A crowd is like a giant living organism; it feels, moves, reacts and changes with its energy, with the constant ebb and flow of human emotion.
If you ever feel as though you have it under control - this is the moment when you lose it completely. It overtakes you, resulting in chaos and mayhem, as the energy takes over and there’s just no stopping it. We experienced something like the latter yesterday - while we managed to keep our minds and our heads, one could feel the raw chaos steadily creeping up as the ever growing crowd of villagers anxiously awaited much needed food and emergency materials. Bringing supplies that facilitate and make possible the very essence of survival can bring up all kinds of interesting and unexpected things - as we have seen on these missions we must always expect the unexpected - and attempt to prepare accordingly.
This past mission was to the village of our wonderful driver Mahindra - he has been with us for weeks now and has become a much liked member of our team. Our journey takes us on a ride of four hours of the most intense and off road of trails I have ever experienced. The view was spectacular though, with red rock surrounding us and mountains on both sides extending up to the heavens. The village was quite peaceful when we arrived, a large tree in the center shaded us as we arrived to joyful clapping, offerings of kataks and flowers, and some especially delicious homemade dahi made just for us. We got the children started on their art projects, excitedly giggling as they settled in and got started under a tarp between our two jeeps. All the villager adults circled around, half curious and half trying to get their children to perform especially well with expectations this would bring them extra rewards - a common thing here. The doctors set up in the village temple and began their work - once again non stop service to everyone and anyone needing treatment. One of the young girls in the village has a diagnosed and yet untreated heart condition - the reason of course being that they have no means to pay for her much needed heart surgery. Confirmed by our doctor, this girl will not live long - we took all her information and we will be looking into finding a sponsor for her treatment. Having doctors with us is such a blessing, they work tirelessly, without breaks, treating so many people each time we make a trip. We are so fortunate to have them with us, and that they so graciously devote and volunteer their time with us. Hats off to the doctors - we couldn’t do it without you.
The neighboring villages had begun to arrive and the once seemingly quiet and peaceful village center was quickly becoming a swirling center of commotion and activity. As we began to deliver the food and roofing supplies there was an enormous circle starting to form around the truck - a truck that was at least two times the size of our normal one - now dwarfed by the ever growing crowd. Engulfed inside the circle, with no place to stand or even move I was forced to perch up on top of the truck bed, giving me a very interesting and not so stable place to put my feet - with a bird’s eye view of the events unfolding below. Giving new meaning to power in numbers - our team was forced to shout at the top of our lungs the names of each villager, attempting to be heard over the throng of the crowd, as each of them then struggles to make their way to the front to claim their supplies. Preparations and great planning mean everything in the field. As we have learned, all the time we spend before hand clearly cuts down on the chaos and mayhem - we attempt to calculate and compensate for everything - but in this type of situation we can only prepare so much as the unbridled and uncontrollable need of the desperate overcomes all expectation. Numbers outweigh logic as things become more and more chaotic. We always seem to manage no matter what happens, but sometimes the sheer power of wave after wave of needy can be intense enough to rattle your nerves and your bones.
The power of the crowd is palpable and their needs very real - but the human spirit shows clearly through as never giving up hope. The energy might not be calm but the reasons for us being here haven't changed. They are in such need, and this kind of energy cannot be avoided in situations such as these. It is but a difficulty to overcome, and a lesson to be learned. They are so happy we are here, even in the midst of the power of the crowd - there are smiles on their faces and a shining light in their eyes. We are bringing supplies that make possible survival, and with this comes those who are trying to survive - with all of the emotions and roller coaster energy that is coming along with it.
If you ever feel as though you have it under control - this is the moment when you lose it completely. It overtakes you, resulting in chaos and mayhem, as the energy takes over and there’s just no stopping it. We experienced something like the latter yesterday - while we managed to keep our minds and our heads, one could feel the raw chaos steadily creeping up as the ever growing crowd of villagers anxiously awaited much needed food and emergency materials. Bringing supplies that facilitate and make possible the very essence of survival can bring up all kinds of interesting and unexpected things - as we have seen on these missions we must always expect the unexpected - and attempt to prepare accordingly.
This past mission was to the village of our wonderful driver Mahindra - he has been with us for weeks now and has become a much liked member of our team. Our journey takes us on a ride of four hours of the most intense and off road of trails I have ever experienced. The view was spectacular though, with red rock surrounding us and mountains on both sides extending up to the heavens. The village was quite peaceful when we arrived, a large tree in the center shaded us as we arrived to joyful clapping, offerings of kataks and flowers, and some especially delicious homemade dahi made just for us. We got the children started on their art projects, excitedly giggling as they settled in and got started under a tarp between our two jeeps. All the villager adults circled around, half curious and half trying to get their children to perform especially well with expectations this would bring them extra rewards - a common thing here. The doctors set up in the village temple and began their work - once again non stop service to everyone and anyone needing treatment. One of the young girls in the village has a diagnosed and yet untreated heart condition - the reason of course being that they have no means to pay for her much needed heart surgery. Confirmed by our doctor, this girl will not live long - we took all her information and we will be looking into finding a sponsor for her treatment. Having doctors with us is such a blessing, they work tirelessly, without breaks, treating so many people each time we make a trip. We are so fortunate to have them with us, and that they so graciously devote and volunteer their time with us. Hats off to the doctors - we couldn’t do it without you.
The neighboring villages had begun to arrive and the once seemingly quiet and peaceful village center was quickly becoming a swirling center of commotion and activity. As we began to deliver the food and roofing supplies there was an enormous circle starting to form around the truck - a truck that was at least two times the size of our normal one - now dwarfed by the ever growing crowd. Engulfed inside the circle, with no place to stand or even move I was forced to perch up on top of the truck bed, giving me a very interesting and not so stable place to put my feet - with a bird’s eye view of the events unfolding below. Giving new meaning to power in numbers - our team was forced to shout at the top of our lungs the names of each villager, attempting to be heard over the throng of the crowd, as each of them then struggles to make their way to the front to claim their supplies. Preparations and great planning mean everything in the field. As we have learned, all the time we spend before hand clearly cuts down on the chaos and mayhem - we attempt to calculate and compensate for everything - but in this type of situation we can only prepare so much as the unbridled and uncontrollable need of the desperate overcomes all expectation. Numbers outweigh logic as things become more and more chaotic. We always seem to manage no matter what happens, but sometimes the sheer power of wave after wave of needy can be intense enough to rattle your nerves and your bones.
The power of the crowd is palpable and their needs very real - but the human spirit shows clearly through as never giving up hope. The energy might not be calm but the reasons for us being here haven't changed. They are in such need, and this kind of energy cannot be avoided in situations such as these. It is but a difficulty to overcome, and a lesson to be learned. They are so happy we are here, even in the midst of the power of the crowd - there are smiles on their faces and a shining light in their eyes. We are bringing supplies that make possible survival, and with this comes those who are trying to survive - with all of the emotions and roller coaster energy that is coming along with it.
