This report came in from India where we have a Real Life team ministering to orphans and have recently sent over a small team with backpacks to give to the orphans for Christmas. Wilson Bunn, one of our leaders, wrote the following:
Words cannot convey the experience of working with both the Christmas and Real Life team yesterday to pack 270 bookbags with each orphan’s name embroidered on the strap. Our hearts were overflowing as we placed handfuls of candy, erasers, matchbox cars, toboggans, crayons, and beanie babies in each bag. We had no idea the massive quantity of stuff that you, the people of God had poured out at the moving of His hand to bless these poor children. What a challenge to our teams that these kids, who are among the poorest in the world, own next to nothing, all of which has been given to them as a handout have scarce a trace of poverty of spirit. They do not mope and mourn all day long but play and laugh and give thanks to God for all that He has given them. The love and joy they pour on our teams is overwhelming. Seldom have any of us received such affection from children who have no possessions or claim on anything.
I couldnt help but think about the faces of the orphans as I crammed Kohemson’s bag full with a scorpion beanie baby and turtle fur toboggan (turtles have fur?) and I was wondering if they will be physically able to handle opening the bag all at once. I am a bit worried that they will be so overwhelmed with excitement that they might spontaneously combust at the sight of all of these gifts, which would leave us with a lot of bags left over.
Today is a cram packed day of Christmas party preparation. We are hanging paper chains and picture frames with individual shots of the kids so they can have a picture of themself. We will be taking Sandeep, who had polio as a child, to pick up his leg brace from an orthopedic doctor. Sandeep is so excited to get his brace that after he finished getting carsick out the window the other day I look back to check on him and he was grinning from ear to ear so big it made my cheeks ache.
Because of the crazy schedule and everything that has to be done, there have been days where some of the leaders were running errands and unable to make it to the orphanage, but two days ago, when I arrived for the first time in the better part of a week I seriously debated purchasing a plot of land nearby or just moving into the orphanage and sharing a bunk with a couple of the younger boys. That is the kind of affect that being here with them has on all of us. It seems to foster a kind of radical mentality that ignites and burns away complacency and mediocrity in all of our hearts and wills. Not a person on either team is going to return to their homes in America the same person. All have been dramatically impacted by the love of the Father through little Babulal who can only say “I love you” and “I am 5,” but he uses these phrases often to communicate with us.
this is only the beginning,
Wilson
