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Greetings! This is Klorisa Porter the current Medical Volunteer Coordinator for Rising Star Outreach of India. It is nothing short of a privilege to work with the individuals that have been affected by leprosy. Between the twelve colonies Rising star is currently working with, everyday promises a new adventure. The colonies have a way of testing and stretching you. The ulcers and deformities we as a medical unit come across from these beautiful people are heart braking. The social economical conditions alone make you question your current standard of living and what truly makes people happy. Though it can be overwhelming and challenging at times, it only makes loving the patients that much easier and rewarding. Many of the patients walk in, smiling, pinching your cheeks, frequently laughing, dancing, singing, repeating "nandri" ( or thank you) and pointing to the heavens. Communication is limited in words but fortunately you will find you don't need them.

 

We had the opportunity to visit Chettipunyam a few days ago. There's always certain individuals in each colony that tend to be little more out going and daring, Maria wouldn't fall short of that description. This little lady, 68 years young, walks in with her sun glasses and little nylon bag swinging at her wrist announcing herself with a dramatic push through the door. She's always smiling and excited to see who ever you are. In the past our dear Maria worked as an agricultural laborer. She was diagnosed with leprosy at age ten and learned to cope with it with the support of her father who shared the diagnosis. At age 13 Maria was married and soon followed five children. Two of her grandchildren currently attend Rising Star Outreach's Peer Matriculation School and she couldn't be prouder.

 

-- Klorisa Porter

Medical Coordinator

Summer 2013

A typical day in volunteering in education beings with UKG morning fundaments. The second week of July the UKG class made handprints pictures for their parents to give to them on parents-day. This was the first time most of the UKG kids had ever used paint. The class was so excited to paint their hands and print it on paper, and it made it even more special that they were able to give it to their relative that weekend.

Another class that volunteers enjoy is Library Time. We often split into small group and read stories or popcorn read as a whole class. Recently we have done reading comprehension activities with 3rd, 4th, and 5th standards. The students read a descriptive paragraph together, and then drew what the paragraph is about. One of these reading comprehension activities was about a monster. It was a lot of fun to use the details from the story combined with our imaginations to create a picture. 

          

The volunteers feel they are making a difference in the children’s education:

“I love education day. Working with the kids is the best part about Rising Star Outreach. It is so inspiring to teach time. Their school is different, but I like it the way it is,” said Grace.

Maddy also included that:

I am Emily Wilson, the Sponsorship Coordinator here in India and I'm here to enlighten your day and give you a little dose of my daily life!

This summer has been off to a great start and every day brings new joy into my life and hopefully to yours as well. Lately in Sponsorship we have been giving small email updates of kids and sending them to their sponsors, so if you sponsor a kid keep your eyes peeled!

Just a few weeks ago we had a group come through called the PC-5, which was formed when five mothers lost their children in different accidents all within five months of each other. Through these tragedies something truly beautiful was born and for the last five years these mothers, along with kids who volunteer, have gone to do different developing countries and helped build schools. Rising Star Outreach was their final trip and led by Ellen Knell, Kaye Knoop, and Kelly Yeates who were especially wonderful and loved the children. Two days before their session ended Ellen told me she would like to sponsor a girl in our LifeDance program because her daughter was a dancer; so we went through and choose a girl from the village named Papitha. The next day Ellen went to LifeDance to watch Papitha dance and after class had ended I got the privilege to introduce them. As soon as I told Papitha that Ellen was her new sponsor, her eyes widen to huge saucers and gave Ellen a huge hug. They then spent the next thirty minutes talking, although I have no idea what they talked about when I came back to the elephant house Ellen had tears in her eyes and told me that it was like talking to her daughter again. All my fears of them not being able to connect since Papitha is such a quiet girl were washed away and I was so grateful to see something so touching. Life is truly amazing and I could not ask for a better job.

These kids are capable of so much and loving unconditionally is one of their best talents, to be a sponsor is one of the fulfilling and gratifying gifts you can have.

Here's a short Highlight of one of our kids who need sponsors: All about S. Manoj!

 

I'd like to start out by saying something you've probably heard from me and the other volunteers hundreds of times; this was the most amazing thing I've ever done. I am so lucky and grateful to have the support from my friends and family to allow myself to come and be a part of this.

 

This week was everything I expected and more. It was so fun to see new things and meet new people each day, then come back to all the kids each night. At first I was actually super nervous. Would the patients be hostile? Would all the students hate me? As it turns out, neither of the two actually happened. The people became my favorite part. They were all so full of love despite disfigurements and holding their fingerless hands was one of the most touching moments of my life. Just how gentle and kind and genuine they were shocked me. There really is no better way to describe it than that. However sappy it may be. And the kids, don't even get me started. They we're all so fun right off the bat! And incredibly strong for their age. They leave their family for months at a time, and get close to a group of volunteers for a week or so before they leave again, not to mention they have so much faith in their sponsors some of whom they never meet. It's really admirable. 

 The real thing that stuck out to me was that every car, every shack, every person packed onto one motorcycle has a life. These people don't know who I am, they probably don't care either. It struck me how tiny and insignificant everyone is, yet, one person has the power to make a difference to one person and vice versa. I learned so much from every open sore, and each girl who wrote me a cute letter before I left. The biggest thing was knowing that I wasn't insignificant to them, and they mattered to me. I definitely have a new frame of mind I would never have had if I wasn't blessed enough to come. For that I'm so thankful to rising star for showing me a little kindness goes a long way :) 

 

 

Kelly and Saroja

Reilly and Sagayam

 

 

Jenna is a sponsor of one of our Rising Star kids, Jenna and Noah have gone to India with their family and they have donated to have a music club/program at the school.   Its amazing to see what people are able to do when they care for others and have a dream.

 

Click on the link below to watch their interview.

 

Click Here to View

 On Construction building toilets in Barathapuram.