Category: Service Vacations

Every single day and every moment of my trip has been amazing. I have cried so much on this trip because of the over abundance of love and compassion I received…especially rewarding is being loved and cared for by those who materialistically have the least.

The other day Stacey, Lanie, Laura, Britany and I discovered another organization called Pingalwara. Turns out that two of my dad’s cousins have dedicated their life to this organization. Pingalwara is an organization that was started by Bhagat Puran Singh. It is located by Amritsar very close to one of the most beautiful religious places in the world the Golden Temple.

Bhagat was a man who dedicated his life to working with those that need it most. 95 years ago, a messiah named Ramji Das who later became Bhagat Puran Singh, came into this world. He realized that he received godliness through his love for the human beings.
Some of the people that Pingalwara takes care of include those that are basically abandoned from society, including windows, handicapped children, AIDS patients, sick, old and injured human beings. Today Pinglwara has over 983 patients. Pingalwara has its own treatment clinic, education center, rehabilitation center and much more.
We were able to meet Dr. Inderjit Kaur who is now the current President. We were shown one of the schools that provide free education to those that need it most. We also got to walk around the hostel for the school children as well as the female wards. The school children were more than happy to play with us and show us their rooms. We also spent some time in the female ward. During the time their one of the older mentally challenged ladies hugged me and she began to cry. I’m not sure why, but some how there was a moment of oneness and love. Another lady kissed my hand. It seems that every time I wish to give….I am the one given to.

“Humility is my mace. He dust on the feet of humans I touch is my shield. I am protected by these two weapons; no one can over-power me.” Guru Arjan Dev

My chest swelled with pride as I saw them in action. Tiredness was no excuse and language was no barrier. They worked and they played. They cooked and they served. They coughed and they sneezed. They sang carols and danced garba. They were amazing.

“They” were :

Mike – a goro chokro out to find a desi chokri. When is the wedding?

Albert – dependability in a dhoti who almost got mowed down by a cow (or is it mooed down?).

Jose – an angel who washed dishes for three hours straight (and saw bison).

Marcella – who was pure composure and politesse in a cafe’s chaotic kitchen.

Lanie – a giver, a lender and a sharer who broke a tourist record (can’t tell or she will kill me).

Supun – a “just like an Indian” who shopped with two wild women in Bombay and nearly lost his life in an autorickshaw (the shopping was scarier).

Laura – who gave talks that kept producing tears for which she never produced Kleenex.

Brittany – who became a “new and improved” sassy Brittany, till her mother rescued her from me.

Stacey – experience in a cafe and a pesto and pasta maker.

Jason – worship and devotion….for Angela of course. With eyes only for her, I wonder if he saw India??

Angela – tolerant of promises not kept and schedules not followed…what followed HER were all the cameras.

Gianna – self-assured and always enthusiastic, receiving “rock star” treatment in a teacher’s home.

Carolina – maturity and alertness and consideration….and a future fellow traveler???

Kristeen – who made my day by finding a fellow Poonjabi in Gujjuland.

Sheetal – kindess and coolness and willingness to try anything and help anyone.

Nirali – who really is “nirali” (unique) and someone who survived our visit with good humor and sanity intact(no mean feat this!).

Sukh – someone who needs a shave….just kidding! No really !!! Shave the beard and I will tell! :)

and me???? I was someone who saw a different India. Amazing how you can see this India on the same visa.