MORE PICTURES!

Yesterday at the orphanage we just hung out with the kids and a photo shoot seemed like a great idea!

Pinky, one of the girls we are staying with, really wanted to take a picture of us with the cows, we weren't impressed!

This is Gido and he was very proud of his biscuits!

Last week when we were on the roof of the orphanage we took a picture from left to right it's: Roopasna, Parina, Simone, Pinky and Chelsea.

Chelsea and I playing chess and talking with some of the kids at the orphanage.

WE FIGURED OUT PICTURES!!!!!!!

A woman from the slums in Mumbai doing some laundry,
Chelsea and I have gotten quite good at laundry!

Chelsea and I washing dishes for the young kids in the slums at the HOPE Centre.

The Lunch that we feed the kids everyday at the HOPE centre there are like 40-50, and they are very sweet!

Chelsea and I are doing very well! This is from the rooftop of the orphanage (note the smog!)


Well hope this gives you an idea of what we've been doing.

WE LOVE AND MISS YOU ALL!!!!

So, we are nearing the end of week two now, and the time is just flying by (sorta). Since our last post we have learnt how to do laundry (outside on the cement), taken our first of many rickshaw rides, learnt some indian dance moves, gone to a birthday party, been gawked at like there's no tomorrow (we've created a rating scale too), gone to a random couples home for tea, watched many cricket matches, ate goat that was hanging fully intact from a roadside stand (and covered in flies), reversed down a highway in traffic because we missed our turn, made roti (the indian flatbread), and learnt to count to ten in marathi!!!! Its been quite the adventure so far and each day brings something new, not that its always the most hygenic! We've been at the orphanage most days so far, and are getting to know more about the kids and their backgrounds so its been super interesting but also quite the reality check. So far we've still kept healthy, which is quite surprising and a blessing considering some of the things we have eaten. We love you and miss you all!!!!!!!! 2 weeks down, 23 to go!

Our first few days....

Well, we just thought we would give you all an update on the past few days. At the moment we're unsure how often we'll post but we're thinking once or twice a week depending on whats happened and whether or not we have access. On monday Manoj, the Pastor we are staying with, wanted to take us to McDonalds in Mumbai, which was lovely, and on the way we saw an elephant which was so cool!!!! The traffic is so different here so we are slowly getting used to that, a short honk on the horn can mean anything you want it to mean so that's an adjustment. Over the past few days we have gone to both the Ashayala orphanage where there are 33 children as well as the HOPE centre where they feed children from the slums. At the orphanage we play games and sing songs and yesterday we even watched Lion King!!! At the HOPE centre they provide teaching and lunch for around 50 or so children from the a slum in Mumbai, majority of the children are from mothers who are part of the Red Light District, so that has been an eye opener for both us, but also an amazing experience. We have had lots of curry and they have had to tone it down quite a bit for us. The other night Chelsea ate a green chillie and then drank an entire litre of water! She was whimpering for a bit after that. Oh Chelseas bag arrived on Tuesday night so thank you everyone for your prayers! We'll keep you posted on whats to come! Enjoy your cool weather at home, because we are SWEATING like little pigs here!

Love Chelsea and Simone

WE'VE ARRIVED!!!!

So we have officially begun our journey, and it is a warm one! We left Victoria for Vancouver on Thurday and then left Vancouver for Seattle, Seattle for Amsterdam, and Amsterdam for MUMBAI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Our flights and connections went super well, we had no problems at all finding the gates and getting everywhere. The plane rides were pretty great, played a lot of our new found favourite game called Reversi (we highly recommend it for future travellers) and also watched a bunch of movies to pass the 20 hours of flying. Our seat buddies were great - one was from Sweden on her way to England, and the other was from Seattle on her way to Kathmandu. However, everything was too good to be true. When we arrived in Mumbai, Simone got her backpack, BUT Chelsea did not. And still does not have it. So right now were living out of the one, so if you could pray for that, that would be fantastic!!!!!
After waiting an extra 3 hours after arriving in Mumbai for missing baggage claims, we finally got out of there and entered a whole new world. a new fantastic point of view (you can sing the rest to yourself). We left the airport and were surrounded by hundreds of people with signs for pickup. Unfortunately, we didn't know what Manoj looked like, and vice versa so it was a bit of a toss-up.. but we found him along with 2 other members of his church with some beautiful flowers waiting for us! ... they are very patient people, as they had to wait for us outside for that great 3 hours of life. We left to Manoj's apartment in New Mumbai, driving past the orphanage along the way. His wife leah (or beah - we arent quite sure yet) and daughter manasi were there to greet us, and we got to share some chai and bananas with them, at 3:30 in the morning. They are super generous people, and welcomed us into their home so graciously. On Monday we will begin helping out at the orphanage, but for today we are just resting up and trying to avoid any jet-lag. We love you and miss you all!!! Please keep us in your prayers, and see you in 179 days :)
Love Simone and Chelsea