Last Day

We had an amazing day today and are filled with so many mixed feelings. We are excited to come home and indulge in some Cafe Rio or a Venti Chai Latte and sleep in our own beds, but we are also filled with sadness. These kids have jumped into our hearts. They have volunteers come through Rising Star throughout the year at two-three week intervals and yet they are so open, so willing to share their lives with us. In America, I can see these transitions causing a closed attitude or cynicism. Here there is only gratitude. It's an important lesson for us all to remember.

We spent the day in Mamallapuram. J'Amy, Natalie, Claire, and Riley went surfing in the Sea of Bengal with James  (Promethean Spark) and Nery (Rising Star).  They said the waves were strong and they did more boogie boarding than surfing. They had SO much fun! Then they went to lunch at Moon Rakers - an amazing restaurant - then they went shopping.

Another group, Baylee, Megan, Paige, Michael,  Leslie, Erin (Rising Star), Klarissa (Rising Star) and Rosie (Rising Star) shopped first then went to the pool and the Sea of Bengal. They loved it. They swam, they had french fries and pizza and were basically in heaven. Paula and I shopped and then took a Rickshaw to the stone temples, which Mamallapuram is famous for. We had a ball! Here are a few photos.

Afterward, we had our last playtime. There were a lot of pictures and a lot of tears saying goodbye to our Rising Star kids!