For some reason, my 5.00 am wakeup call came at 5.45 am this morning!  Unfortunately too late to make it to the Mother House for mass as the doors close at 6.00 am.  The night security man makes the wakeup calls so I am not sure what happened today!  We will have a talk tonight.

Today was the last day for Nathan and Anand so we sang our "Thank you, Miss you, Love you" song to them.  As many of the volunteers are ending their time in Kolkata, many new faces arrive every day.  This morning at Kalighat, I passed breakfast plates out and then went around serving the ladies chai tea.  It is always good to see their faces.  Then I was on to washing dishes, laying laundry out, and sewing buttons and button holes on night gowns.  There were five of us asked to sew and it was rather interesting.  I do not think I have ever sewn a button hole before!  We finished a huge pile and the Sisters were pleased.  Folding laundry and dish duty and it was time to go.  The morning just flew! 

On our way out, a number of us stopped for fresh coconut milk.  The man has a machete and with one swift chop, the top falls off and he inserts a straw.  The milk was very sweet.  He then proceeds to chop the coconut meat out for you.  As we walked to the metro, I offered the coconut meat to five people holding a hand out along the way.  None of them wanted it.  A long term volunteer made the comment that they do not want anything they can not resell or that is not money.  I am not sure about that, however the sixth one accepted and ate it. 

A number of us had lunch together and I ordered a vegetable burger which came with the first piece of lettuce I have seen over here.  It also came with a chunk of butter.  It was very good however a bit rich with all the butter.  Then it was off for a quick shower and finally, back to Shishu Bhavan today!!

There are a number of ladies from Spain who recently arrived in Kolkata and are staying at my guest house.  Carlotta, first day and from Spain, and I headed out to be with the children.  I had heard from the other volunteers that the children were in the middle of a special novena and it was quite an experience!  That was an understatement!! 

When I arrived, they were in the process of putting matching brightly colored dresses on all the little girls, and bright blue shirts with blue shorts on all the little boys.  The girls also had their hair done in pony tails and they wore bright bracelets.  They looked adorable!  Imagine getting about 60 children ready at one time!  Shoes were everywhere!  They were all smiles and very excited.  And I was too as I was given charge of little Ringku.  Once we got the leg braces on, it takes us some time as she really giggles when you blow on the bottom of her feet, we were ready to go! 

The Mother House is only about a five minute walk, however we took the Missionaries of Charity bus and were on our way.  The children were waving to everyone along our way and screaming with delight on the bus!  It was very enjoyable.  By the time we arrived, we were all soaking wet as it is ridiculously hot again today! 

We went into Mother Teresa's room and all were seated.  I learned that this novena or special prayer is for a little boy named Bobbi, specifically regarding regaining his sight.  A Japanese priest led the mass and the children were golden.  Ringku was wonderful as the leg braces she had to wear were locked and she was not able to bend her knees.  So between her walking and my lifting her, or sitting behind her to help her stay up, she did an awesome job. Following mass, we all surrounded Mother Teresa's memorial and special prayers were said for Bobbi.  Then all the children laid a hand on Mother's memorial and then on Bobbi.  They were so loving! 

After a quick water break, it was time to load everyone up and head back to their home.  As we said goodbye to Sister Carina, I picked little Ringku up and she planted the biggest, wettest, sweetest kiss on my cheek!  What a gift!  We sat in the first seat of the bus, me sitting facing straight ahead with Ringku sitting across my lap to keep her legs straight on the bus seat.  There was room on the seat next to us for a small child of which about three little girls tried to sit next to us.  My sweet little angel clocked them all!  She can just melt your heart and then she can serve a good punch!  Ouch!!

We returned to Shishu Bhavan and all the pretty dresses and little tops and shorts came off.  The children were still so excited and happy screams were heard all throughout the home.  Once I removed Ringku's leg braces, more kisses were in store for me!   What a day!   

Comments

[Yui Chan]

Mon amie, what a great day indeed! Sounds like you were just as giddy as the kiddies from Shishu Bhavan! Ha! You must take a picture with little Ringku to share with us - she must be so adorable! Hey, did you teach her how to punch?! Bad Rita, bad!

Girl, you most definitely was high on life today.....sweeeeeeet : )

[Jodi]

Ringku sounds as spunky as you. I hope you can take a picture. Keep the wonderful stories coming -- they are so vivid.