Day One, Sunday, at Nishtha – Ben Behunin

November 18, 2019 - 2019 Operation Alo

Day One, Sunday, at Nishtha is nearly in the history books. After arriving in Baruipur after 1:00am this morning, we unloaded our bags from the bus and walked the three hundred yards from the main road to the compound. Traffic was surprisingly heavy for so early in the morning, with horns honking and vehicles of all stripes coming and going. There was even a ragtag construction crew working, digging deep into the road to work on a plumbing problem.

After carrying our duffles up the stairs into the girls and boys bunk rooms–minus the bunks, we rolled out mats and set up camp on the floor. Speaking of the boys, some fell asleep quickly, others, dealing with jetlag, were slower to settle down, finally getting quiet after 3.

We gathered for breakfast at 10, most of the boys rolling out of bed around 9:15. Our cook prepared toast, fried potatoes, boiled eggs and fried scones. It was delicious and everyone appeared to be happy and well fed.

After breakfast we cleared the tables in the dining room and put together 250 school kits and 200 birthing kits, assembly line style. Dance and singing practice convened shortly thereafter in preparation for our cultural exchange day which was to begin at 3:00. That turned into a lesson in Indian timing, not truly beginning until after 4, when forty plus women arrived in colorful saris. These were the women who live in Nishtha after enduring domestic violence, as well as many teenaged young women who come to Nishtha for education.

I’m finding it difficult to express the sense of love and energy that filled the room. They welcomed us with a shower of marigold petals and invited us to light candles on a unique, multi-tiered candelabra, and gave each of us earthenware lamps. They thanked us for bringing the light of love and hope and education and expressed their excitement in having us there. They said that they look forward to our visits more than all the holidays of the year.

The young women of Nishtha performed several beautiful dances dressed in their Indian outfits–modest knee-length dresses over leggings. Our YMAD kids performed afterwards, singing and dancing with great enthusiasm–their best performance yet! Our girls received their uniforms today and have worn them throughout the day, bright pink and blue dresses with black leggings. (See Operation Alo on Instagram for videos and photos)

We are currently waiting for dinner. The kids are playing games or resting. I have had many of them tell me this is the single best day of their lives. I have been impressed with the grace with which your kids are stepping way outside of their comfort zones, being vulnerable, learning quickly to love strangers from the other side of the world, experiencing the strangeness of this very foreign place, and finding the beauty in all of it. I have witnessed growth in all of your kids during this past year, but that has all been surpassed in this day alone. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings when we begin teaching in our villages and at the school. You parents have a lot to be proud of. You are raising incredible teens. Everyone is healthy and happy and loving this experience. Lynnette and I committed to two years, and I think we have already come to the realization that two years is not enough!

Ben Behunin

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