Pictures!

I just wanted to post a few more pictures!

Things are going well, but we are anxious to get working with the kids!

There were strikes in the slums today so we were not able to make it in to where the schools are located. We will try again on Wednesday. Please pray that these children are protected in the midst of these strikes.

Welcome to Delhi!

I am finally in Delhi! We flew in on Monday and have been spending the last few days getting situated. I met my new roommate, Vinita, and she is wonderful. She is from the US as well and she speaks Hindi which will be a huge help for me! Jennifer has been getting us familiar with the area around us and with the people we will be working with.
Yesterday we were able to visit the slum schools me and vinita will be helping in. The organization I am working with, Hope Alliance, supports these schools through a local Pastor and his family. Seeing these children in their surroundings was an indescribable sight. At one of the schools the classes were held in two rooms about 8' x 8' with about 50 children in each sitting on the floor. The teachers are volunteers and are usually from the slum area themselves.
Another slum school nearby was located in the ragpicker community. These people collect trash and bring it back to this area where they search through it in hopes of something they can get money with; usually about 10-30 rupees a day (about 50 cents). The "school" was set directly in the middle of this area. The children gather on a mat outside while the teacher uses a small chalkboard. They are provided with a snack each day which may be the only meal for most of them.
It's hard to believe that there are people that live this way when we have grown up with a roof over our head, food in our stomaches, and people that love us.
After this week I will be in more of a routine and will actually be able to work with these children. Everyday I thank God for bringing me here and I am so blessed by all my family and friends who are praying for me.

Oh! and the pics are from the slums!

I made it!!

I can't believe I am finally here... well sort of here :) I flew into Khatmandu, Nepal on January 13th and I will fly into Delhi on the 21st. I came here first to await the arrival of the family I will be working for.
This country has some similarities to India, but a lot of differences as well. There aren't as many people flooding the streets as in India and the people have a different look to them. I've been staying with another girl my age who is here for a few months doing website design work for Project Rescue. She is very nice and we have been able to keep each other company!
The poverty is indescribable. Imagine a poverty stricken area in America... some ghetto in the city where the buildings aren't kept up and there are many homeless. Take that image and picture it 100 times worse. Now span that image across an entire country. That's what it's like here and in most 3rd world countries.
It's been very cold and they have no heat in their homes and their electricity shuts off twice a day for 3 hours. But I've managed to keep warm for the most part!
The food has been very good... well I've only been to restaurants that serve American food...but it's delicious :)
There is too much to describe in one post. I will do my best to keep this site updated with blogs and pictures.
Until next time... enjoy the nice warm greeting of American heated homes!