sensory overload

To all who have been looking here, sorry I'm just now posting. I have not been able to get to internet so I'll do my best to bring you up to speed of the past four days here in Calcutta.
What comes to mind to summarize the past few days is sensory overload. There are 20 million people in Calcutta. That's 10 times the number of people in the city of Dallas. Two and one half million of those people are homeless. Another three to five million of those people live in the slums (overcrowded villages of people living in rooms the size of most American garages and making about $2 a day). The slum people are essentially in bondage to "slum lords" who overcharge these people for renting their dilapitated rooms.
We visited two of these slums over the past couple days, and presented a dramatic retelling of the parables of the lost sheep, coin, and son using puppets and games. There were about 70 kids on one day, and another 30 on the next. The kids were very into it, and unexpectedly, so were many of the mothers and adult bystanders ("What in the world are these white people doing here?").
None of this would be possible without the courageous efforts of a woman named Smriti. She has been building rapport with many of the familes in the slums for the past year and a half. She is an incredibly joyful and motivated woman. Within the past year she has established a "school" (sort of a formal education) for the children in one of the slums and has started a sewing school for some of the young mothers. We were able to meet these women who are extremely excited about the privilege. If they complete this training, they will be able to earn a dignified wage and life for themselves and their families. In the midst of the sewing, Smriti is also teaching them about Jesus. I can't help but connect the incarnation of God's love for humanity (God sending his Son as a lowly servant, to come into the world to give life to the lifeless), and Smriti's willingness to humble herself and come into the slums to serve these people by showing them what true life can be. What a powerful reminder this is for me--to give life is to sacrifice something of your own--wow!!
Our team is getting along well. I'm very thankful two women have joined the team (Adrienne and Shelley). They were able to really connect with the women in the slums in a way that men cannot. Randy has also been such an asset to the team, as his fun-loving and kind spirit has put a smile on so many faces, whether he's posing on a rickshaw with some of the kids or cracking a joke in the hour long taxi ride while sitting in wall to wall traffic. This is a great team of people to be with.
Today is our last day in Calcutta. Tomorrow we head south to Rajahmundry. We spent the day seeing some of the sights. One of which was an area of the city with a large Hindu temple. The streets surrounding the temple were bathed in vendors selling items to offer to the gods and perform necessary rituals. I actually really felt a darkness while walking through here. To see so many people celebrating their devotion to an array of gods they do not know. To see their desperation for some sort of "blessing." And all the while, all of the brokenness surrounding this building. Literally. People lying on the street dying, crying, and begging. Women selling their bodies. And police officers sitting in the shade as though they were there to keep it that way. My heart hurt. My mind ached. My spirit uneasy. Quite a way to end our time in this city of sensory overload.
There is so much more to tell. Perhaps I will share more of the stories from Calcutta when my mind is rested. Thank you for reading and praying for us.