Be the Change: patients

Throwback Thursday: Bianca Merkley's Grateful

Thursday, August 07, 2014
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Release of a new Video! Lifting those with Leprosy

Wednesday, July 30, 2014
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Three Lessons with Volunteer Alexandra

Ever since I was 15 years old I've wanted to travel to India. My ostensible passion for the country came from my AP Human Geography class where we studied India’s culture, religion, and social systems. But if I’m being honest, I fell in love with India because I fell in love with an Indian boy. Ridiculous, I know, but very true. My point in relating this is to show that for 11 years I've tried to find the best way to come to India, and I absolutely found it with Rising Star Outreach. I came to Rising Star expecting to give, serve, love. What I didn't realize, however, is that I would be receiving so much more than I could ever give. I've been taught lessons I didn't anticipate through my experience and the people I've had the privilege of interacting with.

The first lesson is the power of positivity. Working in the colonies, especially on medical days, you see the pain and suffering of the leprosy affected first hand. It is a shocking experience to see your first patient who doesn't have fingers or an ulcer so deep you wonder if it can ever heal. Despite the overwhelming odds facing those who struggle with this debilitating disease, they remain positive. They literally have every element of society working against them, extreme pain, and live in conditions that would make it difficult to ever feel comfortable and yet, I see smiles of gratitude and happiness. I don’t understand it, I truly don’t.

In Chettipunniyam, there is a beautiful leprosy affected old woman who is always wearing a purple sari. She invites us to sit on her stoop with her gnarled hands and feet, generously cleaning our shoes if they are dirty, but most markedly, she is always laughing. Her beautiful yet sparse smile is always at the ready, brightening our day when it is our purpose to brighten hers.

In Ghandi colony, there was another woman with the most beautiful curly hair (I hadn't seen that in India!) who was so proud to show off her blue house and gave us a sincere and lasting “naandri” as we waved goodbye. And don’t get me started on the beautiful, wonderful students at Rising Star. They are away from their families, doing school and chores for a significant portion of their day, and they are still smiling. I have fallen in love with the students. They are remarkable, resilient individuals that take care of each other and truly exemplify positivity. A positive outlook on life can shape our life itself. The grace, humility, and positivity of those living in the colonies has indelibly touched me.

The next lesson I've learned is that of generosity. The people of India are always giving! Now, I never considered myself a scrooge by any means, but Indians take it to another level. In the Micro grant colony, an older artist and resident came out of her house and offered the entire group bananas.

The house mothers on campus are ready and willing to do a volunteer’s henna or wrap a sari. The students will ask you how your day was and keep asking questions, taking no thought about themselves (well, most of the time they are kids, after all).

Again in Chettipuniyam, I was handing bricks to construction workers Deveraj and Milo, where they were building the foundation for a latrine. The woman’s whose latrine we were working on came out of her house and started talking to me. She invited me to stay at her house next summer, eat her food, and sleep comfortably- all because I was handing a couple of bricks to the actual workers. I want to spend every second of my life thinking about others; the we, not the me, needs to become my priority.

I've seen firsthand the beautiful effects that one act of generosity can have. I want to live life fully and lose myself in generous service daily.

The third lesson I've learned is less tangible. India has made me want to be better. Loving people, truly and fully, and having that manifest through your actions, as well as the management of your time, is all that matters. I simply want to be better. My time with Rising Star Outreach has not been long enough; I haven’t given all that I want to give just yet. I am forever grateful that I was able to be a part of something so great, so powerful.

-- Alexandra Sullivan
Summer 2014 Volunteer
(United States)

Friday, July 25, 2014
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Medical with David

Colony Development

Volunteers with Navamani on Medical

This session we were able to go to Sri Ramachandra hospital with some of the leprosy patients and kids from the school. The volunteers were a little bit apprehensive at first, because it was their first time in an Indian hospital, and they didn't really know what they were in for. The patients and students know the drill though, so they took care of their volunteers. The volunteers mainly make sure that the patients get to where they need to go, and especially that the leprosy patients get seen, because people will jump in front of them and shove them to the back of the line.

One volunteer, Carrie Gaykowski said afterward:

“It was an eye opening experience. It was pretty sad to see how aggressive we had to be to make sure the leprosy patient got seen. After seeing that, I’m not going to complain about having to wait to see the doctor, since it seemed like we had to wait forever to be seen.”

The patients don’t seem to mind, and they appear to love the company of the volunteers on these trips to the hospital.

We were able to go to Barathapuram colony and treat the patients there. One of the patients, who is a barber, had really big ulcers on both of his feet. Despite these ulcers, he was as happy as anyone! He was making all the volunteers laugh. This seemed to make him so happy; he was just beaming at them. In talking to the volunteers afterwards, they said that he was their favorite patient that they saw. They loved his attitude. They couldn’t believe how positive he was despite his condition and his disease.

Catherine Hill, one of the volunteers remarked,

“It was really inspiring to see someone like that. If he can be so happy in spite of all that he has gone through, then I can be more positive in my own trials, which are nothing compared to his.”

The volunteers all remarked on how amazing it was to see these patients being so positive and optimistic despite their circumstances, so there is a lot to be learned from these incredible people.

-- David McLaughlin
Medical Coordinator
(United States)

Wednesday, July 23, 2014
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Merry Christmas from Rising Star Outreach!

Colony Development

Tuesday, December 24, 2013
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President's Letter: A Conspiracy of Love!

Medical

“ Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love!”

~ Hamilton Wright Mabie

At this time of year there is a wonderful spirit of giving because the seasonal celebrations of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanza engender feelings of joy and love. At Rising Star Outreach we also feel the excitement of the season, and because of your help we are providing for the needs of those affected by leprosy and also the important gift of hope.

Recently I spoke to a large group of Rotarians in Lansing,Michigan. They have supported Rising Star Outreach for many years and this month they made a large donation to expand our medical work in colonies located far from our campus and in desperate need of assistance. The motto of the Rotary, “Service above Self,” is inspiring, and spending time with the Rotarians was a special way to begin my holiday season. Without the generous support of countless individuals and organizations, Rising Star Outreach would not have the necessary funding to make a positive difference in so many lives. Thank you!

The students on our campus recently received an early holiday surprise when our Sponsorship Coordinator, Emily Wilson—and many of her friends, treated the Rising Star students to a holiday party, complete with personal stockings filled with practical items and fun treats! Kudos to Emily and her family and friends for generously sharing their time and resources. Our campus was filled with gleeful sounds of cheer and expressions of gratitude.

At the end of December, Rising Star students and staff will enjoy a holiday break to spend special time with their families. The campus will be quiet, but not for long because our “Goals for Girls” group will enjoy a volunteer session during the first week of January. (BTW--Check out our Volunteer Sessions for 2014—our celebratory year! What a great gift to give to your family or an individual child—the opportunity for adventure and service through volunteering at Rising Star. One of our volunteers recently shared with me that it was the “best experience I have ever had in my entire life.” Sign up now!)

Our Holiday Gift Giving Campaign begins this month and we need your help! You can help with a single one-time gift in four simple steps. Visit our web site at www.risingstaroutreach.org and click on WISHLIST. (On the right hand side of the page under Donate, Volunteer, and Sponsor a Child.) Once you click WISHLIST, it will take you to a page of gift ideas for your friends, family, co-workers, clients, and it’s a nice way to involve children or grandchildren. You can even make a donation in an individual’s name, which is a kind way to show you are thinking of them and that you are mindful of the needs of others.

http://risingstaroutreach.org/products/wishlist.php

If you are interested in EDUCATION, donate money to purchase books for the Rising Star campus library—a gift that will help a child enjoy the magical world of reading, or give the gift of a Classroom Achievement Board, which highlights the work of our awesome students. Our goal is to get one in every classroom!

Another simple way to participate in giving is to Sponsor a Child. By sponsoring one of our students, you give the gift of education, and when you educate a child, you begin to lift the next generation. The sponsorship is less than a $1 a day! Get your family involved and spread the love.

MEDICAL CARE continues to be a priority at Rising Star Outreach. Our goal is to have not only medicine, bandages, and other medical devises available to all patients, but also a bathing bucket, a towel, nutritional drinks, a warm blanket, clothing, and seasonal wear such as a hat, an umbrella, or a raincoat. Protective footwear is an incredible gift to help prevent infections, and mobility devices such as tricycles, canes, and walkers give patients freedom of movement. Join together as colleagues or as a family to donate toward the purchase of several AED’s (Automated External Defibrillator), a life saving device. With your help every patient will receive proper medical care!

We often hear the saying, “You can give a man a fish and he eats for a day. You can teach a man to fish, and he eats for a lifetime.” By teaching and supporting those affected by leprosy, they become self-sufficient and their world dramatically changes and thereby, the world changes! Begging demeans, but a simple MICRO-BUSINESS lifts the individual and their family, which has a powerful impact on the entire community! Consider in your gift-giving this year a $45 donation to purchase a goat, which will provide milk, meat, and money for an individual. A donation of $160 or only 44 cents a day, will help Rising Star purchase sewing machines for those who would like to start a tailoring business. What a blessing to give someone the gift of dignity—something that is more meaningful than many tangible gifts.

My heartfelt appreciation to all who give to Rising Star Outreach during this blessed season that “engages the world in…love.”

From all of us at Rising Star: Warm wishes for a lovely Holiday Season!

Sally Read

President of Rising Star Outreach

Monday, December 09, 2013
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Volunteer Session 3 Video

Colony Development

Monday, September 23, 2013
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BE CHANGED-- Kirsten Daines

Colony Development

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Gandhi

I knew that coming to India and volunteering with Rising Star Outreach would change my life forever, but I never expected it to change it so drastically. I don't even know where to start, or how to put into words the love I have for the children here, the leprosy patients, and the Indian culture.

These people have nothing but their love to give you, yet they give it all. Every last ounce of love they have in them is yours to keep the second you meet them. And you can't help but love them back; you try your hardest to reciprocate the amount of love they give to you, knowing you will never feel like you are giving enough.

From the first second you pull through the Rising Star Outreach gates you can feel how special it is, a place for changing lives, and a place that will change your life if you let it.

My first day of rotations I was assigned to construction. I was semi-optimistic that morning that it would be an enjoyable day, but again, I never expected it to be so fun. Rising Star Outreach has a way of sneaking up on you like that and totally shattering your expectations, in a good way.

During construction we were moving bricks for an on-campus sickbay for the children. There were some native workers there that day, three of whom were women. These beautiful women were moving sand in metal bowls on top of their heads. As I walked past them carrying a ginormous stack of bricks, they motioned for me to come over by them. Next thing I knew, I was carrying a bowl of sand on my head. They thought it was the funniest thing.

The rest of the rotation I was with these ladies moving sand and trying to communicate as best we could.

It was on this first of day of rotations that I learned you don't need words to communicate. While there may have been a huge language barrier, I was still able to connect with these sweet women in a way I never thought possible. We laughed, danced, moved sand, and formed a friendship. Who knew moving bricks and sand could be so beautiful?! I was again reminded of this communication lesson during medical rotations at the leprosy colonies.

On my first medical rotation we went to a small colony. I was at the oiling station. In those moments of massaging oil on the patients' feet and legs, another deep love was found. Language barrier? Who cares. I was able to connect with patients on a deeper level than I ever thought possible. Words were not needed.

One beautiful lady at this colony was in a lot pain. As I sat down by her and rubbed her back and sang to her, she put her hand on my face and spoke something in Tamil. I have no idea what she said, and probably will never know, but that doesn't matter. I was able to show her love in a society that shows these people no love at all, and I felt her love and gratitude for me.

Again, these sweet people have nothing, yet they give you all they have: their love. And they are so happy, regardless of their circumstances. Never mind that they have a painful debilitating disease, never mind that they are cast out of society, never mind that they have next to nothing; they are some of the happiest people I have ever met.

Education rotations are so fun! It's an opportunity to connect with a child one-on-one. Whether it’s coloring, reading, playing chess (or in my case losing in chess), or just talking with the children, you again connect on a deeper level. It's a beautiful experience, and you always walk away a better person with handfuls of children's drawings.

My favorite part of the day is play time. If someone could please explain to me how so much happiness can be packed into one tiny little playground, that would be great. I'm convinced it’s better than Disneyland. The children are so energetic that you walk away from play time completely exhausted, but feeling so happy and blessed. The children show so much love and kindness, and all they ask for in return is your love. And an occasional piggy back ride or underdog on the swing set.

Give them your love, every last ounce of it. Never skip a rotation. Never skip a play time. No matter how tired you are, I promise the nap is not worth it. Spend every second you can with the children and make the most of it. You won't believe how quickly the session goes by. Before you know it, you are packing your bags, saying your (tearful) goodbyes, boarding a plane, and wishing you could have even just one more day with the children.

As cliché as it sounds, live every second at Rising Star Outreach like it's your last.

When I read part of that quote by Gandhi, "Be the change," I like to take out the word "the."

BE CHANGED

Let India change you. Let Rising Star Outreach change you. Let it change your life.

I promise you won't regret it.