Saturday evening, Sept. 19

Don't be surprised if you hear that my name is in the Guinness Book of World Records... I am considering submitting my name for two areas! Well, the first is the less likely to be accepted (I'm sure there is someone else with professionally cared for hands that may beat me out) - the most princess-like hands! Don't know why or how this is but my hands seem to think they belong on a princess over here. The first day we worked at Prem Dan, in helping with the laundry, I got a blister (large one) between my right thumb and my first finger from wringing out clothes. It broke before I realized it was even there and then I stopped with the laundry. In helping with laundry since then, I have stayed away from the wringing out of the clothes and have worn gloves as i have worked at one of the rinse stations (this is quite a process for all the laundry done for the ladies at Prem Dan - about 176 of them - with two wash stations follwed by three rinse stations and then the final wring-out and putting them into large metal buckets and carried up four flights of stairs to be hung up on the roof). Well, today, the rinse stations were all manned well when I arrived so I decided I would help in the wringing out. I figured my hands should do well with it by now. So away I went - wringing and wringing before realizing that my right hand had a bit of a sting to it. Took a look and sure enough - two rather large broken blisters right in the middle of the palm of my hand!! No!! And my left hand had a couple of threatening spots. I couldn't believe it - how is it that everyone else is wringing away and not getting blisters?? Ok - I guess my hands think they belong to a princess and shouldn't be doing hand washing (this is some kind of "detergent" that is used and a lot of it is really rough cotton but still, we're all doing the same thing). Anyway, I decided I could switch and start carrying the buckets up to the rooftop. Whoa! Got my exercise for the day - no need for a stair-master for me! - as I did 8 trips up and down with the bucket filled with wet clothes. Now, on to the other area I will be submitting my name in the Book of World Records - and this one I think I should be the hands-down winner - the most profusely sweating woman (I decided not to include men as I think Garrett might have a slight edge on me). I kid you not that I do not understand how I can continue, day after day, to produce so much sweat. By 8:30 this morning you would have thought I had dipped my entire bandana into a bucket of water - it was totally wet (no not damp - wet!) and the sweat was just rolling down my neck, my cheeks, into my eyes, down my back, my front, my legs (Laura said she didn't realize legs did that until she was here! :-D ). Day after day, I am amazed at how well my body produces sweat and therefore must really be trying to cool me off - probably doing a great job! So, I'm sure there must be some kind of award in this - just not sure how to submit my name - so funny!!! In reality, I'm getting rather used to it and it only bothers me when I'm feeding someone or changing a dressing and the sweat decides to drip from my nose! You know the saying "never leave home without it"? Well, to me it applies daily to my bandana!! Shoot - well, don't think I have time to go into our attempt to get back to the hotel from Prem Dan (always an adventure but today was particularly memory making!) or the recently painted street post that I leaned up against - hmmm - where was the sign mentioning "wet paint"?? But we did get back and I took a wonderful short nap! We'll go to dinner soon. Tomorrow should be a fun day. Starts off of course with Mass (how can you beat that??), followed by our usual time at Prem Dan. The afternoon, from 3-7:30, is a special time for the volunteers put on by the sisters - prayer, singing, skits, dinner. It actually is being held at Prem Dan (obviously in a differrent location than where we work daily). Should be lots of fun - a great break! I have been so amazed at our time here! Who but God could bring joy into being here? There is absolutely nothing about Calcutta that draws me except the joy each day in caring for these people and bringing God's love to them! Even the people I pass on the street, for the most part (important to note the "most part"), bring a smile to my face. I don't understand it - who can understand God's goodness - but it definitely is His goodness that brings me joy and the desire to get up each morning to see what awaits me. As the theme of the dinner tomorrow says "Make of your life something beautiful for God".