Rising Star Outreach -- Day 2

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So today was the first day at the outreach.  We woke up early this morning, a little earlier that we were supposed to since I misset the alarm.  That was no fun.  They picked us up and off we went in a car without A/C for a two hour ride. (and shhhh, don't tell April, but there were no seat belts inside the car, that was a little freaky!) We finally reached the outreach and went and setup our rooms.  They are rather decent accommodation   There is even A/C in the rooms, when there is power which seems rather spotty right now.  We have to quickly unplug electronics as soon as the power goes out since it will spike when it comes on.  After a quick orientation, it was time to meet the kids.  That was really neat.  We first went to play with the UKG, the young kids.  After a few minutes of staring at the kids we jumped in and started to play with them.  They all come running up to us and grab our hands and run off with us to play a game or swing them or something.  They were a riot, they had a blast and we had a blast.  From playing tag, to swinging them, to going down the slides with them.  We were roasting, sweating, but that really did not matter cause we were truly loving these kids.  Then we took a little break, and then to play time with the entire school.  That was really neat.  Some thing as the UKG group.  They all came running up to us wanting to play something with them.  One of the kids picked up a top to a tin, like the  type of tin the Danish cookies come in, and we played frisbee with it for a very long time.  What impressed me most was that kids of all ages wanted to play and they were totally allowed to.  When one would walk up and want to participate, they would automatically allow them in to play.  No pushing them away or telling them that they could not participate.  It was 100% genuine and lovely.  This is the way it is here.  The kids all work together and get things done together.  It is really amazing.  After play time, they broke us into groups and we went to one section of kids for prayer time.  There were 20 kids in 4 houses for the boys, we can only go into the boys house.  We walked in and they were singing a Tamil song, that went on for some time.  Then we knelt in prayer with the kids.  I had the opportunity to do the opening prayer.  What a neat expirience, on a cement floor, in the middle of India, with truly humble surroundings to kneel in quite prayer to our Heavenly Father, there was a special spirit there.  Then we sang "I'm bringing home my baby bumble bee" with the kids, including an extended version that included puking up the bee and then sweeping it up, new to me, but OK :).  Then we shared with them about us.  Carl gave a story about the tiger's whisker.  Then We talked to them about respect.  Then we went around the room and each kid, if they were younger gave us their favorite animal, if they were older what they wanted to become.  In their eyes, they knew that they could become anything.  This was so neat.  This outreach provides them with more then they could ever get.  It is an amazing blessing for them and their families.  We then finished the night on top of the hostel house for dinner where we gave out highs and lows.  My low: setting the alarm for the wrong time.  My high: playing with the kids, particularly frisbee, because they were so giving of their all to others.  A trait I really need to learn in my path of Christ-like living.  

From Little Carl's thoughts:
It is a neat experience.  I watched as children with nothing played and laughed.  Sweat dripping of of my brow went almost uncontested as I played with the kids, seeing that they knew that it is what is inside that counts.  Not one unkind word was spoken in the course of the entire recess.  And the children love God with all their tiny hearts.  I know that they will be counted as the children of him.