Sparks of India

The drive to Mogalvadi was captivating.  The villages, fields and roads seemed relatively clean, and the earth appeared greener.  Although I was clearly still in India, I felt enthralled by the view.  I knew we weren't that far away from other leprosy colonies in our area, yet the world seemed different... it seemed fresh.  After being in India for nearly 2 1/2 months it was high time I made this drive!  According to the stories, there is a legendary man in Mogalvadi who is more than an ordinary man-- he is a dance master!  I had heard of this man many many times, and I had been waiting all summer for this opportunity, for me to finally meet him! The bus pulled onto a dirt road that led to the small colony, populated by only 7 people.  I anxiously and excitedly anticipated my meeting with the dance master!  The bus stopped.  I gathered my things.  The door opened.  Fellow group members disembarked the bus.  I followed...

It was my third time visiting the Bharathapuram colony.  The last time I was there I had the great privilege of helping the medical team with their work.  Today, I wanted to dance!  After taking a little hike partway up the hill, touring the colony with the volunteers, and visiting a few small businesses, we ended up at the old persons home.  This is where the magic happened! Previous to this day, I had always just had people turn on music and we would dance to get, getting as many people involved as possible.  We would typically only get a couple of people to join in on the dancing while the rest of the colony members would enjoy watching.  Today though, I told the people that we wanted to do "exercises", and I brought some scarves along to help with the activity.  I had never seen this amount of joy from the dancing in any colony previous to this!  The movement was so simple, yet the joy on their faces was miraculous!  I was so grate...

This is getting real.  Tomorrow marks the beginning of the lasts for me... I will be returning home in one week, and I can feel it all winding down.  I know I shouldn't think like this, but I think I need to get it all out there so that I can let it sit on the blog while I live the rest of my days here to the fullest.  I know that I am going to miss India terribly, and it makes me sad to think of all of the people and thing that I will be leaving behind... So here is a list of the Lasts that I will be facing during the course of the next week: Last Thursday in India (and every other day of the week after this) Last dinner with a volunteer group Last visit to a leprosy colony Last dance party in a colony Last classes with all of the standards and the Life Dance Troupe Last trip to church services in Chennai Last Fast and Testimony meeting Last Relief Society lesson in half Tamil and half English Last prayer time Last time eating the food on campus Las...

The pain in her eyes caused my heart to sink.  I wanted to save her from this moment.  I wished that I could turn back time and make it so that we would never have to sit on those steps the way we did.  Tears rolled down her cheeks as sobbing pleas of a second chance escaped her mouth.  But we couldn't escape the consequences of her actions.  We couldn't go against our own policies.  We had to let her go. This was the very first time we had to let a member of the current Life Dance Troupe go.  I pray that it is the last.  Due to irresponsible attendance (or in other words, sporadic and poor attendance) and several chances to do better, we had to release her from her contract.  This breaks my heart.  I love this student so much, and I am devastated that it all boiled down to this.   "Decisions determine destiny," teaches the prophet Thomas S. Monson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I don't thi...

My day started with a good series of stretches :)  Nothing too intense, but really good for the back and hips! Susie and I then went to the G House (that's what we call the place where the long-term volunteers live.  It's a good hour away from campus.)  There, I improvised dances on the roof (video coming soon to YouTube!), read from The Alchemist , and ate yummy food!  It was a great time of relaxation and enjoyment :)   We made it back to campus just in time to teach Life Dance, and we had a fairly good class!  It was a bummer that all of our other classes were cancelled today for testing (that's why we got to hang out with the other volunteers), so it was nice to be productive with the Life Dance Troupe :) So... Did you spot it? ;) If you spotted that I wore three different churidhars/shirts during the day then you win!  Congratulations :)  Why did I go though three?  Basically things weren't ...

The little few prelude notes began, and my body was already far into the stage fright realm.  My hands had already developed a slight tremor two speakers earlier, and although I had consumed a fair amount of water, my mouth had run dry and my throat felt as though it was closing off.  My vocals chords were not going to cooperate with me.  Before I knew it, Sister Sophie and I had made it through the first verse and I was to take a brief solo next!  What happened?  I choked my way through it... pausing here, swallowing there, forcing the most timid and awkward tones my diaphragm could muster.  Once I made it through my few lines Sister Sophie took over, and boy, was I grateful!  After hearing her sing with such vigor and passion, I felt hope that I could finish the last verse with strength.  And truthfully... I think the third verse was the best!   But why was I singing?  I was so consumed with horrific thoughts pertaining to my ...

It's like an old swing that served many generations of children as they learned to fly and feel their hearts and stomachs leap with excitement.  It's like that favorite pair of jeans, faded over time from being used so often.  It's like the rough worn hands of a grandfather after years of working and caring for his children, grandchildren, and love of his life.  It's like the beautiful results of hard work and selfless service to others. As I near the end of my time in India, I recognize that there will be many more dance masters after me.  Even Susie will be staying until December, and after her there will (hopefully) be many more!  I feel the transition taking place already, where my position here is beginning to fade and Susie's position is beginning to grow and fill the stage.  Of course I will continue to work hard and give my all until the very last day, yet I sense this transition taking place. Teaching at Rising Star Outreach as a Promethea...