By Dianna Matyola

We woke up Friday morning without knowing how exciting the day would be. Due to holiday, the children were all home from school and doing their chores. It was a scene full of giggles and soapy water running down the sidewalk. Instead of joining them and helping clean, we were told by Didi to be ready to hop in a van with two of the high school boys as guides. They were going to take us to the Sekumpul waterfall.

After a van ride that included a flat with the quickest tire change we had ever witnessed, we were dropped off at the waterfall and continued the steep decent to the raging falls. Once approaching the falls we were immediately soaked and smiling. The rock walls surrounding the area were covered in water, dripping ferns and rainbows in all directions. 

On the ride home from the falls, we were welcomed to Didi’s mother’s home, where a yard full of friends and family were gathered to have a party. The littlest sister, Pinky, the youngest of the children at Narayan Seva, turned 3 months old. It is a Balinese-Hindu tradition to celebrate a child’s life on this day. Pinky was adorned with gifts of jewelry, including jangling anklets, bracelets, earrings, and the tiniest little ring. The party was entertained by a 22-piece Balinese band and four traditional Balinese dancers that each performed throughout the afternoon. One at a time we were welcomed up to dance with them, blushing and sharing laughs as we attempted to mimic their moves and swing our hips. We were so grateful to be included as part of the community for this special occasion.