Michael says:

the first few days took a while for the team to adapt, from the heat, Indian culture (left hands) and one another, but now every things SWEET! The experience has been incredible so far, so here’s hoping it continues. To pass on to the parents I’m still on my course of antibiotics so you’ve got nothing to worry about, missing everyone even Soph. love use all, especially debi. x

from davy and beth frazer

having a good time, enjoying the indian culture and learning alot from Mercy, the pastors daughter who is being a sort of guide for us. The weather is roasting with storms at night and this can be hard when were trying to work with the children who are full of energy. We are both in good health and managing with the food. please pray for our projects next week and for the young people who are feeling ill.

Thoughts from India

Today we took the children from Littlehearts to Camp Gloria, a lovely park with slides and swings under palm trees. We played games with the kids and were taught a new game called goose by them. We already feel part of their every day lives and will I'm sure find it difficult to leave when the time comes. The staff at Little Hearts are truly amazing and treat every child as their own. It has been a roller coaster ride of emotions but this is an experience we are glad not to have missed.
Norman & Nancy

Girls Girls Girls

laughing, crying, screamin, dancing, pooing, spewing, giving, praying and loving.... we've experienced it all! But most of all we've experienced what it's like to work with kids who are less fortunite than us, its amazing. Our best experiences are, meeting the paster and his family, seeing their house, teaching teenage boys and girls dances, going to get our sarees and falling in love with a little boy from the orphanage Ajay. Lots more to come, dancing, outreach, slums, drama, puppets and more children. We'll keep you informed :) Missing everyone back home... love yous xoxoxo
Nicola, Vicky and Jenny

We're settling in!

We're settling in Chennai and have been really welcomed by the church and the orphanage. We all arrived safely and though some had rough travels our health in general has not been too bad. Leah wasn't great yesterday but she's looking chipper today. The hotel is great and we love the swimming pool despite the girls having to wear shorts and tee-shirts in it.

On Sunday we went to the city to get clothes. We have been invited to a wedding today so we all got some traditional shirts and all the girls got wonderful saris. The pastor's wife has worked really hard to make tops to go with them and we'll expect some loveliness tonight! The trip to the city was pretty scary, but an experience not to be missed. The traffic is crazy but not very fast, they just turn when they want and weave in and out. The crowds in the street are just as scary. It was a bit much for our first day.

Then we went to church and they made us a beautiful meal on big leaves. They've gone to so much trouble for us.

Monday saw our welcome to the orphanage and it was overwhelming. The facilities are good but the kids are amazing. We'll try and get pictures on here sometime soon. We visited the little school too where they are integrating the disabled children from the orphanage with local children who otherwise would get no education. They have great vision for the future too as they try and involve the children in real life. Life for disabled folk is so different here.

We're back at the orphanage this morning face-painting with the kids from the school, playing sports with them and Nicola and Grainne (and their able assistants) are doing therapy. Tele and Rab are fixing bikes.

(Hey Rab, is there anything i need to tell the folks at home?)

That's all he can think right now. It's hard to think in this heat. We'll blog sometime soon.
Arfie

The sun hasn't really been out yet but the temperature is still over 30 degrees, all the sweat and none of the tan!

Some photos of us looking wrecked

photos from Bombay down the right!

Travel Trials (Blog by Arfie)

We've reached Mumbai (Bombay) and we're waiting for a flight to Chennai. It's 2pm here, half past eight in the morning in the UK. Some of the girls are feeling a bit under the weather, travelling this much isn't fun but everyone is going on all right.
We got all our bags here, everyone still has their passport and their ticket, so we're rather impressed. Everyone is looking forward to getting to the hotel tonight around 7 for a good sleep and maybe some food. (Anyone for a pot noodle?!)
More soon, just whenever we can get free WiFi.