TouchingHeartsForHim: Picnic Time With The Children

Hello we are back,                                                                                               March 30, 2013

     Yes, back to say Hi! to all of you, back in Cuttack, and back in our apartment, and back in our own beds.
      My, what a week of travel ~fun~ making memories~ weary bodies ~ happy minds. =)
      As I mentioned last week this post will be about our outings with the children from several Homes. The Nirman Childrens Home here in Cuttack has 130 children! So it was decided, for various reasons, to divide into three groups; boys trip, Thursday, March 21, about 60+ boys and plenty of helpers, 3 cooks, many huge pots & firewood, much water, rice, chicken and everything needed to make a yummy dish called chicken biyani.. To Puri, Odisha India, a beautiful seashore on the Bay of Bengal, about a three hour journey by bus, from Cuttack. Monday, March 25, girls turn, 30+ girls and the same as above for helpers and cooks and fixings for picnic, which all equals much seashore fun. Same seashore, slightly different location, same big bus, and again lots of excited children. Most, if not all, had never seen the ocean, so it was very special and exciting to look at it "through their eyes". Tuesday, March 26, Second grade and younger went to a water park about an hour away in Bhubaneswar. I went on the other two trips, and would have loved to go and enjoy the little childrens fun... BUT we had left the apartment at 5:00am Monday, with the girls, and returned at 10:30pm. Then, after the little ones got back on Tuesday we had bus tickets for an all night trip to the Home in Phulbani and a picnic with the children there March 27.   To add to all the fun, I needed to scrub clothes ( yes, with our handy-dandy washboard =) ) to have what we needed to pack for the trip! Well now, I know I have some “superwomen” friends out there who could’ve whipped through everything , been packed AND took in the children’s picnic! I’m not superwoman though , so I stayed home and did what needed doing here. Was very glad I had made that wise, though not easy, decision when they arrived home from the picnic that evening at 7:00pm and we had to leave for the bus by 8:00pm, packed and ready for a three day stay in Phulbani!! We arrived at the Phulbani Home by 5:00am. and left for the picnic by 9-10:00am. They took us all to a big lake and dam that is about one hour from the Home. There are 35 children at their Home. (Continue to pray for the land situation for this home; it is still locked in red tape.) We had a wonderful time at the lake, swimming, some games, throwing Frisbee and ball. Then some cooks brought in a delicious lunch of biyani with chicken in it! Yummy, and it was enjoyed by one and all!! Then it was time to go home. A full and wonderful day.
     We celebrated Good Friday at the Home, I don’t believe I’ve ever been in a Good Friday service like it!! We arrived around 8am. and spent the day in fasting, praise, worship, prayer and testimonies until the ninth hour when Christ would have proclaimed “It is finished!” Then the sharing of testimonies was so amazing at that time, we went another hour. At 4pm. we had a meal and fellowshipped. Then by 10pm. were on our bus back to Cuttack. We walked into our apartment, here in Cuttack, Saturday morning at 6:00. Yes, a rather full and wonderful week!!
Thanks everyone for “dropping in” and enjoying with us the special privilege of making memories with God’s precious children. Hallelujah! My heart is full and overflowing! Thank You, my Saviour Redeemer!!
      We are going to collapse for a while folks, and then tomorrow… is Easter Sunday! We will be attending Nirman Home, here in Cuttack, where they are preparing for a huge gathering, we are told possibly 500 people, with a feast and much programs following!! But… that is the next blog topic. Until then, a blessed Easter to each of you, our dear family and friends!! We are truly loved with an everlasting love.     Love from Melody and The Hege Crew