Greetings from Rajahmundry, India I've just flown from Chicago to Frankfurt to Hyderabad to now a whole day in Rajahmundry, India, which is in the middle of the Southeast Coast facing the Bay of Bengal. Howdy from very far away, as in ten thousand miles and ten time zones. Well let me explain what I'm doing here in the first place. My wife's brother Alan runs a relief organization (www.childrensrelief.com) that serves children in the poorest countries of the world. Laura and I have this little 'deal' that we'll go on trips like this on a periodic basis, and here I am. I have a cushy life in Chicago Illinois but not everybody in the world does. Trips like this remind me to be thankful. They demonstrate opportunities to help. They broaden my horizon and sharpen my perspective. Such trips have taken me to Brazil, South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya and now India. Also let me explain Childrens Relief International a bit. There are lots of do-gooders and well-wishers who go to various places and help people, and that's great. But CRI does things a little different: They find people already living in these countries who have set up successful aid operations (at great personal expense) and then they get behind them and help them. They supply funding and staff. The people are then financially accountable for what they do with the money but the American CRI staff work for the locals, not the other way around. So for example Alan found a guy named Isaiah here in Rajahmundry, and Isaiah had already taken in 20 orphan boys (many of them AIDS orphans) at his own expense. They were all sleeping on a floor in a tiny house and Isaiah was doing a decent job with his very meager resources. When you see somebody like that - who is totally sold out and committed to what he is doing - you can't help but want to get behind the guy and help. And a guy like that is a lot more street smart than some 25 year old who just got out of college and "wants to save the world." The projects last a lot longer and have a lot more impact than when someone charges in on a white horse trying to be the hero. OK? Today we rode a tiny bus through Rajahmundry, past 3-wheel taxis and rickshaws and swerving bicycles and motorcycles and delivery trucks and pregnant women and shouting men and cows. And HORNS. Oh my goodness do people like their horns here. Rajahmundry is a somewhat typical city in the developing world. A lot of people wouldn't quite know what I mean by that. What that means is: Very crowded streets with multi story apartment buildings and store stalls facing the street, street vendors in front of those stalls and bicycles and motorcyles and pedestrians everywhere. There's always a beggar nearby, there's always a farmer selling vegetables he or she has grown and making a meager living; there are billboards and cell phones and people at various levels of what Americans would consider poverty. A lot of crumbling buildings and occasional strange sights like a cow or goat wandering through the street. There are signs everywhere advertising educational opportunities like degree programs... India is a ferociously competitive place where able-bodied students duke it out for finite opportunities. We snaked out of town to the Rajah Boys' home for dinner. We went to Isaiah's house - he's been able to move to a bigger one just a few months ago and there are 10 new sturdy wood bunk beds for the boys. The boys are all ages 5-10 and they're all sharp, active, boisterous, and look great wearing their uniform shirts. Laura and I sponsor one of these guys, a boy named Mani. He like all the others shook my hand enthusiastically and talked to me in very broken English. They sat us down before dinner and the boys sang songs for us (in the local dialect, mostly) and danced. Some of them might be a bit tone deaf at this early age but they still sounded great. It turns out all of these boys were connected to Isaiah through a local guy here named Doctor Kumar. Doctor Kumar is well known for helping the poor and we're going to go see him tomorrow. Can't wait. After the boys finished their show they served us dinner. Now you have to picture this: This house (which houses 20 boys, Isaiah and his wife and young son and maybe others, I'm not sure) is about 800 square feet and we're on the roof. They've got a couple of fluorescent lights strung up and there's boys everywhere. And 10 of us Americans gawking at the whole scene. They bring up the food. This is a true blue traditional Indian meal, which means: No spoons, no forks, no knives, only your hands. This is messy stuff too, ie meat and vegetables in sauce with rice and yogurt. Doesn't matter, we all eat with our hands. I rather like it, I would have liked it even more if I was in 3rd grade again. Spicy, rich, heavy. Tasty. Tonight they served us and gave us the finest hospitality they can provide. Later this week we'll be looking for ways to serve them. These kids don't exactly come from the best of backgrounds. Mostly from very poor families, and orphans like I said. I'm sure some of the stories are horrific. But you know what? They're healthy. They're respectful. They shake your hand and smile at you and ask you your name. They're learning to read and write and learning the Golden Rule and stories about Jesus healing the sick and they're learning math and respect for elders. And most of all they are loved by Isaiah and his wife and the other caretakers and by each other. These boys are gonna grow up big and strong. They'll be architects, engineers, doctors, ministers, marketers, merchants... There's a lot of need in the world but I'm thankful Isaiah decided to do something about SOME part of it rather than being overwhelmed by it. Better to light a candle than curse the darkness. Tomorrow: We see Doctor Kumar and go to the "deep forest" area where the "untouchables" live. People with neither land nor resources. This should be interesting. I'll send you an update when I can.... Perry Marshall P.S. My faithful assistant Jeremy is here with me and he is a mighty fine photographer. I'll find a way to post some pictures soon. Next Installment India Home Page |