Week #1

My first week in India has gone by far too fast. The strange thing is, however, that I feel as if I have been here for a lot longer than just a week. So far, I have quite enjoyed my time here and look forward to the next couple of months.
This week has been busy, as I have painted doors and benches, helped move the library and offices, and spent time teaching some of the children games and songs. I have also started to learn a few Indian games, as the children have been teaching me, as well. Speaking of the children, they are so much fun! Even though it can be frustrating (for myself and them) due to the fact that I cannot understand their language, and even have trouble understanding when they speak English, they are such a joy. I know that I can wake up each morning and walk out to the main room to be greeted by smiling faces and "good morning, sister" and each evening, I can spend a couple of hours playing games and singing songs with them. I can hardly wait until next week when school begins and the other children arrive!
On Monday and Tuesday evening, I had the opportunity to tour part of the village and was surprised when the village people greeted me with flowers! I guess I have made quite an impression, but that is not surprising since I know they do not see Americans on a very regular basis. Even some of the staff members here in the ministry compound seem quite fascinated with my presence (i.e. while I was painting, they would take a break from their work to watch me). It can be a little disconcerting, but at the same time, kind of understandable. If I were them, I would be curious about the young American woman who is spending her summer working alongside them, too.
Today, is of course, Sunday, and I am looking forward to joining the Indian church for worship in a couple of hours. This will be the second service I will have attended during my stay and it is such a blessing to see how God is working in the hearts and lives of believers around the globe. What an awesome God we serve, who gathers the nations to himself!
Tomorrow, I am supposed to begin working in the office - writing blog posts, designing a newsletter, and other miscellaneous tasks. Of course, in India, almost nothing goes exactly as originally planned, so flexibility is key! I have no doubt, I will experience quite a few unexpected twists throughout the summer.
That's all I have for now, but here are a few pictures from earlier this week:

Vishakhapatnam

Billboards are everywhere in India!

I was able to see the Bay of Bengal (and fly over it, too)!

Statue of cow outside Hindu temple in the village

One of the village bathing/laundry spots

Lizards are an Indian's best friend (and mine too) - they eat malaria-carrying mosquitoes!

The flowers I received from some of the village people

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