“Just this once, let it be easy.” -Cynthia Lord

I have heard over and over the saying that hard things are the things worth doing. If you Google this, you will find that Steve Jobs, Theodore Roosevelt, and Tupac have all said (in slightly different syntax) a life spent facing difficult situations is the best kind. This project has challenged me in ways I never thought and to finally see the outcome almost doesn't seem real. 

Finally, I am back in Udaipur to complete this project once and for all. I am so excited that all of the donations that have had to sit in my bank account for 4 weeks are finally being put to a wonderful purpose. This morning I went to the Government Senior Secondary School Bhuwana which had their RO filter installed just this morning. The principal was happy and even though I didn't get to spend much time with the students since they were in the middle of exams, many of them said their "Thank You's" and gave me shy smiles and waves as we took pictures.

I have done the numbers. Granted, I am really bad with anything resembling a math equation but I feel like I have run through these enough that they are accurate. I will be able to install in a grand total of 18 government schools by the end of this project (aka Sunday). That is far more than my original plan of... one. I never thought I could do this. I never thought I would be supported by over $13,000 of donations. I never thought I was capable to make fair business deals with people who didn't speak my language. I never thought any of this could happen in general I guess. But maybe that is why it happened... because I wasn't the one who made this happen anyway. 

So far, 9 schools have received access to clean drinking water. They are:

Government Girl’s Senior Secondary School Ambamata who received a Waterstep M100 back in November. They are wonderful, bright girls who also helped me train the next school on how to use the M100.

Government Senior Secondary School Badgaon who received the other M100 system and went out of their way to show their appreciation with this small ceremony. Their campus is GORGEOUS and in this picture you can see the canopy of pink flowers that provide shade for the children during their lunches or gatherings outside. 

Government Secondary School Devali was quite cute because as I approached the school, the boys were leaning their heads over the 2 story balconies to see us arrive. With this school, I was not able to stay long because there were also exams going on, but they were extremely positive and excited to receive this gift. They also loved my iPad and the fact that I was taking pictures... so I took this picture of them. As you can see, there were quite enthusiastic after I showed them this and I'm about 60% sure I got them in trouble with their principal for being too loud. Oops...

Government Senior Secondary Boy’s School Bedla School is located in the middle of one of the old Forts of Udaipur. Therefore, the campus it literally like a school in the middle of an old Indian castle. Because who wouldn't want to get their education in a castle??? The boys and I got to have a long chat about why it was important to drink clean water and they promised me that they would use this filter every day (aka they promised not to drink out of the tap even though it was a few steps closer than he filter. That may sound dumb, but it's totally a factor in people drinking clean water).

Bal Samiti School near Jain Mandir Devali is the school for Destitute Girls that Glenn Marshal raised the funds for. The girls made cards for the GM children their age who had sold Valentine's Day grams to pay for their filter. Also, I interviewed the girls on what makes a good leader. Mostly, the they told me that a leader told the truth, was responsible, and was good at giving orders and having people listen to her. I was very impressed with the education and care these girls, most completely orphaned, were getting through this government school. Even though they did not have families, you could tell how much their school meant to them and how their classmates had become like sisters. 

I don't play favorites, but the Prayas Sansthan Bhuwana School hit home for me. It is a special needs school that is far from the city. Like the Bal Samiti School, all these children are orphaned. However, unlike Bal Samiti, they are orphaned not because their families are dead, but because their families didn't want to deal with their disabilities. I was shocked to learn that even one was the daughter of an influential government official who just couldn't deal with her daughters condition. It broke my heart because I thought of the special needs boys I work with at Mother Teresa's and how much joy they bring to my life. I couldn't imagine parents not wanting them. Anyway, the school's principal is called Papa because they love him so much and he takes care of them around the clock. The waste water from the RO filter will also be used in their garden that the children are taught how to grow. Pretty cool stuff.

Prayas Sansthan Bhopalpura School is the younger campus of Bhuwana but still serves special needs. I'm pretty sure it feeds into the older school as well. I was able to go in and play a bit with the tiny kids and there was on little girl with down syndrome who grabbed my finger for a full five minutes before I convinced her I had to go. I wasn't mad about it.

Devi Annapurna School in Sector Three was nothing short of an overload of adorable. There were children of all ages seated orderly in little lines waiting on us to arrive. We were not told beforehand, but they had readied a presentation for us in order to thank me for the RO filter. Several of the girls did dances for me and were dressed in traditional indian clothes (and they were SO SO SO good. I tried to show one below so you all could see what I'm talking about). I was able to speak to them through my lovely partner Madhu at the end. I told them how much God loves them and no matter what, no dream they come up with is too great that they cannot accomplish it. The teachers told me at the end that they thought God had sent this to them and I responded with "Well, I think you are right."

Like I said, this morning I was able to go to Government Senior Secondary School Bhuwana school. The principal was told this morning that the filter would be installed and in less than two hours (record time for this place, let me tell you) he was able to get a hole drilled into the wall so that plumbing and pipes would allow the filter to be used immediately. That just goes to show how much this technology is needed and appreciated. If the principal understands how important clean water is for his students, I know the whole school system will take up the efforts to teach the children to take responsibility for their own health.

From now until Sunday I will be installing 9 more filters... basically what I am saying is that I will be running around after the filter company installs these things and I will be meeting the students, listening to the faculty, and seeing the schools that receive filters. I am very excited... and also very anxious to get it all done. I have to be back in Kolkata to teach english orientation at Mother Teresa's on Monday or I could stay longer... but when you make a promise to a nun I hear that it is advised you keep it. Angry nuns are quite terrifying, and that's coming fro a protestant. More to come tomorrow!