New and Old

It is humbling to see how God plans things...even when we think we have a plan.

We started out the day with plans for several vehicles to take those of us who wanted time to take pictures out in the direction of the school site but as we drove we realized that the villages and towns along the way still hadn't really started the day.
The vehicle I was in decided we would just proceed to the school site and have the opportunity to take photos of the school without a crowd. God had a wonderful surprise waiting for us.
We did indeed arrive before the crowd and decided to walk over to the old school. School is a generous description for what is a very small, dark, and cramped three room house that has served as the school. We arrived at the school about 30 minutes before start time and only two boys were there but within a few minutes the kids started arriving and what a treat to see them sing and see their smiles as Dottie Crane read a story to them.

A bit later the rest of the photo tour group arrived and the teachers herded the kids over to the new school and had them take their seats in the new desks. You could just see the wonderment on their faces. I found myself thinking perhaps the fact that this beautiful new school and desks is for them hasn't really become reality yet. They have been sitting on the floor of this little school and now I'm certain this new facility seems a bit surreal to them.

The teachers had the children sing songs including the national anthem of India. It was priceless and it made it very clear in my mind what our purpose really was for being here. We have been blessed to be part of this school building project.

Tomorrow we hold the dedication for the new school.