The last 24

Between New York and Chennai I lost a full day. The flight to Doha was long but I was able to sleep most of the time-- without snoring or drooling I might add. Qatar Airways really caters to their guests. They served meals, Ben & Jerry's ice cream and snacks. But I slept.

Doha airport was busy. We were a spectacle I'm sure. But the layover was brief.

We finally arrived in Chennai, India around 3:30am local time. That was the first time I encountered the hole in the ground in the bathroom stall. I opted to wait until we got to the hotel instead I'd figuring out the hose situation. Hopefully I will make it the full two weeks without having to figure it out.

Even at the early morning hour the whole area was awake and alive. Taxis were lined up outside with even more taxi drivers surrounding the airport exit. They wanted their pictures taken by all of us. We took a bus to our hotel. During that dark ride I got only a glimpse of the poverty that engulfs this nation.

As soon as we got to the hotel we went to bed. Some of my fellow sponsors are from California- I can only imagine their jet lag.

This morning came too soon. We were up just five hours later and off to visit the Caruna-- Compassion South India office. We met the country director and many of the project facilitators. They welcomed us with flowers in our hair, rose water sprinkles on us, sugar candy and a paste on our skin to keep us cool. Then we were each presented with a garland/ lei of beautiful flowers.

Then we got to know the staff. They shared their success and goals with us but emphasizes the God sized gap between their resources and the need.

Facts:
- 40% of the worlds poor live in India, in fact, all of Africa's poor don't even add up to the total of poor in ONE Indian state
- 47% of Indian marriages are child marriages
- 5.3 million children are in the sex trade in India

BUT:
- Caruna has been in south India for ten years an their outreach is growing
- there are over 300 projects (child sponsorship centers)
- there is hope

The leaders of Caruna asked us to pray for three very specific things and I ask that you would pray as well:
1- that the world would see beyond the image of India as a wealthy, needless nation and recognize the poverty that is so overwhelmingly evident
2- pray for the Compassion staff
3- pray for perseverance to fill the God sized gap

It was a lot to take in.

We finished our day with a bit of shopping and our final stop was the St Thomas Basilica church/tomb. It is a beautiful building and mass was in progress when we arrived.

Tomorrow I meet my first sponsored child- AN. Please pray that her travel to the center is easy and that our meeting is meaningful.

While your days have just begun its lights out here. Goodnight.