Jesus Love us Priscilla

Since it was the holidays, there was a local church concert happening for the boys to sing (one sings and the other plays guitar). The problem was that one of us had to stay back and watch the kids and one could go to the performance.

In my normal Priscilla way when I do not want to argue or start any issues, I just get quiet. He knew I spent time with the boys practicing and I was a Christian woman visiting who would love the experience. He saw in my face that I was disappointed and he said, “Ok how about you go and enjoy with them.”  


I had to go to the pharmacy for saline solution so Lakith(older boy 16) drove me by bike. He is the only one with a pretty nice bike-he repairs bikes and his brother owns a garage.  

My little Autistic friend, Sanjit rides the bike along with us. They stand outside and wait for me and I said I will take a walk and come back… 

The rule that I was suppose to follow and wanted to follow was that I would only eat and drink food inside the NGO-no temptation for others with outside food ,which I would never want to do to the kids. Well, I cheated on my first day and got a fried plaintain. There is a place with lots of people crowding around and they have fried cheese and fried plaintains….plaintains I just can’t resist so I had one. The guy was laughing as I could not decide and was just staring at the window and what people were eating. I passed by the market to also get a few oranges. The man opened up an orange and we both shared it. He said that it was sweet and guess what it was!  

“Bye madam come back again, I have some pomegranate for you!” 

 
I walked back to the NGO bringing some fresh oranges for everyone (these were probably just picked from a tree).  It was time for Ragu’s dinner and I was late. They asked me, “Where were you? We were waiting for you.”  

Oh no the guilt of me eating the plantain and talking to more locals. I apologized and then we all said a prayer preparing to eat dinner in the dark with our silver tin plates (my favorite). It was fried pakora, panji, and rice. It was a bit heavy, but quiet tasty. I sat with the boys for a bit talking. They said they love to stay up together and have talks about cars, religion, bikes, and their plans for the next day. No tv, no phone, no communication with the outside world-very isolating for 6 teenage boys, but they loved each other’s company and most importantly they loved Jesus.    

The next day I woke up to mosquito bites and ducks quacking. It was always nice having this farm life with all the adorable animals. It was an interesting day because the director was not there so I was in charge.  

In the afternoon, a nice couple came and delivered bags of hygiene products that said, “Jesus loves you.” The kids were just so happy and were running up to me to show their packages. We played simon says and did some more English games-bringing my energy levels up and up for the kids. The boys really followed along while the girls would  check in and out during activites. I would ride the bike around with my favorite little one (no one is ever supposed to pick a favorite kid), but mine was such a doll. He went to private school and his dad would come and drop him off after school for a few hours. He was so quite, shy, and well behaved and when we saw each other, he would look in my eyes with this bashful smile and I my eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. I would run off and hug him and no words needed to describe that moment-just a feeling that was so pure and precious.  Him and the other boys would collect leaves and count it out like it was rupees and then the cars would be counted as change. It was like some Indian version of monopoly.  

It is truly incredible how children respond to me…while I know there is a gift with people…I never expected this bond with children to just keep growing stronger with age. I did not spend a lot of time with them, but they were so receptive to my words, my voice, my instruction, and lessons. Any country or any city I volunteer in or even just walking down the street and playing futbol with the boys in a neighborhood- they are attracted to my warmth and can detect my old age, but my young heart with a sense of curiosity and wonder.  

   

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