Our first proper outing was to the Sri Ramakrishna Temple. We had to take off our shoes, because it was a holy place. The temple was beautiful. We went around getting holy bracelets, and red ochre on our foreheads. When we came out, it seemed like every beggar that was in a half mile radius had swarmed around us. But out of all of them, one ten-year-old girl caused me to break down. She was carrying a seven month old child, and was begging. The reason she caught my eye, was because she had no idea how to hold the baby. So, because we were advised not to give money, I couldn’t just let her go on without helping her in some way. Alice and I went over and showed her how to hold the baby properly.
The smile and joy that came over the girl’s face, when we helped her, was just amazing. She was so surprised that we actually wanted to help her, and we weren’t going to just shove her away, like so many westerners have. The girls was so happy with that, that she stopped asking us for money, and just watched us from a distance. This has got to be one of the most moving parts of my time here. I wouldn’t have given that moment up for the world. - Lydia
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