Trip Report
November 19th, 2011
I am home now, typed this while over the Hudson at 2am enroute to Chicago from Delhi. On this trip I was accompanied by my friend Tracy who has a dental practice and who had it in her heart about a year ago to give back utilizing her natural gifts and talents and after spending time at New Life Children’s Home thought maybe these kids needed someone to look at their teeth.
Tracy inquired about the health outlook for the children and more specifically about their teeth and learned there was a definite need for a dentist and so the wheels were put in motion for her to return armed with her tools of the trade and return she did with her trusted assistant Lynn.
At the airport in Visak we were met by Raja who with his wife are the Directors at New Life Children’s Home and Sue and Kim Shroyer who have been in India for quite a bit of time now.
Upon arriving in Yellamanchili we received the customary greetings from the children and then the women promptly went to work preparing an empty room for what would soon become a viable dental clinic complete with makeshift benches in lieu of those all to famous dental chairs which bring forth memories of scraping and grinding and chiseling. Thankfully these kids were resilient and only a few shed tears or expressed as they called it “tension” about lying down and opening wide.
I asked Tracy and Lynn their thoughts of the trip and how they would rate the experience and Tracy said it exceeded her expectations and Lynn gave it a 10. Good news for me as their team leader.
In addition to the dental aspect of this trip I got to witness a 2nd Saturday which is an outreach event put on by Light of Love Ministries, an extension of Light of Love Children’s Home in Tuni. This outreach event involved several physicians providing medicines, diagnosis for simple medical issues to some of Tuni’s poorest population, most of whom can’t afford even 50 to 100 rupees to see a doctor and receive much needed medicines. This event is currently being self-funded at a cost of around $500 a session which covers the medicines and other miscellaneous expenses necessary to pull off such an event. Unfortunately I learned that this will shut down in January due to a lack of funding, so we’ll see what God does with that.
The bulk of my reason for being in India this November was to dedicate 6 water projects, 3 of which were funded from the Water Palooza fundraiser put on by Manchester Park Elementary School in Lenexa.
Each of the project dedications were really unique and truly enjoyable, the reception from the people was amazing and to witness the development that has taken place in the areas where our partner, NASA is working is amazing and to know that the introduction of water will continue to be a key component to that development is very satisfying.
I asked the director of NASA, Dr. Premdas what was it that the rural and tribal village people requested or actually needed to most to provide the uplift they need to move forward in their quest for a better life and the answer quickly came as clean water and financial empowerment in the form of funding for micro enterprise solutions.
I am happy to report that at least 1 of these is covered with water and we are investigating the part we can play as an organization in the latter.
Check back soon for links to video footage of our well dedications and maybe some miscellaneous shots of New Life kids along with links to our Flickr page with well dedication pictures.
Let me end by sharing a simple statement which the dedication plaques posted by Manchester Park read, “Together we can change the world” or maybe it was “Together we can make a difference” , actually my head hurts and I haven’t really slept since Thursday so I don’t remember the exact wording but nonetheless together we can make a difference and change this world of ours. Maybe we can’t fix it but we certainly can join together and bring about significant change and we can do it in small increments and it can be done by our children, the youth and the generation of tomorrow along with today’s generation, together we can make positive life change happen.
I know it because I have witnessed it, so thank you for playing a part and joining me on this journey of saving lives!
Wednesday is done and Thursday is coming!
November 16th, 2011
Wednesday evening in India and we completed 3 bore well dedications today. I was hoping to upload video from these and I was told the internet connection here at Light of Love children’s home was good but I just discovered it is really poor; only 56k so no video until I can get to faster internet.
The journey home begins Friday morning so maybe by the time I reach the Radisson in Chennai I will get video uploaded for you.
Tomorrow our final 3 project dedications occur, all funded by Manchester Park Elementary School in Lenexa and this through their Water Palooza event. I am looking forward to seeing these especially since 1 village is located in a remote area which is supposed to be very picturesque so hoping it lives up to its billing and I can capture it on film.
The trip has been good despite the warm temperatures; shouldn’t complain after all I saw the highs and lows for KS and being in the 90′s isn’t that bad I guess.
Anyway, I picked up an eye infection somehow so that is bothersome but nothing compared to what I see around me when it comes to sickness and disease; I am really blessed.
Met a girl yesterday who had some type of condition which causes her bones to grow abnormally and she has had 2 surgeries which shaved off portions of bone which were causing mobility issues and beginning to protrude from her skin…and here I am uncomfortable with a measly eye infection which drops will handle rather quickly. God help me.
Last thing to share, for some reason I am being paranoid about little 4 footed creatures scampering around, I blame this knew phenomena on Michael Wilson who was with me last month in India and it was he that passed this on to me while in Orissa at a truck stop eating lunch. Ever since then these little creatures have me paranoid. Make matters worse, Sue Shroyer was recently in Bangalore attending a CHE conference and she swears something was nibbling on her earplug which was in her ear while she was sleeping. Now you get why I am being a little uneasy about turning out lights tonight?
Say a prayer for me.
Ok, closing now, hope to get some updates out tomorrow during our well dedications.
Enjoy your day as I hope to sleep tonight :)
Chik-Fil-A Fund-raiser night for Wells for Life !!
November 15th, 2011
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Monday, November 21 · 4:00pm – 8:30pm
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| Location |
Chik-Fil-A, 10770 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, KS (Speedway/Legends)
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The Jewelry Bee
November 7th, 2011
Here is a link to a video being funded by The Jewelry Bee, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_4PoBosU4E
This project is being hand drilled and on either the 16th or 17th of this month I will dedicate it on behalf of the donors. To know more about the Jewelry Bee and their work visit them at http://thejewelrybee.bigcartel.com
Manchester Park Elementary School Well Drilling
November 7th, 2011
Just a quick note to say the drilling is wrapping up for the 3 water projects funded by Manchester Park Elementary School. Here is a link to YouTube where you can check out 1 of the projects – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jFHFw697K8
I leave Thursday for India and either on the 16th or 17th, I will be dedicating these projects and the villagers will be enjoying their own protected water source.
Thanks to everyone who came out and participated in Water Palooza.