We arrived at the bus station to catch a bus to the poor villages. It was all very chaotic as we tried to find the right bus stand, meandering through the beggars and other travelers. Finally our bus arrives narrowly missing the passing dogs and people. The driver has a long beard and looked sinisterly at us with his small prayer hat. He tells us that the bus is a non-stop so we compromise as you can, in India, never be satisfied with just a no. So an hour later we disembark the bus in the middle of nowhere at the side of the highway; a team of 8 of us and wait to thumb a took-took. Finally one arrived and some of us travelled by took-took and me and two others by bike. We only fell off once, I don’t think that’s bad for Indian standards. We then arrive at Parvathapur – most of the houses are mud and straw and their inhabitants are the happiest people on the planet. Their smile lasts and their eyes get wider and wider until you think their face couldn’t get happier until they laugh! We bought around 20 sets of children’s clothes for each villages along with sports equipment and about 6 chickens for each village. One baby was to be named and a church meeting was held underneath a sheet outside their house. It is tradition to name your child on its 21^st day. The family had decided on a name but on the day the rest of the family did not agree so it was changed, we were asked to choose an English middle name! It also rained a couple of times in the villages, one of the times we walked a mile in the pouring rain for 3 baptisms in the local lake, there was a string of soaking wet people under umbrellas walking along the muddy lanes, an experience I will never forget.

(Photo above is giving some of my pictures taken last time to the children)

Working alongside some farmer was also some of the work we have done while in the villages – helping taking the corn from the cob and extracting the rice from the plant. These people have proved to be the happiest people on earth despite having so little, they have a satisfied life. It is hard but laid back, life is cheap but the family is valued highly. They have no worries… no complications… just the next meal…

Photo of us teaching

Local washing

The 21st day of this babys life, with her mother

A young girl collects some wood for her family

A farmers day house, its designed for one person!

The buffalo are brought back to the village for the night

A local farmer chilling out side his wee home!

Two orphans about to leave for school