I love it when a plan comes together.

"I love it when a plan comes together" -Hannibal, The A-Team

Buuuuuuuut that's rarely how life works. 

My schedule looks like this is supposed to look like this:

8:00- Breakfast
9:00- Bible Time
10:40- Fifth Grade Science
11:20- Study Hindi
12:15- Fifth Grade English
1:00- Lunch
2:00- Study Hindi
3:00- Hindi Lessons
4:30- Karate (I can explain...this may become a blog post of it's own soon. Maybe.)
6:00- Computer lab
7:00- Prayer
8:00- Dinner

9:00- Study Hindi

Instead, it normally looks like this:

8:00- 
Sleep through breakfast because I stayed up until 2am grading papers, grading exams, setting up lesson plans...At home, i was a morning person. Here, I am always overworking into the night. It's not totally healthy, but that's how it is. Besides, I have coffee now, so...Staying up late isn't too bad...Right? Right??...
9:00- 
Bible time...albeit quick since I may have slept through breakfast and one of the little children may need cuddles and kisses on the head... anyways, I need as much as the spirit as possible before I stand in front of an army of 25 screaming, yelling, goofy, wonderful fifth graders.
10:40- 
Fifth grade science. Possibly my favorite part of the day, to be honest. I had no idea that I had such a passion for teaching, being goofy and real with these crazy, silly, creative kids. I could never imagine having an entire class that is amazing at art, talented in singing and dancing, love to read, love to learn and are all, amazingly, right-brained and visual learners like myself. 
  I often had many problems with my grades due to the fact that I am right-brained and have ADHD along with its accompanying learning problems. In Indian schools, right-brained kids may be extremely misunderstood since the majority of Indian schooling is repeating/memorizing facts, never asking questions, never answering questions for fear of being slapped, or, God forbid, you voice your own opinion or even think for yourself. I hate to say that, but it is true. School here is mostly parroting facts and strict, yelling, slapping teachers. Granted, not all the teachers are this way, but I realize how much the kids learn more when you respect them as if they were not lower than you are, treat them as you would treat your peers but let them be kids, let them be creative and unique. 
  I will quote Katie Davis on this (author of "Kisses from Katie"...check our her website: http://katiedavis.amazima.org/), that "I cannot change [the country], but educated children could." 

  I realize the huge need for the Holy Spirit in Indian schools. In schools that are in tight, hardly-ventilated, claustrophobic, sweaty classrooms, they need Christ. In my teaching, I often can make certain points such as the fact that, no matter who a person is, no matter their "caste", people need to be loved. In a country where the caste system is still, unfortunately, used and sometimes even prevents children from education, prevents some children from school lunches, children need to know that God doesn't separate people into castes. God doesn't see women as less valuable than men. God doesn't hate people with AIDS or Leprosy. Through teaching science, I can teach about how beautiful creation is and how humans, God's masterpieces, need to be respected and loved and cared for. Every single person is important. Through teaching, I am showing them that, not only are they important, but selflessness is to be admired. Progress can only happen when people see the need to care for each other. "Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28). I know that this went down a bit of a rabbit trail...but...I feel like it was important.

11:20- 
Study Hindi. I am really working my hardest to learn Hindi as soon as possible. It has been so much harder than I ever imagined. I ask that you pray for me as this is very difficult and stressful.
12:15- 
Fifth Grade English. I still need to come up with more lesson plans, but, for most of their studies...I will be printing out comic book excerpts. Mostly because it's fun. Yeah.
1:00- 
LUUUUUNCH!!!!!!!! Man, there are no words to explain how much I love eating Indian food every day. YES. It is the best.
2:00- 
Study Hindi. Study, study, study! 
3:00- 
Hindi Lessons. My teacher is 15 and infinitely more mature and more intelligent than I am. His name is Khushi (Pronounced as "Coo-See", it is Hindi for "happy") and he has become like a little brother to me. He selflessly teaches me Hindi as much as possible and dishes out some pretty challenging homework (seriously though...). He takes so much time out for teaching me, I am so thankful. In return, I asked him if he'd like to learn how to play guitar. Of course, he said yes. Within the first lesson that I gave him this week, I introduced him to music theory and he can play the G, C, E and F chords. He's only been playing for two days. What even. What. Even. He is so smart. I almost envy the reality that my little brother is talented in everything and super smart. What even. Yeah. 
4:30- 
During this time, I am either teaching guitar to Khushi or the entire compound is taking karate classes. This is a recent addition to the schedule and has proven to not only build muscles I didn't know I had, but also I can't move today, so...yeeeeah. Taking a break from karate today.
6:00- 
Computer lab. I am teaching all of the kids at the hostel/orphanage how to use computers. Most of them have never used computers before and this is really exciting for them. Often, with the little girls, after their lessons, I am told "thank you" over and over and covered in kisses and hugs. It is a daily reminder of my need to be here.
7:00- 
Prayer. Every single day, the kids will worship and pray to the Lord together. I have never been to a worship service so beautiful... so many languages (Oriya, English, Hindi, sometimes Telugu or Tamil), so many beautiful, happy tears, hands raised, children falling to their knees and hearing my 71 little sisters and little brothers praying all at once, New-Testament-style, shouts of worship and praise for the Lamb of God. In many cases, this daily act of selfless, genuine worship could confuse or even disgust American Christians. This saddens me. How can you not fall to your knees, coated in tears, hands raised to the God who was murdered for you? No God is like our God. There is no rock like our God. I treasure the time I spend worshiping with my 71 brothers and sisters. 
8:00- 
DINNERRRRR!!!/Watch Indian soap operas with my two host sisters and my host mom. I love my two sisters, Christy and Justy! Christina, 10, and Justina, 8, are young but act older and have become some of the best friends I have ever had. They are goofy, silly and I can be myself with them. I love them as if they were my own little sisters and love the reality that, despite their age, I can be real with them and have deeper conversations with them. My host mom, Suphala, is amazing. She has become my second mom and is one of the most beautiful people I know. I truly value the time that my "little sisters" and my "mom" spend during dinner because they are so special to me. I love them so much and we have so much fun by simply watching TV together. 

9:00- 
Study Hindi AGAIN. I have never been so faithful to studying before. It is God helping me through this...because I am easily distracted. Hahaha. This time may go until midnight or later because I will be distracted I will be working soooo harddddd. Mostly.

This is how the average weekday works out for me. I wouldn't have it any other way. I love the fact that my daily task is to out-love everyone around me and make people happy. Granted, most of the schedule may be beautifully interrupted by needing to spend time one-on-one with one of the teenagers because they need someone to talk to, one of the little ones may need a boo-boo bandaged and kissed, someone may need help with something, someone may be crying due to having a bad day and just need someone to bring them cookies and a hug. 

There is never a second I am doing nothing or sitting still-- and I love it!!