It’s hard to believe how quickly our little sisters are growing up. Everyone in the home is a teenager with the range of ages being from 13-18 years, spanning from 4th Grade to 12th Grade. All of the girls are doing well in their schooling. Both Chellamma and Dhevi have been selected and given special scholarships to enter a programme with the Indian Government under the Department of Tribal Welfare. They now live in the residential school and no longer need our support. We are delighted that they are both safe and secure, as well progressing well in their studies.
From left to right:
Savithri – Santoshi Kumari – Eswari – Dhaneshwari – Suvarna – Sajatha – Eswaramma – Bhavani
Next year, our three oldest girls: Dhaneshwari (18), Eswaramma (17), and Eswari (17) will be joining in a nursing college to pursue a 4-year Bachelor of Nursing Course. Pray with us that God will provide the funds needed for the course (approximately $975 AUSD per year) and for the monthly hostel fee (approximately $85 AUSD per month). We are so excited that they qualified to gain entrance, as this will enable them one day to have a good sustainable income.
Experiencing the love of Christ is truly transformational. Our little sisters have consistently been influenced by good people that God has brought into their lives. They are deeply appreciative of the faithful loving support that enables them to live in a safe caring home, be nourished with a balanced healthy diet, attend school and be shaped by godly people who love and care for them. Many of the girls have personally chosen to become Christians (followers of Christ) and recently four of the girls asked if they could express their love for Christ by being baptised. Pastor Timoti, who also oversees the care of all our little sisters, baptised them on Sunday, 14 October 2018.
From left to right:
Eswari – Savithri – Bhavani – Santhosh Kumari – Pastor Timoti
DIWALI
On 7th November, Diwali (the festival of lights) will be celebrated by Hindus as one of the most anticipated times of Indian life. Thousands of little oil lamps are lit as homes are illuminated to signify the victory of good over evil – light over darkness.
Families gather, oil baths are enjoyed, gifts and sweets are exchanged, homes and businesses are decorated, entrances are made colourful with beautiful traditional motifs of Rangoli designs to welcome Laxmi the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and of course the family fireworks! But let’s be honest – when the last firecracker casing has been swept up in the streets, when the Rangoli designs have worn away and all the sweets consumed – has anyone honestly removed the evil from within?
God, who is Light, planned before the world was created to send us the sin-destroying Light. Before this light came, God sent one to prepare the way – his name was John. The Bible says this about John: “There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. He came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light” (John 1:6-8).
One day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” John went on to say, “I have seen and testify truly that this is the Son of God.” So, John clearly said Jesus was here to take away the sins of the world. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:1-5).
Here we see the invincibility of light, a light that is not overcome, a light that is triumphant over darkness. Our little sisters have come to this light.