IndiaA Beautiful and Lost Land

On the way to the orphanage- middle of nowhere!

When they opened the gate, this is what we saw

Paul & Shanthi – they started the orphanage

FACILITIESFor the past 3-4 years, Tamil Nadu has experienced a severe drought. Over 30 coconut trees, which produce up to 150 coconuts/tree per year, died at the orphanage. Last year, they dug the well further down, hoping to find ground water but didn’t. Fortunately, this year, there has been unusual rain so the well is full! It is pictured above.

The Dining room- yes, they sit on the floor!

The bio-fuel cooking system bought with the money we raised last year.

The fire pit they used to cook on (inside a small building)

The plates and cups we bought last year.

Dormitory

The water purifier we bought last year

The orphanage compound

VBS!!!!

First time EVER to make a craft- decorating journals

The children acting out the story of Elijah being fed by the ravens. God is our Provider!

God is Our Provider mobiles!

Daniel and the Lions’ Den – God is Our Protector!

God is King! They wore these crowns for HOURS!

Getting ready to eat the meal we provided

Stuffed Animals!!!!

Pillowcases!

Schools where we shared the Gospel.This is the first one – no electricity here

Gospel Bead Bracelets!

A public school with a villager standing outside

The second school where we shared the Gospel. It is a one room school house and this is the size!

School teachers- the one in purple is a Christian and she teaches Bible verses to the children. There are only 3 Christian families in this village.

If You’re Happy and You Know It

More Gospel Bead bracelets!

Revival Church of Christ, Kayathar, Tamil Nadu

The Orphanage Children

Philomina, who received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox from me.

These boys’ father set their mother on fire in front of them. The mother died. The father is in jail.

These girls’ mother killed their father and then placed him on the train tracks to look like a suicide. They don’t know he is dead.

Pechipandi – God provided the money for his arm!

Sokar’s sister- Her mom used her as a prostitute to make money for the family. She is a very sad 13 year old girl.

Malathi- Young lady who developed a mental illness as a teenager. Please pray for the funding for medications, about $150 for 3 month supply.

The pastor’s daugther- Abisha. Reminded me of Abigail!

Baptism Day!They received Christian names that day: Mary, Magdalene, and Sherry.

Saying Goodbye

Needs and DesiresAbove is a picture of a hen house. If the orphanage had the funds ($9,000), they could operate one of these on their property and generate an income of over $600 per month, thus becoming more sustainable and able to help more kids.

The government said the orphanage must build a wall around the entire compound. So far, only the front wall (seen to the left) has been built. The home can be shut down if the rest of the wall is not finished. Cost: $12,000. The government also has declared that the boys must be on a different property than the girls. The property across the street costs $12,000.

The Church’s foundation built 4 years ago. Need about $20,000 to finish building the church. The current building is rented from a Hindu, who is persecuting them.

Pray for this boy (my Eli’s Indian twin!) and his 2 brothers. They are gypsies and their parents don’t want them to go to the orphanage because they beg for the parents, bringing in money for the family. The youngest brother, around 3 yrs old, did not even have clothes on.

MM HillsThe schools can only be accessed by a jeep and even that was

questionable.

One lane

The school has a small library (in a cabinet) & Help Educate a Child provided new books for the library

The reason God sent me to MM Hills – the only Christian in the village. She is the schoolteacher and sleeps in the school because the village is so remote she can only make it home once every 2 weeks.

The teacher’s well read Bible

1st-3rd grade classroom – 90 kids. I’m standing in the corner taking the picture.

Solar power for water pumps at the schools

Solar power battery chargers so the kids can have light in their homes in the evenings.

Natural BeautyWild peacocks!

Mountains, coconut trees, wind mills

Banana Trees

See the cow? They are EVERYWHERE!

Coconuts!

Sand sculpture

Mysore Palace

Sugar Cane

Harvested Sugar Cane

Rice paddies

Temples, temples, everywhere

A temple elephant