October TRIP in the Works

We heard word from India that our trip dates for October have been set! :)

October 5-13, 2013

COME & SEE!

The team will fly out of the US on Saturday, October 5th (arriving in India on Sunday the 6th). We will work at the schools Monday-Friday that week. Wrap up the week with a community event on Saturday. Then we would fly out of India late in the evening on Saturday Oct 12th (arriving back in the States on Sunday the 13th). JAM PACKED! But exciting times!

Team Member Fernando Gaona with all our bags at the airport in India, February 2012.

I will be sending out trip applications and info packets with our next Monthly Sponsor Reminders. We will have to limit the team to the first 15 people to sign up. I hope that you will consider joining us!

A Great Honor: Marching in Republic Day Parade

This past December, the Good Samaritan School hosted its annual "Jasola Sports Day". Aunty described the festivities as "a fantastic way to celebrate the joyful atmosphere that exists throughout the year at Good Samaritan Schools through competitive sports." 

This year, an honored guest was in attendance, the Assistant Director of Education-Sports. She was so impressed by the children's marching that she invited the Good Samaritan students to march in the upcoming Republic Day celebrations in Delhi (Jan 26th)! It is truly a once in a life time opportunity. The staff and students are thrilled to participate.

This photo is of the students "marching" during the December Jasola Sports Day.

Ornaments

Hopefully many of you received a handmade ornament from your sponsor child sometime over the holidays. Only one of the three sponsors in our family got one... and it was a celebration! We all ooo-ed and ahhhh-ed over the updated photograph and said a resounding AMEN to the Scripture verse that was affixed to our little tree. They usually do this ornament craft one day at school and not all the children participate, so if you got one in the mail, its a very special gift! 

Want to share YOUR ornament photo? Email me & I'll post it!

India In the News

Perhaps you've heard the news stories in recent weeks bringing outrage & attention to a horrific gang rape that occurred in Delhi during December. Sadly, the female victim died from her injuries. But thankfully, her male companion, who was not just a witness but also a victim, survived and is demanding justice. Click here for a brief article that recounts the story.

The rape has garnered international attention and brought great shame & introspection to the Indian people. A (reported) rape occurs every 21 minutes in India. This most recent incident has spawned numerous protests and the people of India are calling for social change. People are begging for legal reform in hopes of changing culturally accepted practices. Click here for a recent editorial on the tragedy.

As sponsors of boys & girls that grow up in this climate, we all need to pray. Join us in praying for protection from rape for our young girls, as well as praying that our young boys would learn to respect & care for the women in their society... and that they too would be protected from rape.

Starting to Notice the Bond

These are the most recent letters we received from our children. And I am starting to notice that the relationship is growing, which is sweet to my soul.

I "know" in my brain that sponsorship works. That it is valuable. That we are making a tangible difference in these kids' lives by helping them get an education that will rewrite their story of poverty forever.

But now I "KNOW" in my heart that the relationship also starts to work over time. These letters whisper back to me signs of growth in our friendship... signs of spiritual seeds being sown... signs of these children believing that they have value & are loved by someone on the other side of the world. I have not written our sponsor kids EVERY month, just like most of you. But over the last 15 months, I've been a consistent voice. And they are listening.

Roshan is my sponsor child, and when I got to meet him & his family last Feb, his mother shared a prayer request with me-- Roshan's daddy is an alcoholic and it means little work and lots of pain for the family. I shared with her, I understood that pain-- my mom was also an alcoholic-- and would pray for the family situation. Whenever I write to Roshan, I remind him that I am praying for his daddy & the drinking & his whole family. This most recent letter, Roshan shares the news that his dad is drinking less! And that Roshan is now also praying for him to stop drinking. I am seeing God at work.

Anshu is my daughter's sponsor child, and in this letter she writes that she remembers me when I visited and that she could tell I loved her very much. She also writes that she remembers a woman named Skipper (another sponsor who travelled there in July). She says, "I know Skipper, she spoke and served food to us in the school." This is a lasting memory for Anshu. That this woman shared the gospel in word & deed. Anshu ends her letter by telling my daughter that she liked hearing the story of Jonah (which my daughter wrote to her about)... she says "I learned this story in school too."

It may seem small... but after over a year of writing, I'm finally feeling the fruit of relationship.

If any of you sponsors have stories like this you ever want to share, PLEASE email me and I would love to post them here!!! :)

"Joy is Untouched by Circumstance"

One of the Christmas cards we received this year was from Children's HopeChest. Inside the envelope was this precious smiling face. Her name is Tulsi and she is a student at the Good Samaritan School. Tulsi is an orphan. She lives in the slums. And God is rewriting her story.

On Andy & the band's first trip to India, they met Tulsi and heard her testimony. After her last surviving parent died, a man clothed in white & surrounded by light appeared to her. He told her not to be afraid, that He would watch over her. And Tulsi responded by writing a song to this Man... she called Him Jesus. Tulsi sang this song to the group after sharing her story.

I've met Tulsi and she give off such an air of confidence, of peace, and of JOY! She works hard at her studies and wants to be a teacher when she grows up. She lives with an uncle & extended family now-- seven people in a small one room house (she's in the video you can find on this blog in the header). She DOES remind me that "Joy is Untouched by Circumstance". Joy comes from finding our identity in Christ, trusting in His work in our lives.

This card, and this reminder, sparked a great conversation with our extended family over the holidays... I hope it sparks reflection for you too.