By Don McNeill, India Child Sponsor
Tuesday 16th September 2014 was a much anticipated day for us. It was arranged with World Vision earlier in the year that on this day my daughter Kathy and I would visit my sponsored child, Bhawana, in the Jaipur project.
The day finally arrived. Mahendra, a driver from World Vision, arrived at our hotel and took us to the Jaipur office where we met a number of the staff including Josiah and Nithin. After being given details of the project work in Jaipur, signing some forms and enjoying some refreshments, we set off with Nithin and Mahendra to meet Bhawana and her community, which was located in a poor area of Jaipur where World Vision has established development projects. The child sponsors for the Jaipur project are all from Australia.
Kathy and I were surprised as we drove up through the streets of the community to find a large colourful marquee in the street with pink and white balloons. It was so unexpected, so generous and such a humbling experience to realise how much the community appreciated our visit.
We were led onto a stage and seated as the guests of honour. Flowers were presented to Kathy and I, then colourful Rajastani hats, the like of which I have seen grooms wearing at Hindi weddings.
It was such a joy to meet my sponsored child, Bhawana, and her family: her brother Dev, father Manoj and her mother.
There were about 50 or so mothers and children seated in the marquee, enjoying the activities as welcoming speeches were made and photos taken with Bhawana’s family and the World Vision staff.