India: Arriving at Little Flock Children’s Home

Donning our Indian salwars, we met up with a fellow volunteer team of 7 from San Jose in the hotel lobby and loaded up on the Little Flock "bus". It felt like we had gone back in time as we left the main road for the dirt roads approaching Little Flock, passing thatch hut homes and men walking cows.

Upon arrival, we gathered on the porch with Little Flock founder and visionary -- Viji.

She oriented us to Little Flock while the children were away at school. 

Next, we explored the grounds of Little Flock, past the boys and girls' cottages to the chicken coop, the guava and mango orchard, and the water well.

Then, Ed, veteran visitor from the San Jose team, led us on a stroll into the village. It was surreal.

As we walked on the dirt road, children would come up to their gates to greet us, followed by mothers with babies in tow. "Vanakkam" (Hello) we would say, and they would smile and wave and greet us in reply. 

We strolled along in wonder, passing women washing clothes on cement patches in the road, banana trees, men in cloth wraps on motorcycles, and meandering goats.

We circled back to Little Flock, still eager to meet the kids. Some by bicycles, some in a little school shuttle, some on foot, the kids all began arriving home from their various schools. I lost sight of Barry, and before i knew it, I found him on the porch of the boys' cottage, already immersed in a game of chess...Trevor was soon in the middle of a kick ball with a throng of boys, and a game of cricket was on before we knew it. 

The girls were a bit more shy. Before long, though, we were learning names - Giathry, Amu, Pavithra - and exchanging smiles. We had our first tea time, and later had our first dinner at Little Flock, the boys all at one table, and the girls all at another. 

We awakened at sun up the next morning to what would become the daily rhythm...Hindu chants being broadcast via loud speaker in the village. It was December 31, and the kids were off school!

After spending time making new friends and playing games throughout the day, we began our evening of celebration, complete with a bonfire and "S'Mores" (brought by the San Jose team), and "Disney" style fireworks bought locally, that we set off in the sky. We tooted horns, wore silly hats, shouted புத்தாண்டு -- "Puthandu Nalvazhthukkal!" -- Happy New Year!"...and reveled in the most memorable New Years of our lives. 2015 will be an incredible year, indeed!