Our “bus time” today was minimal. After a short drive through a fairly quiet city on a Sunday morning, we arrived at the school where today’s distribution was to be held. The backdrop for the photos was carefully and beautifully crafted by the wife of the Hubli SCAW chairman with roses, plants and large paper plant cutouts. The SCAW team was blessed; each person received a red dot and a grain of rice on their forehead as well as a brightly coloured garland placed around their neck. After admiring from afar the wonderful decorations draped on the tractors we had passed during our travels this past week, Larry was finally able to begin his collection for his tractor when he gets back home.
The children today were quite excited and looked so beautiful, or handsome, in their new clothes. One little boy was so happy to get a new shirt that he began jumping up and down as soon as it was on him. His mother could hardly do up the buttons.
A highlight of the day was getting the group of deaf children and the children from the eco-orphanage ready for their photos. Each little deaf boy carried a small square receiver in his shirt pocket to enhance his hearing. Although they must have felt overwhelmed and confused, these boys were so proud to be receiving their bedkit. Later, just after the distribution had ended, I watched the children from the orphanage pile their bedkits into the back of a small truck before climbing in on top of them for the ride back home. I will never forget their goodbye wave and their smiles of pure joy.
Larry Kell,
for The 2012 Belgaum Team
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