Arriving in India

After months of preparation and a long flight from the U.S. to Brussels, Belgium and then to India, I have finally made it to Chennai. We arrived around midnight in Chennai and immediately the hot, humid air warns me of future hot, humid days. After getting my baggage and finding an ATM to get some cash, I found a taxi that would take me to my hotel. This taxi was a small and old van that looked like it came straight out of the 70's. As my driver gets into the right side of the van and I hop into the back I quickly realize that this taxi ride is going to be an adventure when I couldn't find a seat belt to secure me into the seat. Driving on the left side of the road is a different experience all on its own, but what made the trip most exciting was the apparent necessity to constantly honk your horn as you play "king of the road" with the other drivers. The city itself is massive with buildings right on top of each other and trash all over the streets. As we drew closer to the hotel, my driver stops near some rickshaw drivers to ask for specific directions to my hotel. I was slightly apprehensive with our unexpected stop, not knowing what to expect, the drivers did not seem completely confident in their directions as they disputed among themselves but eventually we continued in the direction they finally agreed upon. Halfway down the street we stopped again next to some police men to ask for directions this time we received a much clearer response since we were only three or four blocks away from the hotel and continued to our desire destination.

The hotel itself is small but very neat and clean. The complimentary breakfast this morning consisted of sticky rice, a crepe looking flat bread, and a mushy bread which were all served with a spicy curry dipping sauce or a spicy berry jam. The hotel feels safe and comfortable but I plan to venture out soon to see some sites such as the Santhome Cathedral Basilica which is supposedly built over the tomb of St. Thomas the Apostle.

Black Light Dance Parties

My opportunity to volunteer in India is coming up quickly and I still have a lot to do. In an attempt to fundraise money for Rising Star Outreach, I decided to throw a black light parties. I enlisted the help of my friend Dean, who is starting a mobile DJ business, and his girlfriend to help me out with the music, black light effects and laser show. I got a few other friends involved to help me advertise and set up.

The Plan: to sell white T-shirts that people could draw on with highlighters that glow in the dark, and sell mock-martinis and other soda drinks and have all the proceeds go towards the charity program Rising Star outreach.

The T-shirts came from my roommate's dad, who owns a T-shirt printing company in Arizona, for a discounted price and with the benefit of returning any unsold T-shirt for no additional charge. I scheduled the big lounge of my apartment complex and posted fliers on all the doors, created a facebook event, and invited lots of people from campus.

The Events: We got everything set up and ready to go right on time. I must admit it they were some of the coolest looking parties I have ever seen, but few people actually showed up within the first two hours of the party. I was a little frustrated, to be honest, but I just came to the conclusion that even if people don't show up I might as well have fun at my own party. Though with the aid of mass texts we eventually had a good size group show up to dance and despite the few numbers I did receive some donations.

Final word on the party: Success. My friends and I had fun, it was a cool set up/idea and I received some donations for an awesome charity.

Rising Star Outreach

Service has always been a vital part of my life. There is a supernal power in providing service for others that allows an individual to shape their character and discover themselves by getting outside themselves to reach out and help others. In consistent service to others our perspective changes, we can reflect intrinsically and touch a divine nature that lies hidden in each of us. Motivated by pure internal desires we can unlock essential lessons for our personal progression that would otherwise remain locked and undiscovered until we go beyond ourselves and strive to touch in some significant way the lives of others around us.

Recently I have been given the opportunity to be a volunteer for a program called Rising Star Outreach. This program works with leprosy inflicted individuals in leprosy colonies near Chennai, India by providing childhood education to the children of leprosy patients, a micro-lending program to establish small businesses and medical relief through a mobile medical clinic. I will be working with this program for three weeks from July 23-August 13. My major contribution will be with the mobile medical clinic in cleaning wounds and re-bandaging open sores as well as other small tasks as directed by the doctors leading the mobile units. There is a great need for help in these colonies due to poor living conditions such as a lack of clean water and sewage facilities. These conditions provide an environment to propagate further diseases to their already compromised immune systems of the leprosy patients. As a way for us to help invest in providing the needs for the program they ask us volunteers to help fund raise $1750.

I have started this blog as a means to record my service adventures. Please join me in making this happen! I know that many of you feel similarly inspired by the work of Rising Star Outreach and will want to participate alongside of me. Everyone involved will share in the blessings of my service. By contributing $50 or more, you will become a Volunteer Partner. By donating please make sure to include my name, Raymond O'Bryan, as the volunteer you are supporting. I hope, while I'm in India, that you will include those I serve in your prayers. Together we can provide hope, an anchor in our lives, to those who most desperately need it.