Tomorrow, tomorrow!

Today we woke up early again (not intentionally).  Chip had a fever, and the rest of us felt run down trying to fight whatever it is that is wearing us out.  By 10 am Chip's fever was gone, and he was feeling like a new person, so we hired a car for the day.  We went to India Gate (very similar to Centennial Park with a playground, ponds with paddlewheel boats, but with a memorial to all who have died in WWI and the Afghan War of 1919 instead of the Parthenon).  It was here that Ellie was bombarded by paparazzi again (this time a father went so far as to put Ellie's arm around his son for the photo!).

From there we went to the Cottage Industries Emporium, a shopping experience full of handicrafts from all over India in one very large (and non-airconditioned) building which is run by the government (i.e.-no haggling!).  We did not make it through the entire facility because anyone who has tried to take a seven year old shopping in extreme heat and humidity knows that you will not make it very far.  Thankfully they do sell cold water!

After that we tried to make it to an enclosed, air conditioned mall for lunch to let Ellie experience a McDonald's in another country for comparison, but the driver became lost again and took us to what seemed like the far end of the earth to a random sari shop at a dead end in a little village.  It would have been nice to find a sari, but we were overcome with heat in a car that did not have much AC and that seemed to possibly break down at any moment (transmission problems).  Since we were not feeling well, we skipped lunch and went back to the B&B.

After resting, everyone else seemed to feel much better--except me.  Unfortunately, I am now officially sick.  While I slept, Chip talked with our Indian social worker.  They arranged details for our trip...we leave tomorrow for Chennai!  After stopping briefly at our hotel to meet up with the social worker, we head straight for the orphanage to meet Joshna for the first time!!!  We will spend a couple of hours there getting to know her.  Then we go back to the hotel for the night and return to the orphanage the next morning (Wednesday).  We fly back to Delhi on Thursday, where we spend time at the US Embassy on Friday, doctors visit for Joshna on Saturday, back to the Embassy on Monday, and home on Tuesday/Wednesday.

It is all happening so much faster than I could have imagined!  I am off to bed again.  We would appreciate more prayers for our health to hold up through this time.  Thanks so much!  We look forward to giving an update tomorrow night!