Leaving Secunderabad so soon...

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My time in Secunderabad has gone by very quickly. I'm writing this during my layover on my way to Kerala (where I studied abroad.) I'm going back to visit my yoga teacher, dance teacher and other people I met during my time studying there. My last few days in the convent were a little sad. The girls and sisters kept asking when I will be coming back. I didn't have a real answer for them, since it's so expensive to get over to India. I may never have enough money to come back, but I'd love to visit them if I do get back over here. They say it like it's not a big deal, "You can come next year." One girl, Maria, asked me to come back for her birthday. It's really too bad I can't make money appear out of thin air. Due to finances I had to turn down a trip to Darjeeling and the Himalayas. I would love to climb mountains, drink tea and see one of the most beautiful parts of the world...but it'll have to wait...till next time? Two of the girls in the home were sent to the other bigger home, Navegeevena, that houses about 70 girls. They were sent there for two days as punishment. Revi, who is 8 years old peed her pants and just hung the clothes up to dry without telling anyone. Shanthini, the little sparkplug she is wrote (according to Sister Mercy) "the name of the male sex organ." Not only did she write 'penis' while living in a convent but she also wrote it on another girl's notebook. She refused to apologize for it, being a pretty typical 10 year old girl. We all went over to Navegeevena together since I had to take photographs of the rest of the girls there. I finally finished taking all 70 of the girls photographs. I went to say goodbye to Shanthini before I left to head back to our home, and she got really sad when I told her I wouldn't be there when she returned in two days. So yesterday I went back to see the girls before I left. When we arrived at Navegeevena all the girls were watching a movie on tv. It was quite the sight, like a sea of black hair in front of the television. I sat with them for a while, trying to figure out what was going on in the Telegu movie. All I got out of it that the red paint on the guy's face was supposed to be blood.
I got the girls' photographs developed for them to keep. One of the sisters is going to put them in individual albums for them along with pictures from their baptisms and first communions. I think the girls will be very surprised and happy to have them. I wish I could be there to see their faces when they get their albums. I also donated the cameras for the girls to continue with photography. They absolutely love going out and taking photos. I think a big reason for it is that they get to go out of the house, but they actually have good eyes for pictures. I'm excited to see what they come up with. Sister Alice was very surprised when I gave her the bag full of cameras. She had no idea I was going to be donating them. She was really happy. She wanted me to thank all the donors for her.
My goodbye from the home was really special. The girls all spent the morning making me thank you/goodbye cards and surprised me with them. They wouldn't let me open them until I left. I think they were embarrassed and didn't want others to see what they wrote. The cards include things like, "Keep smiling always. Don't be sad. You are very beautiful" and "I miss you akka (older sister) so much" and "I will pray for you and your family, specially your friend April" and "First of all thank you for thinking of us and coming to India"and "India chelli (little sister) are waiting." These are probably the sweetest cards I've ever gotten. I told the girls I will write to them often. After giving the cards, they stood in a line and said things like, "thank you for coming and teaching us with kindness." They're probably the most precious girls anywhere in the world. They also sang a song that went "I've got joy deep down in my heart" and another with something along the lines of I will pray for you and when I do I will feel joy. I got a little teary eyed, but held it together. I'm not very emotional with goodbyes, because I always tell myself I'll see people again. This is not really goodbye. I'll make it back someday, and if not there's always the telephone and letters. If I could I would take the girls home with me.

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