Chinnathota

May 15^th, 2012

Today I can cross several things off my bucket list. I played Cricket in India. I rode an ox cart to a remote desert village. I did the Hokey-pokey with a group of tribal children. And I witnessed a dance off between Kaylee, Jessie, and one of the local pastors on the top of an ox cart. Okay, so maybe these things were not all on my bucket list before coming on this trip, but they are now – added and crossed off!

We began the day very early in the morning and drove two hours to a small village – much like the ones we visited yesterday. Under a large open flat-roofed tent, what seemed like a hundred children gathered for our arrival. The local leaders led them in songs similar to the ones we would learn at VBS. After that we started our presentation consisting of a testimony, a lesson in hand washing and a message about the importance of education. Then it was back in the vans and another forty-five minute drive till our lunch break.

We stopped by a large tree that the local Hindus consider to be a god (you could tell by the sari that was rapped around it). After lunch some of the local village boys wanted to play Cricket, so some of the pastors connected with Alma, Matt, Sean, Kaylee, and I joined in. I can’t say I was very good, but I did show some potential as a bowler (aka pitcher) despite my lack of batting skills. The game is a bit like a mix of baseball and bowling done theatre-in-the-round style. By the end of the game I felt like I had much more of a feeling of how the game flows.

Just as we finished the game of Cricket the ox carts arrived – three bullet carts pulled by two ox each that fit about ten people per cart. I suppose that, besides the heat, I could ride across all of India on an ox cart it was so enjoyable. Thankfully the heat of the morning had subsided and a pleasant breeze accompanied us as we made our way through a desert path to the village. The local pastors began singing in Telugu, the local language spoken around Nellour, and we tried our best to join in. Almost an hour later we arrived at the village.

Although Untouchables are the lowest caste in the caste system, Tribals are even lower for they are not in caste system at all. This desert village is a tribal village – truly lower than the lowest. The only way to get to this village is by the sand ox cart road we took. The village itself is a collection of grass huts on plots of sand divided by walls of straw. The only water source seemed to be rainwater collected in large dug out basins around the outskirts of the village.

When we arrived the whole village came out to meet us, including about twenty of the most excited children. Chae started us off with a silly action song and then Jessie led a hand-washing lesson. I don’t think I have ever seen anyone so excited to learn about hygiene before. And the joy of receiving a bar of soap! Soap is something that cannot be taken for granted when you are washing your hands with sand everyday. We then broke into two groups: a nursing group who practiced medicine from the bake of an ox cart, and the rest of us who entertained the kids. We taught them Red Light Green Light, Hokey-pokey, Old McDonald Had a Farm, and Deep and Wide. In the end we gathered around for pictures (which the kids loved, especially when we showed them their own pictures) before heading back on the ox carts.

As we rode past the sun setting over a scene that looked like it came from the Sierra Desert, I thought about all I have seen in India and I realized that these children were by far the most beautiful things I have observed. Indeed, the smile of one of them outshines the Taj Mahal a thousand fold. How blessed I am to have witnessed such treasures as these, even if only for a short time.

Thus concludes another day in India. Another day in the heat drenched by sweat. Another day with this wonderful group from Alma. Another day Whitney Howen almost got married. Another day enjoying the unexpected. Another day we all returned safe and sound. And another day falling in love with this incredible country and its beautiful people.

Stephen Kenyon