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.