RSO Day 2! [May 31, 2011]

Today consisted of providing physicals for UKG (Upper Kindergarten) and Standard (how India labels their "grades") 1 and 2 students. We measured their height and weight and provided them with general medical care. My favorite part was learning their names and having my hair done while the children waited for their check-ups! I had some very innovative hairstyles. :) We saw about 50 kids today, which was a huge success, and I am happy to report that the vast majority were healthy.


Maybe I should tell you a bit about the life here at RSO. Volunteers are housed in the "Elephant Hostel", a gorgeous new building full of bunks for all the volunteers. I am living with 3 other "medical team" students, and its a blast. We are so blessed to have AC in this hot and humid environment (temperatures are about 100 degrees here, in addition to the humidity!) While it seems unbearable at times, it is just a small reminder of how fortunate my life really is. Our bathrooms are Indian style with "squatter" toilets and bucket showers. I never thought "Princess Elle" (as some of my friends refer to me as) would enjoy a bucket shower, but it is quite refreshing and amazing to see how much water you can save.


So here's what a typical day looks like. We meet for morning conclave at 8:30 a.m. and are given our assignments for the day. The volunteers are broken up into groups of about 10 volunteers. We perform our tasks from 9 a.m. to about 12 p.m., where we take an hour or so break for lunch. After lunch we resume our duties (from 1-4 p.m. or so). From 4:30-6 p.m. we play with the children on their playground before dinner - this is often the most exhausting part of the day, as the children have incredible amounts of energy to spend! At 6:30 p.m. the volunteers (there are 26 of us this session!) eat dinner together and share our "highs and lows" for the day. I love hearing all the stories we have to share! At 7:30 p.m. we go to our assigned "families" where we tutor them and put them to sleep! After our duties are fulfilled for the day we are free to do as we please - but most of us just pass out in our rooms from the day! I truly hope you will consider volunteering with RSO! You will never forget your experience here :)


"We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly."

RSO Day 1! [May 30, 2011]

I've fallen in love. Yes, that's right. With a third-world country that people are so quick to label with words such as "dangerous, dirty, and unnerving." And yet something about the history, people, and culture fascinates me. Maybe its the beautiful children who call me "Aunty Elle" and constantly want me to teach and play with them, maybe its my "family" who teaches me Indian dance and want me to sing them to sleep, or maybe its the leprosy-patients who thank me profusely for washing their ulcers (a very painful process, I assure you) and for checking them for diabetes and other afflictions. I haven't quite put my finger on it yet, but I am sure it is all RSO's doing that I am madly in love with India.

If you didn't know already, I am volunteering for 3 weeks at Rising Star Outreach (RSO), an amazing organization started by my Aunty Becky. RSO is based in Southern India in Thottanaval Village, and is an organization unlike any other in the world. RSO provides education, housing, and medical treatment for children of leprosy-afflicted people. Some of the children have had leprosy themselves (and are cured now), but most children are have leprosy-afflicted parents who use their children for the sole purpose of begging on the streets. It is RSO's mission to rescue these children from this fate, and bring them into a safe and loving environment where they can really thrive.

Today was my first day at RSO. I joined nursing students from BYU (Brigham Young University) and we went to a leper colony about 1.5 hours away from RSO. Our duties for the day included washing and cleaning the leprosy patients' ulcers, applying medicinal balm to them, and then finally wrapping the limbs. We also checked them for diabetes and dispensed any needed medications. Many of these patients did not have full fingers or toes, as the leprosy infection had eaten away at them. I was quite astonished at what I saw today, but will not forget the dignity with which these leprosy-afflicted people carried themselves. Not once did they complain of the pain they were in, and thanked us profusely for helping them. Their demeanor blew me away. In the afternoon we joined the children for a 1.5 hour recess, during which I was thoroughly exhausted by pushing droves of children around the merry-go-round, climbing monkey bars and jungle-gyms, playing tag with about 10 children, and attending countless "tea parties" where I was offered loads of strawberry cake and cookies! I can't believe I was once considered a D1 Athlete - I was thoroughly worn out within an hour! In the evening we had the lovely duty of washing the children's hair with scabies shampoo (since a case was found during the medical check ups!) The children loved having their hair done "at the salon" (as I told them) and couldn't wait to sleep in their fancy towel up-dos for the night! Their ability to find joy in any situation is truly moving and inspiring. I can't tell you how lucky I am to be with them!

As I reflect tonight on my first day at RSO, I truly realize how lucky and fortunate I am. I think we all take for granted the every day comforts (even the littles ones) we have in our lives, and forget how much of the world is suffering at this very moment. I am so lucky to be able to participate in such a singular experience, and cannot wait to see what tomorrow holds. Until then!