Thoughts from Landa

Hi Y’all, What an amazing group of pilgrims this year! Rev. Toni Kemp serves as our chaplain and leads us in a time of reflection every day. Her thoughtful prodding helps us process the myriad of new experiences we enjoy every day. Her personality draws children to her like a magnet. Mahima, a 10 year old little girl even came by after school yesterday to visit. When I arrived late at the school after Toni had left, they all wanted to know where Grandmama went! The teachers also wanted to know how Kyle Packer is doing and if he came with us this year. They delighted in knowing that Kyle now attends Dartmouth Medical School.
Mark and Andrew Jensen have already achieved a following among all the children at the school and in town. Along with Sam and Joseph, they walked the streets of Mungeli yesterday (Monday) filming different scenes of life in the village. At one point, they stopped traffic in town because over 25 children had joined the parade! They also engaged in an awesome cricket match and are already hard at work at the school and getting ready for the livestream chapel service that we hope to send back to the states on February 17th. Sam and Joseph have a tremendous amount of focus and a passion for the documentary they’re filming. The parents of all these young gentlemen should be extremely proud of them. Their kindness, manners, wit, intelligence and ability to engage another culture with grace exemplify the very best of the families and faith communities which sent them.
Thank you all not only for your financial support of these pilgrims but also for the gifts you sent with them. The school supplies sent by both Terressa Ewing of New Hope Christian and Mary Kaye Veal of Sandersville First “hit the spot”. Union Christian sent life jackets for the children, and Andrew and Mark brought adult life jackets. Sandy Springs and Avon Lake UCC Church sent LCD projectors. Carol Evans of Decatur First and Barb Duren of Sandy Springs sent medical supplies from their medical offices. Ellen from Sutures, a non-profit which sends sutures throughout the world sent a whole box of different sized and strength with us. Dale Williamson sent a DVR for the security camera/monitoring system as well as two Linksys routers. Through Joseph Highsmith, Peachtree Christian sent a DVD player and multiple DVDS for the school. The new principal, Avinash Presad extends his great gratitude to all of you.
Another group of pilgrims will come in February. If any church or person would like to send a gift with the next group, Avinash, when we asked for specific ideas expressed that it would be wonderful to have some more DVDS, especially ones like The Jungle Book, Cinderella, the Little Mermaid, Alice in Wonderland, etc. to show to the children to help them learn English.
Also, the school would love to have any old software programs that you have that will run on Windows XP—like Jumpstart, e.g.
It’s time for breakfast, so I’d better go. We all are having a fabulous experience!
Blessings, y’all,
Landa