Getting ready for the water delivery man. We use anywhere from 75 to 100 20-liter bottles of purified water each week between the hostels and the school. Vickie makes sure the water gets ordered and has the empty bottles ready for pickup. We are working on a plan to install a reverse osmosis water purification plant on the property that will purify 1000 liters per day. We have plenty of well water, it just isn't safe for drinking or cooking.
In the storeroom with coconuts and bags of peanuts harvested from the Rising Star farm. Notice the bananas hanging on a line to keep them fresher. The storeroom also has shelves of other supplies and large bins for commonly used stock. The supplies give some idea of the cooking practices in Tamil Nadu. This is the only place where I've seen chili powder stored in a 15 gallon container. No wonder my mouth has been seared!
Signing for the fish delivery. Our children get fish twice per week and eggs three times per week to provide their protein intake. Most people here are vegetarians, but we need to provide the children more protein if they so choose. The fish man arrives on his motorbike with a burlap bag of freshly caught fish twice per week. Vickie's job is to weigh the delivery so we can pay him accurately. If she is busy and cannot see him right away, as was the case in this photo, then he cleans and cuts up the fish before she weighs it.
Visiting some cultural sights in the area. This is a large sculpture of a sacred bull at an enormous Hindu temple in Kancheepuram, one of India's seven sacred cities. The temple covers about 40 acres and was built during two different Tamil dynasties in the 11th and 14th centuries. We enjoyed a nice guided tour on this day, led by a local man who spoke very passable English. The very interesting tour cost us the equivalent of $2.50; affordable even for us.
Vickie has become very involved in medical care at the hostels and in the colonies. We have a basic supply of hydrogen peroxide, antibiotic ointment, gauze, and bandaids that take care of most injuries. Kids have had several accidents that required sutures and a couple of surgeries, but everyone heals well in the long run. Thank goodness we haven't had any snake bites. Here Vickie treats one of the coconut harvesters that clipped his ankle with a machete.
Working with the mobile medical team in the leprosy colonies. Vickie assists by cleaning active skin ulcers and rewrapping the bandages. Rising Star Medical serves several colonies in the area with a weekly schedule of visits. We have a medical van that carries supplies and the patients' medical records. The team includes one or both of our doctors, an RN, a nurse assistant, Vickie or another volunteer, and the driver.
Oh yes, she still cooks. The kitchens are basic but certainly serviceable. Vickie grew up cooking with gas so she feels right at home using our two-burner counter top stove. Our range of familiar recipes is quite limited due to the lack of an oven and scarcity of American ingredients, but there are plenty of vegetables to eat with rice or pasta. We have located several "American edibles" stores in Chennai and we are happy to have pancake mix and maple syrup, some pasta, Raisin Bran, and the occasional package of Oreos.
Thank goodness Vickie has time to do a little shopping and buying for herself once in a while. She purchased this beautiful silk saree in Kancheepuram, the capital of India's silk industry. She has also purchased a less expensive polyester one that looks great on her. I am encouraging her to get whatever she wants while she can. I don't know that we will ever travel in India again.Vickie does many more things than depicted here, but I hope you enjoy this peek at her worthy service and opportunities at Rising Star Outreach.
