INDIA - THE LAND OF MYSTERY AND INTRIGUE

INDIA – THE LAND OF MYSTERY AND INTRIGUE

INDIA WITOUT ORPHANS

Why mystery and intrigue?  Well when you have over 1 Billion people who have likely been abused – thinking of the children here you are confused, mystified in how to help. As the data says 1 out of 2 have experienced abuse.

UNICEF estimates there are over 11 million street children in India - 


o 65.9% of the street children lived with their families on the streets. Out of these
children, 51.84% slept on the footpaths, 17.48% slept in night shelters and 30.67%
slept in other places including under flyovers and bridges, railway platforms, bus
stops, parks, market places.
o The overall incidence of physical abuse among street children, either by family
members or by others or both, was 66.8% across the states. Out of this, 54.62%
were boys and 45.38% were girls.
o On a study in India, out of the total number of child respondents reporting being
forced to touch private parts of the body, 17.73% were street children. 22.77%
reported having been sexually assaulted.

And statistics are very difficult to gather in India due to the serious problem of poverty and large population.


Yet, there is action - leaders who have taken up the cause and want to make a difference.  The conference and training are only a small step in the forward movement of this beautiful land and people.  After training on Wednesday with about 90 participants, there were many who wanted to talk…

“How do I even begin when the problem is so big?”

“I was one of those children who experienced bad trauma – I am okay now, but I have had problems. I want to help.”

“My co-workers won’t understand how to do things differently, how do I teach them?”
" I really want to adopt, but my extended family will not support this.  What do I do?"

Yes, India is a land of mystery.  Needed is support, encouragement, training and coaching to find new and more effective ways of working with children.

THEN THERE WAS/IS THE ORPHANAGE – ABODE OF PEACE

Children rescued off the streets.  Young, needy and so full of need to be loved and precious in the sight of a caring adult in their lives.  We felt drawn and pulled to help as the need is so great.  The family caring for these children are committed, they have sacrificed everything to do this work.

They have the children in the second floor of an unfinished building.   There are five floors in the building.  They occupy one.  There is one large room - where evertyhing takes place; school, bedroom together on the floors (there are no beds, they cannot afford them), eating, playing and even the presentation they did for us was in this room.  The children sang, danced, prayed and worshiped.  Our hearts melted with love and desire to make a little difference - to do something.

And there is much we might do with this one little idea – if only we can find some resources for them.  

HERE IS THE CHALLENGE:  I am looking for a years worth of vitamins for 170 children.   Their resources are very limited – NO consistent funding for this orphanage and their costs are about $4500 per month.  $1500 salaries, $3000 operating costs....all coverning 25 staff (1/3 of whom are physicall or mentally disabled!) and 170 children.

Meals – every day based on faith!

Breakfast:  Rice with a milk/curd type “sauce”

Lunch:  Rice with the liquid Dal

Dinner:  Rice with Pepper water as a “sauce”

They use 60 kg of rice per day – costing about $40.00

TO GIVE MEANINGFUL HELP – MANY THINGS are needed, BUT TO START;  First we need the vitamins, getting them there, etc. We can get it to them in one of two ways.

1.   Someone helps us deliver TO them via a delivery service, military transport or mail OR

2.   We take a short term mission team over in the spring to India and hand deliver them and work alongside Abode for about a week to 10 days...with a team that is going to look at ways to continue helping this group of children and the workers who have committed to making a difference in Vizag.   

WANT TO GO? You can ONLY if you will commit to making a difference.

What can capture your heart more than a child who just wants to know they are precious!

Worship

SO THERE – A NEED IS EXPRESSED – CAN YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN?