Well, we’re back in Kolkata for a quick break before heading on to the next school - a chance to recharge our batteries, both literally and figuratively.

Having shot over 1300 images in 24 hours, you’d think I’d feel exhausted.  I haven’t felt this alive in a long time.  I’m sleeping less - waking at 3 am each day, feeling as if I could take on the world (but unfortunately am stuck in a train and can’t even take on the next car).

We took a train 16 hours from Kalkata to Kesinga, in Orissa, to visit New Life Orphanage and School.  What I experienced there was one of the sweetest times of my life…..

As we drove up to the orphanage, these 75 children stood in line, all dressed up to present us with a welcome to their home.  75 Beautiful faces.  75 apprehensive smiles.  75 little hearts.  All in a row.

How do I even put in to words what these children have done to my heart??

“Sister, sister!” I heard over and over as they asked for another “snap” and to see the picture I took.

I got to hug, cuddle, tease and play.  I got to dance (Indian style, and apparently I’m pretty good at it).  I learned how to pop leaves in my hand, and saw that children who have no toys can turn their flip flops in to a game.

What I didn’t see was an orphanage lacking in love or hope.  These children are being lovingly raised by a family & staff who have dedicated their lives to serving others, and are being cared for and supported by prayer & donations.

These children praise God in ways I have never heard or experienced.  They may not know the love of their earthly father, but they do know God’s love, and you can see it on every one of their faces.

Of course I wanted to pack one up (ok, maybe two or three) and bring them home with me….but I also know that I didn’t leave them in a place lacking in love, grace, truth, and hope.

To learn more about new life, you can visit our website: http://us.wwcs.org/slumschools/slumschools_newlife.html

- Lynell Shooks, Staff Photographer for Student Sponsorship

I was warned.

And re-warned, and re-rewarned.

About how utterly, devastatingly dirty and crowded it is.

But I wasn’t warned about how utterly, devastatingly beautiful it is.  The people, the faces, the sea of humanity - - each one an image bearer of my beautiful God.

Before I left one of my coworkers shared a great devotion about Christ leaving his divinity to enter our humanity - and how it would be like us turning over a rock, seeing a sea of ants, and deciding to go and live and become like an ant (it’s an analogy, not theology).

I thought I might look at this like something in to which I would never want to step.  On my way here I prayed constantly to God, asking him to see beauty, and to see him wherever he looked.

And I have.  Wow, have I ever.  Instead of just seeing the stinking sweat of bodies, I look in to eyes, see faces, and heard chatter, and laughter, and seen a community not just individuals.

I have so much in my head, but as I am here, awake, at 2:30 in the morning, I’m just so in awe.  In awe.

Of this beautiful disaster.

- Lynell Shooks, Staff Photographer for Student Sponsorship