Growing Young Lives

On the 26 September 2023, Kirby Lancaster travelled to the city of Srikakulam (population of 172,000), which is also in the Salem District in northern part of the State of Andhra Pradesh. It was there the remaining young people under the care and support of Little Sisters gathered for the day to share their stories, enjoy some laugher and fellowship, and enjoy a meal that had been prepared.

We spent the day with all the youth and a couple of those who have graduated from being supported to being gainfully employed. Pastor Timoti and his wife Lydia have been the ones faithfully overseeing the ministry of Little Sisters since its inception in 2014. On the day we honoured them by giving them a photo of a beautiful panoramic photo of a beach in Aireys Inlet with Psalm 16:11 in Telugu.

This is Swarna Kumari, who has worked with all the children who were originally in the Victory Home, but since COVID, all the children had to be relocated in various safe homes throughout the Srikakulam area. Swarna was previously a teacher in the school that unfortunately had to close due to increasing and changing regulations for private Christian schools.

This is Hari Krishna who is 16-years old and in 9th Class. His birthday is 23 Oct. He is doing very well in his all his studies, his favourite subject at present is English, followed by Mathematics. He is older than his classmates, due to the fact that he had to stay at home for a couple of years due to his health. Though he is small for his age, he is healthy and happy and continues to receive the Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) which is a treatment for people who have been infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). He is interested in pursuing a B.Tech in Engineering. He lives with his uncle, who is happy for him to continue his studies. His favourite sport is cricket.

This is Uday Kiran, who is 18-years old and in 11th Class. His birthday is 1 June. His favourite subject is Mathematics and would like to pursue a technical training course in either mechanical or electrical wiring. He still lives with his uncle’s family and goes often to visit and help his grandmother, who raised him following the death of both his parents. We anticipate that he will soon find a training/work course which will enable him to earn a sustainable living. His favourite sport is cricket and he would love one day to buy on old Yamaha RX100 and refurbish it from the ground up.

This is Sai Kiran who is 19-years old and his birthday is on 30th March. He has completed his technical training (ITI), which is house wiring and electrical-work and did very well in all his studies. He is now waiting for his official certificate of completion, so that he can apply for a one-year apprenticeship. He lives with his uncle, though his uncle’s new wife is not interested in providing him with food, so we continue to provide balanced nutritional food and he has become a good cook looking after himself. Like most young men throughout India, his favourite sport is cricket.

This is Prakash, he is 15-years old and in 10th Class. His birthday is on 20th August and his favourite subject is English. He lives with his grandparents and though they are very poor, they recently sold some of their farming land as they can no longer work it all. They have built a small two-story house and the second floor (10x15) space will be a one room living area that he and his sister (Lavanya) can live in which has a built-in toilet and shower. Timoti agreed to finish out the one-room (bedroom, kitchen, living) with doors, windows, lights, fan, toilet and shower – on the condition that the grandparents would put the title of the unit in their name, which they gladly did. He is slowly losing his hearing and we are searching for ways to help. His favourite sport is volleyball.

This is Lavanya, Prakash’s sister. She is 20-years old and in 11th Class doing a Fashion Design course, which is conducted in a Government Industrial Institution that provides a host of job-ready courses. She loves pink and detailed embroidery work. She would love one day to design and manufacture her own line of Indian clothing that could put India into the Western market. Her birthday is 23rd March. She has a great love for her younger brother, as he is fiercely protective of her. She is looking forward to them both living independently in their own shared home.

This is Durga Prasad who is 21-years old and has finished his two-year diploma course in Electronic Mechanisms. In May of this year, he was blessed to enter a top apprenticeship with the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) in Hyderabad. This organisation works with the Army, Navy, and Air Force and he is praying that they may hire him when he concludes his apprenticeship. He is living at a hostel in Hyderabad and is managing well with the little pocket money he gets. His favourite sport is Kho kho, an ancient, yet increasingly popular tag-game all throughout India. His birthday is 18 June. He loves to speak of his faith in Jesus and desires to live his life as a fully devoted follower of Christ. He cooks his own food and enjoys looking after himself.

This is Rajya Lakshmi and she is 24-years old. She has completed a Pharmacy Assistance Course, but she is physically unable to stand all day in a pharmacy at present, so she is studying online to get a B.A. in economics, history, and politics with a variety of employment options that would be available. She hopes to work in a Pharmacy, once her ability to stand improves. He favourite sport is chess. She has no family that are willing for her to live with them, so Pastor Timoti and Lydia have her living in their home. Her birthday is 10th September. Due to the severe nature of her untreated HIV/AIDS, she has been given additional medications for complications that arose. Lakshmi has a kind and cheerful spirit that lights up the room whenever she enters.

This is Divya and she is 16-years old and in 10th Class and is living with her uncle’s family. She is doing well in her studies and her favourite subject is Mathematics. Her school is 3k away, so we have provided her with a bicycle to go to and from the school. She loves all things Science and would love to do a Nursing Course once she finishes 12th Class. Her favourite pastime is playing a centuries old Indian board game called, Carrom. Her birthday is 10 June and her favourite colour is blue.

Eswaramma (in yellow) was originally in the Mercy Home and has completed Nursing Course and is working in a private hospital. She is 21-years old and her birthday is 8 June. She dreams of working in a mission hospital where medical care and the gospel can be joined together.

Bhavani (in pink) is in transition and is applying to attend a Nursing College having completed 12th Class in BiPC (biology, physics, and chemistry). She did well in her studies and hopes to do a degree course in Nursing, Dental, or Physiotherapy. Her birthday is 8 July and she was part of the original group in the Mercy Home.

At present (May 2024), we have eight young people that need continuing financial support, as we desire to honour our original commitment in supporting them until they have completed their studies that provides a pathway for employment or acquiring a trade skill that will provide both a viable and sustainable income. We anticipate our support through Little Sisters will phase out over the next four years, ending in December 2027. Please continue to pray for the ongoing spiritual, mental, physical and social growth and development of all our young people, those who care for them, and those who faithfully support them financially, as it is making an eternal difference!