Wednesday 11/22

Today Jessy and I went to purchase vegetables and plants from a local farmer. All I've seen is dry land; even the stretch between Delhi and Noida is a highway that follows a dried up riverbed. So I was surprised when 15 minutes after leaving the home to see fields covered with green grown. These were not wilted stalks but full heads of cabbage and cauliflower, rows of pole beans and peas, tomatoes and cucumbers and with the pungent smell of manure a welcome reprive for the dense fog of polution that has clouded my senses for the past two and a half weeks. (I can't believe it has been that long, it hardly seems a day has past.) After driving for what seemed miles, but couldn't have been too far because the road (and that title is being generous) wouldn't allow us to go over 30 mph, we cam to a small village. The village is a simple collection of huts. The farmers are migrants working the land till the hot summer months drive them north to the cooler mountains where they work the orchards.

Jessy and the farmers began discussing what we would be buying and I was soon surrrounded by a dozen or so todlers dressed only in rags with the red distended bellies of malnutrition. This is the first time the home has purchased outside of the market, our trip there was soley to purchase plants for the garden some of the children are starting. Bartering being a required process of purchasing almost anything it took some time to settle on a price. It turns out the cost of purchasing from his is far cheaper than the market in town and allowed Jessy to not barter as aggressively as she might normally so that there would be a greater benefit for the farmers. When we arrived home with a load of food and the kids began bringing it in they asked where it had come from in that it was not the usual day for vegetables. We told them about the village, handed out the plants. had lunch and a short free time following. After study hour at 3:30 the kids have an hour outside from 5:00 to 6:00. midway through they brought clothes and socks and a few blankets to take to the farmers next time we go. Of course I've already decided to sneak down to the market tomorrow and make some purchases for them but the 3 bags of clothes and the blankets given out of complete unselfishness have a far higher value than the thouands of rupees I could spend supplying all five families without even thinking twice. What a living example of the widow offering her last mite selflessly to honor her Lord. I know guilt shouldn't be a factor but it is, regardless.

So today the blessing was all mine today despite the gifts of the children. Who is the one being blessed now!