Breaks My Heart

Today was such an emotional day. It was truly heart wrenching. On our way to one of the colonies there was a motorcycle accident that we had to go around and we saw them putting someone into an ambulance, but on the way back there was blood on the road. That was just truly sad. I don't know how to describe my feelings today. I pray for him and his family that they will have peace and comfort through whatever happens.

Kaylee, Me & Aubrie on our way to the colony

At the colony, it was amazing. I just love seeing the happiness and smiles on the people and how much they care for us and how thankful they are that we come and help them every two weeks. The last man that had his wounds cleaned was my favorite. His name (I believe) was Joseph. He and his wife were both there and both had huge open ulcers that had to be cleaned and it just looked so painful. After they cut out some of the dead skin and disease from the one on his foot, they went to one on his finger. It didn't look too bad at first. You would ahve thought that they would just cut around the outside, and then clean it and be done. The doctor had to cut inside and move the scissors around inside of his finger and cut out more of the disease. Then she proceeded to push the infection out from inside of his hand, causing him to be in even more pain. This whole time we were sitting there just in silence, Kaylee and I  were holding his hand and rubbing his back while he was wincing in pain, yet being so strong. You could just feel that he was in so much pain and he was so used to it. He has been in pain for so much of his life and he doesn't take pain-killers, he doesn't have anesthesia when they are being cut out of him, and he doesn't cry, complain, or say anything about the pain that he is in. I admire the people on the colonies who don't have a choice but to be there because of a disease that they might have or might just be somewhere in their family history.

Joseph and I at the beginning

This sweet lady helped us to clean out the water after every washing and fill up the water bucket. She was so silly always trying to set us girls up with any single man she could think of! 

I can't help but smile all the time. I don't think I have ever been so happy in my life.

I went to find the bathroom and the lady that was taking me took me to all these different peoples homes to meet and talk to them and it is so sweet they tell me all about their families and it is so hard to understand them most of the time but I just sit and listen, smile and nod and try to pick up whatever I can. She asked me to take a picture of her and I believe these are her children (who I think she said are at Rising Star) in the pictures. 

Joseph and myself. I have so much respect and love for him. I would love to be able to have a real conversation with him and learn about his life. If only I spoke Tamil. One day...

Our sweet driver Anandan talks about his daughter, Privita, to us all of the time. When we stopped in the junction today he went over to her preschool and took her out for a few minutes so that we could meet her! I love how proud he is of her and how much he loves her. She is such a beautiful girl. She was so shy and bashful but I still enjoyed being able to meet her!