Bowling and Bumpercars

Every week Beth would give us "allowance" to cover our food and transportation costs...general living expenses. We decided as a team that every time Beth gave us money, we'd put our extra from the weeks before in a "pot" to go toward something special for the sari bari women. It was a good "exercise." sometimes i'd think, "naw, i don't need to buy that coke, i'd rather give the money to the sari bari party." Don't get me wrong though...lots of times i did buy that coke, or ice cream...or whatever it was. regardless, we had plenty of money to throw a great party today.

We took the ladies to an "arcade." We were planning on bowling - and we did. But when we got there we also found out they had bumper cars. None of the ladies had been bowling before - and it was so fun to play with them, and watch them. it was this great party. Not very many pins were knocked over...but we jumped and celebrated and smiled and cheered every time one did!

Then came the bumper cars - which was hilarious to watch. i laughed so hard as i watched my friends driving the cars and bumping into each other - and getting stuck. Their smiles were amazing...their laughs contagious.

after bowling and bumper cars we went out to lunch. When we came back from South India, there was much talk at Sari Bari about how good the food there was. So, we decided to go to a South Indian Restaurant. For many of the ladies it was the first time they had the food. It was just a good day.

Last night for our community night Kyle sang. He's been writing songs about Kolkata - and it was amazing...one song was about the restoration of women who have worked in the trade, and are now at Sari Bari - and there was a line "Imago Dei is recognized." (Image of God is recognized). And it is so true. So many times as i've been visiting in the gach i've thought about how its not just their bodies, or minds that have been abused, and destroyed - its the very image of God in them that has been torn down, stolen, beaten out of them....and today, when i was watching the smiles of my friends playing bumper cars and bowling...laughing and having fun - that truth "Imago Dei is recognized" rang true. It is a long process. The women are not "finished" (Who is?!?!)...but the truth is that these women are on the path toward freedom and restoration - and my heart was dancing with theirs.

Today was a day that i would have loved to freeze in time forever. A day to live over and over again. a wonderful day. a gift - for sure!