A Wonderful Day!

The Indian Ocean beach that fronts the city of Chennai is one of the most beautiful and widest beaches I have ever seen. As I stood there I tried to imagine what it must have been like when the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami sent a wall of water across the beach reaching part way up the buildings on the far side.

The ocean and beach have now returned to their normal calm, beautiful state and recently the students, staff members, and volunteers of Agape Rehabilitation Center had a picnic there. This is how they described it in the Agape newsletter.

The Picnic to Mahabalipuram started off at 9:30 a.m. on 2nd Oct. with 42 persons with disabilities (including 7 in wheelchairs and 14 deaf persons), 4 staff members and 19 volunteers. Just like last year we had the special accessible Fun Bus with a hydraulic lift from Ashok Leyland (our thanks to them for giving it free). On the way we sang songs in the bus. We played games, "passing the ball" at Tiger Cave and ”Housie Housie” in the bus while returning. It was real fun.

We saw the "Five Rathas" in the afternoon. As usual for many students, this was their first time to Mahabalipuram and they enjoyed touching those sculptures and posing for photos. Many of them were amazed at the wonderful sights. In the evening we all went to the beach. The long haul to the water, through the beach sand, amidst a milling holiday crowd, was really tough. But with enough volunteers to help us, we managed quite well.

With some difficulty we took all our students to the beach. They were so excited to take a dip in the ocean. For some it was the first time to the beach and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. All were provided with juice and wafers in the bus in the morning, packed lunches with boiled eggs at Tiger Cave in the afternoon, and snacks in the bus in the evening. And we arrived safely back at Agape at night, exhausted but satisfied and happy for a wonderful day of fun, laughter and excitement. We thank the Lord for the wonderful day and His protection and provision.

Student Senthil Kumar said, “This is the first time that I have enjoyed playing in the water at the beach. Even though I have come to the beach previously with my family, they would never take me to the water”.