Reassurance for My Calling

June 29, 2012 was the first real day in Hyderabad, India. We woke rather early and enjoyed breakfast at the cafe next door as usual. We left immediately to pick up supplies that were in storage at a friend's house. These items include a counter-top burner for our kitchen, plates, cups, crafts, etc. for the whole week. It was nice to see the apartment of this friend because it reassured me that I could live in Hyderabad. He was American and had moved there because of work. He and his family loved it enough to want to stay. They asked for an extension in India. He is now looking into starting his own business. We loaded everything on top of the bus and headed towards Peace Home to see the children from that home and from Eternal Joy.

Loading Up the Bus

The drive to the homes is always humbling because we see the situations some people are in. As can be seen in the photos, there is so much poverty.

Heart-Breaking

I heard that the group would be spending time with these homes later in the week and I had to leave India early for the wedding I was in so I made sure to give the children the gifts I had made. They loved them! When we arrived they all remembered me. Gopi called out my name. It was so good to see him again! Even though I have seen it multiple times, it always strikes me that these children sleep on the concrete floor and that the "kitchen" is a kitchen.

Peace Home Children

Beautiful Orphan Girl

"Kitchen" at Peace Home

Bedroom at Peace Home (Sleep on Floor)

New Rooms for More Children

Raju Holding the Pictures I Gave Him

Me with Eternal Joy

Me and Gopi

We weren't able to stay long because of all the traveling we had to do. Our next stop was Eternal Joy to see the house parents. Most of the children were at school so we saw them with the Peace Home kids. Eternal Joy has some physically and mentally handicapped children who were at the home so it was nice to see them again.

Manoj Posing

Madhuri Relaxing

Next stop for us was Mercy Home. It is about an hour and a half drive from Eternal Joy. Even though we were traveling so much that day, we got to relax on the bus and got to know each other better. When we arrived at Mercy Home, we unloaded everything immediately. All of the supplies had to go upstairs into a locked room because we wouldn't be staying at Mercy Home until a couple of days.

Unloading at Mercy

I went across the street to see the boys at their home. I heard a bunch of them yell "Adam!" They all ran over to me. I had a crowd. They were so excited to see me and I was elated to see them again. There was a lot of hugging and smiling. They asked me when I would play with them. I had to tell them in a couple of days even though I wanted to right then and there. I knew we weren't planning on staying long so I said I would see them soon and went back to the group. We were waiting for everyone else for a little bit so we took some funny pictures by the bus.

Car Modeling

I was so excited for the next stop, House of Compassion. I had been thinking about seeing Chandu and Ganesh for such a long time. I would have days at home where Chandu would just pop into my mind. I always wonder during a moment like that if he is thinking of me also and that's why I thought of him. It is incredible to think about making connections with people 8,000 miles away. Not only that but also in a country with over a billion people.

When we arrived at House of Compassion I pretty much sprinted out of the bus. I had to see them. Chandu was the first out of the house as usual. The house parents always let the children know when Back2Back will be coming so they had been waiting on us to arrive. Chandu must have been anticipating our arrival. He saw me and got so excited. His face was beaming! He came over to me and held my hand. They led us into their place. Chandu directed me to a chair that was the closest to him. Others were trying to get me to sit in a chair closer to them but Chandu said no. They had just moved to a more comfortable house even though it wasn't the new one that Back2Back was helping build. They were saving money by living in this house compared to the other one they were in. The children sang songs for us as a greeting.

Chandu, Dayasgar, Suman, Ganesh

Me, Ganesh, Chandu

Our time was limited with the children. I wished it could last a lifetime. Back2Back staff wanted photos of some gifts that were bought with money from the organization to report back home. As they were doing that, I went to the bus to get the photobooks I had made for Chandu and Ganesh. I presented them to Chandu and Ganesh in their language. I will always remember the smiles on their faces. It looked as if I had given them a piece of gold or something. The photobook was filled with pictures from my last trip. It had pictures of them alone and some with me as well. They couldn't believe that I wanted them to keep the books. They were showing everyone what they had gotten. They wanted a picture with me. Of course I said yes. I feel like they are my sons.

Ganesh, Me, Chandu

We finished up taking some photos of some of the children with their gifts. Chandu and Ganesh asked me when I would see them next. I told them Tuesday, which was several days away, the last full day I would be there :(

House of Compassion Children with Their Gifts

We headed back to the hotel, had dinner, and went to bed. It had been such a great day!