11th Report

Suryapet Orphanage - Eleventh Report

Monday - We arranged for the Orphanage to go to a Water Park today, funded mostly by me and a little from Samson’s Preaching money. It was worth every penny to see the children’s excitement, as a day trip like this has to be a very rare occurrence. The Yellow School bus was boarded by cleanly clothed boys and girls; most having some sort of footwear, but some with bare feet, and we were on our way. There was some Staff on the coach, surrounded by 77 children squeezed into every space, just don’t think about it too much! The lady teachers, in their colourful dresses travelled in an ‘Auto’, a very basic form of transport. We were in the 4x4 for the two-hour journey.

I spent a bit more time with the younger children during this trip as they clutched my hands; the strange surroundings made them feel a little insecure. A few rides later it was lunch. Their plates were piled high with rice, veggie curry and a boiled egg. Even the little ones eat a massive portion. Then it was seconds!  I eat the same, if you were wondering, and with my hand; in true Indian Style. The afternoon was in the Water after getting changed. Their clothes were stuffed into a large locker and the ‘flip flops’ were placed on top. I mention this, as it was the collection of the clothes that was the most amusing. The clothes were distributed by their ‘Driver’ just throwing them into the air as the children scrambled for their dresses, trousers and shirts. A tiny boy looks at me for a lift up to get his shoes. To my surprise, he climbs onto the top of the lockers, keeps his head low and pushes all the shoes over the edge. You can only smile!

Once the children had been assembled it was time to shoe-horn them back into the bus and off we go via Hyderabad Airport to see the airplanes. Halfway, back we stop for an evening meal served from giant bowls and served on paper plates. I eat with the young boys and two girls dressed in their ‘ballroom’ dresses.

They then throw their plates into ditch, as directed... What about the environment? OK, maybe one stage at a time...