Meet My Friends!

Because meeting new people and building relationships is an important part of this experience, I thought I’d introduce you to just a few of the wonderful people that are part of my daily life in India.

Meet Kyle, Kim, Charly, & Presley

My life has been marked by the continual reminder that the right people enter our lives exactly when we need them. Kim has been a friend and colleague to my mom for years and we had a unique relationship when I was a high school student—she connected with me during those oh-so-dramatic teenage years and I have always admired her. We didn’t keep in contact much during college and grad school, though I’d hear occasional updates from my mom. Several months after I decided I’d be coming to India, I found out that Kim and Kyle and their adorable daughters, Charly and Presley, would be moving to India where they would be missionaries at Ashish. It was likely no coincidence that our time at Ashish overlapped and yet another reminder that God’s time is always perfect. They have so selflessly committed themselves to serving this ministry and their sincere devotion to the work that needs to be done at Ashish is so evident. They display such a genuine sense of generosity and commitment.

These two little cuties keep things lively too and will likely make frequent appearances on my blog.

Meet Magdalena

My adjustment to India would not have been as easy without the fast friendship I formed with Magdalena. Also a volunteer intern at Ashish, Magdalena and I are “flat-mates” and have quickly developed a great connection. Magadalena is from Germany and has her bachelor’s degree in speech pathology. She’s been here since February, so she is quite familiar with Delhi and I rely on her a lot when trying to figure out the culture. I’d be lost (quite literally) without her! It is such a blessing to have a great friend to girl-talk with, process our experiences at Ashish, and explore India together…I think I may have also convinced her to be my new workout buddy! Like me, Magdalena has a gentle spirit, a great sense of humor, and is a fellow adventure lover; she is simply lovely.

Meet Preeta

I have the privilege of receiving the generous hospitality of my fabulous hostess, Preeta. While in Delhi, I will be staying at Preeta’s home, along with Magdalena and Preeta’s two nieces. Its fun to be living in a house full of women and Preeta has made me feel right at home. She also works (really hard!) at Ashish so the three of us (Magdalena, Preeta, and I) commute together and, as soon as we get home, Preeta begins to prepare meals for us. She is an outstanding cook (provides us with healthy, hot meals 3 times a day), which is spoiling me rotten. She is patient enough to consider my peculiar vegan preferences in the meals she prepares for me and even made a special trip to a store to find me some soy milk! I may have to readjust my expectations when I return to my parents’ home for the summer.

Meet Geeta

Although I don’t get the chance to see her on a daily basis, Geeta is very important because she is the director of Ashish and also was my first main contact in India. We met for the first time in November when she was visiting the Chicago-area and her passion for autism and Ashish was so captivating, that I had no reservations about the idea of coming to India. She has the most wise and beautiful spirit. Geeta is currently on sabbatical so she’s not in the office during my time here, but I will likely still get to see her on a regular basis—Geeta and Preeta are sisters and live in the same apartment complex. She is a strong woman who is deeply knowledgeable; her dedication to the children and staff at Ashish is so evident in her words and actions (she has worked relentlessly from her home, even during her supposed “sabbatical”). I truly her all the credit for making this experience a reality for me.