The Doll

 This week has go one by so fast with a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts going threw my head. The home we have been at this week is truly like no other. There are 76 girls, 1boy and amazing staff. The home radiates love and joy. The ages start at about three and continue upward. The expressions on the faces are almost always happy. You know when you walk in this is truly a home not just a place that they live. The children talk, smile and play all the time.

When we arrive the girls run to the car to meet us. They are yelling "auntie,auntie" their smiles are so big they consume their faces.

When we get out of the car we are greeted with blessings, sandlewood, flowers, respect and love. We are quickly pulled in and asked to sit which immediately is followed with tea and questions about the day. 

I have met so many girls. They have consumed my thoughts and my heart, but one has truly consumed me. She is an amazing young women that is deaf. She has managed to survive despite ALL of her obstacles. She has created a language which most of the girls understand and they make sure she understands what is going on as well. She has showed me so many things that she has made. She is very talented. She told me she will be going to the work in a new program making jewelry soon. I can
not wait to buy it all. :)

She also showed me around and brought me to her room where she showed me her bed, pictures, the blanket that she
made, and crafts that she was working on, with the most basic supplies but creates such beauty. Then she showed me something that will stay with me forever. She showed me a doll that she had made for her friend. She gave it to me to hold while she explained that one of the girls could not sleep at night so she made her a doll to cuddle with when she went to sleep. The doll was dirty, made of cloth, hand stitched, and the face was drawn on with pen. It was them. It was so simple but had such a story. It was made with what they had, but was filled with so much love.

These girls have seen and heard so much. Their lives so filled with so much pain and sorrow, yet each and everyone of them has learned again to trust, love and have compassion for each other. To me he doll was everything we had seen and felt. I
held on to it for a long time. It was like gold. One of the few toys that I had seen. It was priceless. When she put it back she carried it like it was crystal and carefully placed back on the bed.

That day was filled with emotion and I often wondered if she understood anything that I was saying as I signed in ASL. My head was filled with so many questions that were all answered as I was leaving. She walked me to the car holding my arm and as I let go to get in, she signed "you me friend" and blew me a kiss. I am so happy I came to India. We have been here for two short weeks and our lives changed forever.