respecful and kind and VERY intelligent, when I was working with the students we were all absolutely blown away with how brilliant these children are, many in which have had little schooling up to now. Moral of my story, if you think you got it rough, most likely someone always has it worse. I was all up in arms before we left out here because I couln't find my favorite mechanical pencil, the right shade of lip stick and if my sweet peas would die when I was gone, well you know what, I need to get over that! I need less, my kids need less, we all need less! Bada-bing bada-boom-spring I mean summer/fall cleaning donation hall when I get home-for REAL!
DON'T worry folks, I will post some cute smily face children tomorrow and some happy times, I won't post sob stories every day, but this is real, I am seeing it with my own eyes, I am not exeagerating and I am going to keep spreading the word and keep it coming. We gotta make a difference people, we need to leave a beter world for our children! The ONLY thing that gives me peace in this nutso world is my man Jesus, because I worry about the world, my kids, my families health, and 8764876 other things, if I didn't have Jesus I swore I thought our plane was going to crash on th way over here and my kids would have no parents SOOOo what I say OVERRRR and overrr in my head is GOD is in charge and a verse I can't live without and my lovely mom reminds me of constantly:
Philippians 4:6-7
New King James Version (NKJV)
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
SO thats all folks! Tomorow is the last day we see our amazing children until our next excursion out here so I am going to be sad but I know Jesus will be watching over them so I will pload some fun happy picture of all the ridiculously cuteeeeeee amaiznf special kids!!!! I am falling asleep...good night!
One of the many beggers that come to your car window and do not leave, they tap on your window, many with injured babies and very sad situations.
At one of the 40 schools built in the last 5 years by OM, these children came from the slum villiages pictured above and as you can see they are in their uniforms, proud, eager and ready to learn! I am very honored to work with such an astounding organization! Let's give some props to the parents as well, we can see the conditions they are living in and their chilren showed up to school that morning looking pretty snazzy in their cute little uniforms ;)
ps...soory for all my typos and typing errors, I am tired and on 12 hr time difference and figure that you will catch my drift ;)
This is an interesting page I stumbled upon when reading about them: I still am really bad with this blogging thing so yu probably are going to have to copy and paste the link, I need to take a class when I get home on how on earth to be at par with most 8 year olds on computers these days :)
http://navsarjan.org/navsarjan/dalits/whoaredalits
There were many pigs, wild dogs, chickens, cows and who knows what else partaking in the sludge pile where the families live. They have to eat too right? Jeez louise
