Update #5 - India!

I can't really believe this is the last blog post I'll do out here - where have the last 7 weeks gone?! Seems absolutely crazy that it's all coming to an end, but I've had the most amazing time out here and I've loved it so much.

The last week has been really good, it was really sad to say goodbye to the DCC kids and staff - we all went to Marine Drive after work on my last day which was so lovely. We had an all staff prayer meeting on the Friday so we got to see everyone and say goodbye and how grateful we were to Oasis. We also took a lot of photos with everyone! 

On Saturday, we went to Sanjay Gandhi National Park which apparently is the biggest national park in a city, in the world - pretty cool! It was so gorgeous and green. Then we had our last sunday at Avatar church, and I had a really good chat with people who work for IJM (human trafficking lawyers). We then went on a mini break to Khandala! It was about 2.5 away from where we lived, and it was one of the most gorgeous places, the scenery was just breathtaking. It was pretty rainy for the 2 days we were there, but we did get a chance to have a walk around (before a scary Indian man shooed us away). The bed was the most amazing bed I have ever slept in - slept for a whole 12 hours and it was beautifulllllll! Really hope my bed at home feels like that.

We've then come back, been packing up, buying last minute presents and seeing people last minute - our flight is on the 31st at 1pm and we get back at 6:30. So weird to think I'll be back in England soon! I feel ready to be back home, just not sure if I feel ready to leave India yet.

I've learnt so much about human trafficking - the real effects of it, and seeing real people and real lives. It's opened my eyes a lot more to see the injustice in this place, and how much more needs to be done. I've learnt a lot more about myself and become more confident in who I am and what I can actually do. I've learnt a lot more about God, in trusting in him and his plan, and just seeing how much he's been with us the past 7 weeks has been incredible.

Thank you to all the people we've met here - to those working in Oasis who made us feel like a part of their family, to all the really lovely people at Avatar who helped us in so many different ways and helped us to settle into India, thank you to Beth who has managed to put up with me for the last 7 weeks (Goodness knows how she's done that?!) and thank you to all the lovely people back at home who have supported me out here, whether financially, or sending me emails and messages of encouragement!

Update #4 - India

Before I say anything, I want to apologize for the overdue blog post, it's been two weeks since I've written anything! Life has been incredibly busy and fantastic at the same time. Really finding it hard to believe I have only 11 days left in this beautiful country.

Generally at weekends we've been exploring the area more, been to see gardens and beaches and done a lot of shopping. We've had so many people run after us trying to sell us things, and it's been hilarious! I've also been proposed to / had people planning my marriage out here, the fear of my mum that I'll come back married may actually come true ;)

At the DCC, I've been doing admin and playing/teaching kids which has been really great. The staff there are so encouraging and continually saying how grateful they are for the work I do, and that's been a massive blessing and makes all I do seem worthwhile. I've had kids jump on me as soon as I walk into a room, and seeing them smile just makes me heart melt. My dad joked that I'd come back off the plane with Indian children and if it was possible - I actually think I'd take them all home!

Monsoon has been crazy, one day I was walking in a lake up to my knees all the way to work just because it had been raining so heavily! I've been teaching myself Hindi lately, I've got bits of the alphabet down and can say some more random phrases which is cool.

We've had some rickshaw issues, and on one occasion where it should have taken us 5 minutes to get somehow, there was a miscommunication and it took an hour. We crossed motorways and did so many uturns and was a tad stressful!

Had a moment when I was walking through the Kamathipura, the red light district where I work and kids and women recognised me and miles at me - and realised regardless of what I thought, I was having an impact on these people and this place. Despite the fact I speak virtually no Hindi and I'm here for 7 weeks, I can still have an impact on the people here which was massively humbling.

God's been so faithful whilst we've been here, so many prayers have been answered and shown us his love despite all the injustice that's right in front of our eyes. It's been amazing to see how he's working through so many people who I work with and have encountered out here!

Big love to you all xxx

 

Update #3 - India

A lot has happened since the last time I wrote on here, seems crazy that it's only actually been one week. Last weekend, we did some touristy things like Elephanta Island (which contains no elephants) but had lots of monkeys and market stalls and a really gorgeous view! We also went for dinner at the Taj Mahal hotel which was absolutely amazing and we felt so out of place there but had some gorgeous curry. Then on Sunday we went to church in Bandra and then went out to lunch with 20 people from church, some who we knew from Oasis and some who we didn't. We also explored the beach near us which wasn't amazing as far as beaches can go, but it was nice enough to see the sunset.

I spent half the week at the Dadar office, typing up a 418 page survey from 275 people about setting up a new training centre. It wasn't the most stimulating thing to do ever, but it was helpful for them because they can't type as quickly and usually pay for other companies to do it for them. Also means that they can research more into making a training centre to teach computer and English skills to help teenagers into getting a better education and a better future.

Thursday I was back at the DCC, and because of staff training I was playing with about 10 different kids all day - although I was exhausted it was so much fun. We did colouring and games and played hairdressers and played this weird pool type game and played with puppets. It's weird how I've actually only spoken a few words of Hindi to them but they know and trust me. They call me Deedee which means sister, which is similar to how you'd call someone Aunty. I know I'm not meant to have favourites, but there are two beautiful sisters who just make my heart melt everytime they smile. It took a bit of time to get then trust me and play with me but they are the cutest girls in the world! I can't put pictures up online, but trust me when I say they are beyond adorable.

It seems slightly unconnected, doing a lot of admin work or playing with kids and human trafficking, but I just wanna explain a little bit, just in the whole purpose of Oasis/DCC/me being here.

The DCC has set up a lot of prevention programmes in order to stop kids being trafficked. The newest one is called Early Encounter which is to stop kids from being trafficked at train stations by targeting traffickers. They've set up night shelters for girls to stay someone overnight in a safe place. They work with teenagers to either get them in school, or go with them to get jobs. They're looking after and teaching kids who have grown up in brothels. This is just the last year of only one project, and Oasis has 8 projects. I've only got a tiny part to play in all of this, but by doing admin work, I'm helping projects being set up and doing official documents that need to be written up. And playing with the kids, whether we understand each other or not is irrelevant because I'm having a positive impact on these kids and loving them.

As of tomorrow, we're half way through our time here and I cant believe how fast it's all going. But really enjoying everything, and falling more and more in love with India!