This is not that all surprising when you remember that animals are worshiped in Hinduism, and in most cases are treated better than beggars. I have never witnessed humans in such despair and hopelessness as I did in India. I think to a large degree this comes from the teaching that death and suffering over long periods of time are unchangeable and thus natural. Now the world news about the earthquake has once again exposed the world to India's impoverished condition. What is worse is that these dear people have to wrestle to accept that all this death and suffering is natural and ultimately liberating.
People suffer greatly today, and have for thousands of years in India.
On a personal level, I was totally shocked and deeply disturbed by the sorrow and utter hopelessness of India. It was hard for me to remember that these people were made in God's image. Then I began to think Biblically. God, of course, does care. Just the fact that our team was there was the result of a God that did care.