Well we have done it! After a quick rush for Starbucks at the Dubai airport, we are safely aboard our final flight home! This is the point when everyone is tired and ready to be home.

Parents, please check our flight status and be on time to pick up your child tomorrow afternoon. I have seen it before and it is a very sad scene when one kid is left standing alone watching everyone else being greeted.

We are on Emirates flight 215 coming from Dubai and scheduled to land at 12:50pm, Sunday February 26. See you all soon!

We are on our way home! Boarding the first flight to Dubai. I will update again when we are on the epic 15 hour flight back to LAX.

The Taj Mahal! We made it and it was impressive.  Beautifully intricate details made of semi-precious stones shaped as flowers set in marble. 

We are on the van again for our five hour drive back to the Shanti Home. The long drive will be worth it because a proper Indian feast awaits us. 

Our flight is scheduled to depart at 4:15am so I will update again when we are on the first flight to Dubai.

Quick little update, we are showered and sleeping in luxury at the Shanti Home tonight!

Greetings. I apologize for the late post today. We had a slight snag in our travel plans today. The flight out of Allahabad back to Delhi was cancelled so the airline provided us with a bus to the airport in Varanasi. We are now at the Varanasi airport waiting for our 10:30pm flight. The comfy beds at Shanti Home Boutique Hotel will be especially appreciated for a group of tired travelers. Despite the long day everyone has a great attitude about all the little detours.

We made our final goodbyes to our boys. There were tears, pictures, requests for us to return, smiles, and hugs. I can assure you, the faces of those boys have been engraved on our hearts.

Sorry this is short. We are boarding. I will update tomorrow from the Taj Mahal.

Good Morning.  As you can see, Mr Ackermann made several wedding arrangements on behalf of four families, hope you don't mind a dowry is now required of you.  Our friend Niemi spent time this afternoon dressing the girls in their new saris.

Today we spent time at the school Varughese started in 1993.  Our girls really enjoyed interacting with the little girls at the school.  The greetings were tentative at first, but the children soon warmed up to our group and so began the games, pictures, smiles, and hand shakes.  After an hour at the school we left for lunch and a little shopping.  

The drive home was interesting, to say the least, because our team of 12 'fit' in a comfy 7 passenger car!!  Pastor Varughese had to leave us to return home and begin preparations for our dinner this evening at his home.  It was a memorable part of the trip indeed!  Not to worry, we have a video of that as well. 

Tonight is our last night at the boys home because we fly back to Delhi tomorrow afternoon.  Pastor Varughese is hosting us for dinner at his home tonight.  This is a special night because he will share some of his story of how God directed him in his current ministry. It is quite inspiring and humbling to hear of his journey.

This is one of the healthiest teams I have ever led.  All stomachs are handling the food well so health is good! Thank you for your prayers!

Not the best quality photo but gives you a little idea of the action right now.  It is about 7:40pm and we have played almost non stop since 1pm this afternoon.  This picture is the scene from the balcony onto the patio where laughter, random games with soccer balls, duck duck goose, and wonderful conversations are happening.  We are eating a later dinner because so many unforgettable memories are currently being made.  After a day like today, I think I can speak for the team when I say our hearts are full.  

Tomorrow we will visit the school, have lunch in town and do some shopping before returning for more games and smiles.  It is difficult to believe we have only two more days with our boys.  I can assure you it will be a heartbreaking day when we have to drive  away.