food, fun, friends, & COLOR!!

My Potter's House group is Here!! They got here early Sat morning after a long drive from Delhi due to the train being full. They brought with them one of the best surprises ever. I went down to unlock the gate for them around 5am, mom opened the car door for a hug, and my baby sister fell out into my arms. What!?! I am a happy girl. My Mom, amazing friends, AND Jamaiya are all in India with me. Meeting the people that I've gotten to know so well, seeing the places I love, and experiencing new foods, culture, etc. It's been so full and so great.

Saturday was spent having Chai with Prem, block printing handmade journals with sweet Mr Rahamon G, getting settled at our hotel, hanging with the Murray’s and exploring Palton Bizarre.

Sunday morning was spent celebrating the Hindu holiday, Holi, with Prem and his family and friends at his house.

IT.WAS.CRAZY.

I have never experienced anything like it. Holi, is the “festival of colors”. One of the biggest Hindu holidays. You celebrate your friendships by throwing colors on each other. Tons of dancing, food, throwing/rubbing colors on each other, and just being with friends. After about an hour, we were all covered in tons of different colors, and Santoshi, Prems wife, introduced the water into the scene. I really don’t know how to explain it, other then the entire village running around rubbing color on peoples faces, and throwing water on each other. Young and old alike, everyone played and had fun together. It was a blast. Definitely a cultural experience I don’t think any of us will ever forget.
I don’t think any of us will ever forget trying to get it all off after we got back home either…not easy. Some parts of the body are still a little stained and probably will be for a while. A little more noticeable when you’re not Indian and you have light skin.

After Holi we went back to Mel and Daves and created/decorated a school room for Micah and Levi. It turned out super cute, and it was so much fun to bless them that way. Sunday night we all (13 of us) loaded up into the van (seats 5) and headed to Mcdonalds for dinner. Good, fun, full day.



Monday we went out to the Lepor Colony with Mel and then on the way back into town, stopped and handed out candy to kiddos and made conversation with families in one of the local slums down by the river. I loved that. For lunch we went to what is in my opinion, the best Indian restaurant in town and the girls tried some traditional foods of this area, and then headed out to the orphanage to do art with the kids for the afternoon.

Today was spent out at the orphanage. We loaded up a big truck with playground equipment that I had a local company make a couple weeks ago, that we installed for the kiddos of JoyBells. We kept it a secret until the kids were done with school and lunch…it was so cool to see their sweet faces light up when they finally got to go down to the field to see the surprise. They were so happy!! I love that we had the opportunity to give them something that will bring them so much joy, and be a reminder every time they play on it, of how much we love them. Those are 62 amazing kiddos.