in pictures...

One of the beautiful views from Bobbili Blind School (Ben is actually hiking up some of that mountain as I type). Guys, India is beautiful. You know those pictures you see of India with the misty mountains and all the green? Well, it's like that--but ten times better. I love this place!

Asian Aid sponsors a school in the slums of Vizak. The kids are SO beautiful and full of laughter. We took them to a park for the afternoon and played with them until we could barely move--exhausted, but FULL. This is Ben putting on a little show while the kids ate their food.

Tyler entertained the kids while they ate. It was a tough crowd, but he persevered and brought lots of laughter and smiles.

We received a really beautiful welcome from the kids at the Sunrise Orphanage, with another sign and everything! We did an evening program for them, attended/participated in their church service, and then took them for a Sabbath outing. It was a blast!

Nick with some of the kids from Sunrise. We each were in charge of Sabbath school. In this class Nick told the story of Noah's ark and had the kids act it out. It was hilarious and amazing all at the same time

Varma's wife fixed us authentic Indian food...twice! It was DELICIOUS! Jessi was especially excited and was pretty much in heaven the whole time.

We took the Sunrise kids to the place where they're building their new orphanage. There's a river and lots of open space where the kids can play. They're going to love it!

There is SO MUCH life in these kids. I loved it!

Varma has been our main contact on this trip, arranging things and making us feel welcome. Sometime I'll write a blog on him. But for now just know that he and his wife run the Sunrise orphanage. They all call him "daddy" and he is SO GOOD with them. I have TONS or respect for this man.

Makes your heart melt, doesn't it?

Ben having a good time with the Sunrise kids. They love him!

Well, those are just SOME captured memories of what's been going on here. I'm sure you'll see many more before we're done. You may be wondering why there aren't any pictures of the blind children we're doing the camp for yet. Valid question. This first week we've been focusing on going to the other Asian Aid sponsored programs and showing THOSE kids the time of their lives. Starting today (in an hour, actually) we'll be putting on the HEARTSIGHT camp for the remainder of our stay. There has been lots of planning and talking and planning since we got here, and we are ready (so ready) to get started. The kids here are amazing and we're stoked to start to connect with them and love on them--even more than we already have.

Keep us in your prayers though, my friends. It's going to be a big push till the end and I'm sure we'll be exhausted--but it's going to be SO worth it.