Message from JoDee & Robert

Poverty, tears, joy, filth, friendship, service, love, heartbreaking, overwhelming emotions, tender, exhausting. These are only words, they will never be able to descibe or explain this experience. The YMAD team misses the children in their orphanages all ready and are trying to figure out how to get back again. This time has gone by way too fast. Every teen has talked about life changing experiences. The frustrating part will be that their friends back home won't get what they are talking about. We went to the Taj Mahal today, it was amazing. Almost as amazing as the 10 pizzas that were comsumed at Pizza Hut tonight. The teens were very excited to eat American Food. Tomorrow we visit the Amaber Fort and ride Elephants. Love to all

More Pictures!!

Ben Hale supervises kids in the Sahoo Ashram building volleyball poles.











YMAD youth do medical assesments on over 200 Kids. We find the kids in good health thanks to the improved sanitary conditions. The worst problem seems to be the teeth. We have been assure by the cmo that the government dentist will take care of them.








The kids at temple watch the YMAD team perform music and dance. The program is also viewed from surrounding walls and windows by other locals interested in the American Youth. Everyone wants a piece of the action!







The YMAD team paint the walls at the temple Ashram. The new paint realy brightens up the dingey walls.

Pictures!!! They are finally here!!

The YMAD team sing childs prayer to 30 children at the 1000 year old Sahoo Hindu Temple. The children just showed up to watch the kids. It was a moving experience for all of us. The children were totaly quiet during the song.

YMAD visits the Tajmahal...could they be any cuter!


Temple Kids make braclets

Mehla ashram get new beanie babies after the YMAD cultural performance.

Kalsuin Ashram gets new blankets

Mehla Gets new water heaters

Jipur and Agra

Robert called me last night to let me know that they were on their way to Agra. All the kids were asleep on the bus after the SUV ride down the mountain and the train ride to Delhi. He just wanted you all to know they made it to a more civilized location safely.

Many of you have asked about the container. I wish I had better news about it, but the Indian government is not being any easier on us. We actually got a letter from the storage company that said they were going to auction it off to the highest bidder. I guess they were concerned we wouldn’t pay the storage fees. That was resolved and now Robert is debating whether or not to just send the entire container back to the United States. So please keep it in your prayers.

FYI No earthquake.

A few parents have called or asked about the earthquake that was in India the other day. Our kids had no clue it happened, so if you are worried, they are all just fine.

Saying goodbye to Chamba

They have said good bye to their home away from home. It was a pretty heartfelt teary good bye when the kids left their orphanages. They gave these little kids their hearts. Steve McCurdy said "You come here and your heart breaks and your heart melts, and then your heart fills with love."

Some of the highlights from the last few days have been the cultural night and they "boys vs. India" basket ball game...which if you know your boys, you know how that turned out. I don't think one of them would ever join a basket ball team, but they made everyone laugh really hard. The girls however, are more athletic as a group and apparently rocked the house in a volley ball match. Now they are getting ready to go on the less exciting part of the trip...the tourist part.

I asked about all of your kids, and JoDee had wonderful things to say about each of them. She says "don't worry, they got it." They had a testimony meeting last night, and all the kids said wonderful things about what they have learned and how they have changed.

As a whole, they have learned allot about what to do differently and how to improve the situation over there. They learned that they could sponsor a child for five dollars a month and put them in private schools which would increase their chances of getting out poverty. They want to take a dentist next time, the teeth are in bad shape. JoDee was very excited about the difference the previous expedition had made, the fact that for the last few years the kids have been taking vitamins has made a huge difference with the medical problems.

I just want you all to know how grateful I am for your kids and the impact they have had on my life. They inspire me every day!

Email from Craig Hale

Thursday November 22--Thanksgiving

I had a brief chance to talk to Jenny (my wife) a little while after they finished their Thanksgiving feast this morning (their late Thanksgiving evening). On the last trip we had to teach the cooks how to mash potatoes. The only thing they could find to mash them with was an old 2 x 4 they had lying around. Surprisingly no one got any slivers in their mouths. I wonder what they used this year. It is interesting to think that the YMAD group’s Thanksgiving dinner was much like the first Thanksgiving—sharing food with the Indians and all. From what I understand they enjoyed their turkey (Tandorie chicken) and the rest of the American influenced Indian fare.

Apparently when they were in New Delhi, their bus wouldn’t start so all of the kids had to get out and push the coach-line sized bus to jumpstart it. That’s India for you.

Everyone is alive and well and having the adventure and experience of a lifetime. They have been working hard and forming strong relationships with the children and each other.

I’m sure you heard Sharma say many times that you cannot describe India, you have to experience it. He probably also told you that your children will not be the same when they return. Both statements are truer than I could have imagined. Just typing these lines causes tears to well up in my eyes. Going to India and working with the American and Indian kids was a deeply moving experience that shattered my heart. I’ve spent the last two years trying to put it back together again, hopefully a little differently.

We have much to be grateful for every day of our lives and especially on Thanksgiving Day. But this year we should all be especially grateful that our children are having the opportunity to serve others and learn that, as much as we would love to have the world revolve around us at times, this life is about keeping the world revolving for others. Serving, loving, caring for those in need. Simple concepts that become so difficult to apply in our daily lives.

May God bless your families, the YMAD team and all of his children, and inspire us all to propel our gratitude for what we have into action to help others.

More news.

JoDee called me last night to give me the most recent update. Everything is still going great. The only one who has gotten sick is the doctor...who is much better now. The orphanages are amazing, and the kids love being around all of the little Indian kids. Today they are going to each orphanage to sing for the kids, and do their cultural assembly, since the orphans wont all be able to come to the village for the big cultural night. My mom said that our kids were all given Hindi scarves and hats, and they wore them to temple they went to visit. There were tons of village kids following our kids and when they got to the temple they asked our kids to sing for them. It was a temple so they felt they should sing something more spiritual...they sang "a Child's Prayer" in harmony, and my mother said that everyone wept through the whole thing.

I guess there was a cricket match they participated in as well. At one orphanages that just has all boys, they found out our kids were going to play cricket...they asked if we could bring them back a ball. Greg Davis said no, but we'll be back to play something else with you. Then Greg took his kids (Jeni, Sarahjane, Michael, and some one else...sorry I can't remember) and bought cricket balls and bats to take back to their orphanage. They made the boys line up against the wall and close their eyes. Then they brought out the cricket equipment...the orphans freaked out and Greg Davis said it was the best day of his life.

At Jenny Hale's orphanage they work with some destitute girls, and the girls decided to dress Jenny, Jodi and Megan Morgan up like Hindi women, they braided their hair and did their make up, complete with nose rings.

I was able to speak with Hillary and Megan Morgan on the phone, and they both say they are having an amazing time. I asked Hillary if she was glad I made her go. She just laughed and said...duh! I think that means she is having a good time.

Letter from JoDee

Hello Everyone,
I don't think I will ever get over the poverty and joy of this country. Today I went to the hospital and had them take me to the pediatric ward. Many beds had 2 children in them passing infection back and forth. The labor and delivery would make you cry. It has many women delivering at a time on filthy cots next to each other. No epidurals. Eli thinks he is on a movie set and any moment Steven Spielberg is going to come out and say "cut" and then they will get rid of the filth and poverty and return it to the "real world". It is very surreal for the teens and adults as well. They are all physically and emotionally spent. They are in the orphanages all day playing with the children and working on projects. They are in love with the children. I will have to do a bag check to make sure they don't pack any children in their bags to take home with them. God bless America!

Thanksgiving.

Rumor has it most of you got to talk with your kids today. I heard from a few of you that it was wonderful. I was able to talk to Robert and find out some more information about the trip. They had an improvised Thanksgiving complete with chicken, stuffing, pearl potatoes, and beans and rice…they loved it. He said he took 15 of the kids on a hike up to a Hindu temple at 6:30 this morning. He said that it was beautiful, and the kids had some really neat experiences. The said "namaste" to everyone they passed, I can only imagine the reaction of the villagers. He said they are having lots of wonderful adventures, and he was in tears telling me how humbling it has been so far. I was told to tell you not to worry, the cinematographer that is with them is getting some amazing footage and everyone is taking lots of pictures. No one has been sick, and everyone is fine.

Ps. Lisa…He also mentioned that Jeni was pretty much the funniest one on the trip, and she has a ton of energy…are you surprised?

Chamba day 2

I just got word from India that everything is still going well. They went to the orpahanges today, they did not see the kids however. They assessed all the work they needed to do and are organizing the supplies so that they can make it all happen. They plan to be with the kids tomarrow.

They Made it!!

I just got of the phone with JoDee and a very sleepy Robert. They were in Chamba eating dinner. They said the kids thought train wasn't as bad as they had made it out to be. However the SUV ride up to Chamba made everyone pretty car sick. They got to Chamba mid afternoon and met with the YMAD Indian kids (a group of Indian teens who want to help). After that they were eating dinner and from what I could hear on the phone, they were all still pretty hyper. JoDee said the culture shock has been pretty interesting, the kids have seen all sorts of animals wondering the streets, and lots of poverty. The kids go to their orphanages tomorrow. They wanted you to know that everyone is doing just fine. I will let you know when I hear more.

Train Ride.

I have not yet heard how the trais ride was, but I do know they were to arrive in Chamba at about 9 pm our time. They are done traveling for a few days, which I know they are all excited about.

Sunday, November 18th

I just got off the phone with Robert and JoDee and they made it to India. They arrived at midnight and went straight to the hotel. Apparently there was a big wedding at the hotel and the kids all got to see it. They thought it was really cool. Everyone is doing fine, some of the kids have ear aches from the pressure changes. But all in all they are great.

Make sure you read the comments...

If you are not familiar with how a blog works, make sure you read the comments at the end of my messages. The kids have posted some great stuff. I guess they are on thier way to Dehli. I can't wait!

Friday, November 16th

Thanks everyone who came to the airport to see the kids off. It was amazing to see them all together, and finally taking the adventure they have been planning for the last year. I just wanted to let you all know that they just arrived to Los Angeles and they are currently waiting in line at Singapore Air. So far so good. For those of you who got to see the KSL 10 o'clock news, I hope someone recorded it. It was pretty cute. I won’t lie; I wish it showed more of the kids. Also keep your eyes peeled for a Deseret News article that should be out in the next few days. As soon as I know anything else I will pass it along.

Updates in India!

If you made it hear then you are more computer talented then most. I thought this would be a better place for me to post updates on the trip. This way I can make updates wether or not I am at my office. I hope every one is excited that they are finally leaving. It seems like they just started this program ten days ago, not ten months ago.

Please check here as often as you would like, I will try to post everyday if I can. If you need to get ahold of me my cell phone number is listed on our website.