After lunch at the hotel, we loaded into a couple SUV taxis and cars and headed over to the site of our first footwashing. We'd only been in the car for 10 minutes when the taxis pulled over and parked on the side of the main road next to barber stations and fruit carts. We unloaded and walked down a small road, around a corner, and into the courtyard of what looked like a community center. Men, both young and old, were gather at the back and women were seated on chairs at the front. Children were running around, some gathered at the front and sat down to stare at us. (See picture.) 
Once we arrived everything began quickly and without much ceremony. Some pink rose petals were sprinkled on the tables in front of us and there were also bottles of mineral water for us to drink since it we were outside and it was quite warm. This location was unique because the ceremony was opened by a Buddist-monk-in-training who gave a prayer asking for peace and unity. Then Sunil began speaking and singing with Earnest and Pranjal playing the instruments. When Sunil speaks, he will speak and then flow directly into song without skipping a beat of the Message he is delivering. Since music is a big part of Indian culture, TruthSeekers uses songs that they've written, as well as some Bollywood songs, to help communicate Truth with the low-caste Indians.
Once we arrived everything began quickly and without much ceremony. Some pink rose petals were sprinkled on the tables in front of us and there were also bottles of mineral water for us to drink since it we were outside and it was quite warm. This location was unique because the ceremony was opened by a Buddist-monk-in-training who gave a prayer asking for peace and unity. Then Sunil began speaking and singing with Earnest and Pranjal playing the instruments. When Sunil speaks, he will speak and then flow directly into song without skipping a beat of the Message he is delivering. Since music is a big part of Indian culture, TruthSeekers uses songs that they've written, as well as some Bollywood songs, to help communicate Truth with the low-caste Indians.
One of the ladies in our group, Lynelle, a little bit about herself and why she was there. Jody and Win also shared. Then, I hardly noticed when it happened, there were chairs and buckets at the front and we got up and started washing feet. Women could only wash womens feet, and we started with the oldest women. We tried to coax the women to come forward, sometimes they wouldn't come up unless urged to by some of the local men who spoke to them in Hindi. I washed maybe 6 or 7 womens' feet. When I wasn't washing feet, I was helping empty basins and hand out towels.
While we were still washing feet, about 20 minutes later, we sang another song and then we said a prayer. Then Deshpande came and got us to leave. We had to follow him closely and leave without a lot of announcement. You see, we had about 50 kids following us down the street and alley to the waiting cars and it was quite a task to stay together. Once the men escorted us to the cars we stayed in there until they finished gathering their equipement and joined us so we could leave. The kids remained swarmed around the vehicles and just stared at us or tapped on the windows. It was hard to leave without offering them everything their eyes were asking for--hope and love.
We arrived back at the hotel and met together on the roof in order to debrief. Several Indians were there who had been a part of the day's ceremony. One of the women offered to give the ladies on our team Henna tattoos. It was really fascinating to watch and I like tattoos - so it was a win/win for me!
We left for dinner shortly after - we walked up the road to a restaurant. Since the food took a long time to arrive (and it wasn't very good either), I ended up walking back to the hotel to eat in the hotel restaurant. I stayed up talking with a few members of our team before going to bed exhausted.
Day 3 - over.
While we were still washing feet, about 20 minutes later, we sang another song and then we said a prayer. Then Deshpande came and got us to leave. We had to follow him closely and leave without a lot of announcement. You see, we had about 50 kids following us down the street and alley to the waiting cars and it was quite a task to stay together. Once the men escorted us to the cars we stayed in there until they finished gathering their equipement and joined us so we could leave. The kids remained swarmed around the vehicles and just stared at us or tapped on the windows. It was hard to leave without offering them everything their eyes were asking for--hope and love.
We arrived back at the hotel and met together on the roof in order to debrief. Several Indians were there who had been a part of the day's ceremony. One of the women offered to give the ladies on our team Henna tattoos. It was really fascinating to watch and I like tattoos - so it was a win/win for me!We left for dinner shortly after - we walked up the road to a restaurant. Since the food took a long time to arrive (and it wasn't very good either), I ended up walking back to the hotel to eat in the hotel restaurant. I stayed up talking with a few members of our team before going to bed exhausted.
Day 3 - over.
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