That gum story....

I am trying not to make blogging about this trip a chore. You may notice that I don't write every day. I don't promise to do that either. What has been so fun about this blog so far is that as I remember things...or as things happen, I think to myself "I'd like to tell people about that" and then I do. I'm planning on keeping it that way because I think it keeps me more motivated than if I said "UGH! What am I going to write about today!?!?" So, anyway...there's an inside look into my brain about the blog.

Something came up today that I really wanted to tell people about because it really sums up the India experiences we've had so far.

You get to sponsor kids at the orphanage in India and our sponsor child was a boy by the name of M. Karthick. He was one of the most affectionate people I've ever met. He couldn't stop smiling or hugging us while we were there. It was absolutely amazing. On one evening, some sponsors had small gifts for their sponsor children. We had given Karthick a game and a pack of gum. There were 10 pieces in the pack of gum. Karthick thanked us like crazy when we gave him the gum and then ran away to show his friends the "loot". Karthick came back with 9 smiling friends, happily chewing a piece of gum...and one piece of gum that we assumed was his. He took the last piece of gum and offered it to Michelle and said "Auntie...for you". Of course Michelle refused but the more she refused the gum, the more Karthick insisted she have it. FINALLY after several offers, Karthick tore the gum in half, bit into his half and gave the other half to Michelle.

Can I PLEASE have a heart like that when I go to India? In effect, he gave away 95% of what he had. It was all for him! (That was the intent of the giver) But he chose to share what he had. He chose to use the gift he was given to make other people happy.

I could tell you so much more about Karthick...but for now I will tell you that even though he is no longer at Carmel School, it is that spirit and that love for other people that led us to love the place enough to give this part of our lives to it.