Portion for Orphans Newsletter
February 11, 2006
"
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs
3:5-6
"
It's not about what you can do, but what God can do thru you." - My Mom
:)
We are now in Kakinada, a city of 400,000, on the East coast of India. We're
working with Paparao and Mission to the Nations and it is an honor to have him
showing us the work that God has set before him. The light and love of Christ
are shining so brightly here. Since we arrived, we have spent each day visiting
2-3 different programs that Mission to the Nations has begun. Only by God's love
and direction could a ministry like this exist. Hope you enjoy the pictures.
:)
When we visited New Life Children's Orphanage, founded by Paparao, we
were welcomed by flower neclaces and two lines of over 100 adorable little children,
each holding a rose for us. Awe, they were excited to welcome visitors. :)
Paparao and I in the girls' bedroom. We were discussing what their current
needs are. Behind us you can see the beds, matresses and lock boxes for personal
belongings. On the other side of the wall is a line of boxes, no beds or mats.
The children sleep on the floor in front of their box. Donations that have been
made to Portion for Orphans will be used to purchase more matresses for the children
to sleep on, a few boxes that are needed, some material for new clothes, and
some medicine. :) The most common cause of orphans in India is poverty. Many
of these children have no parents at all, others are better off in the orphanage
than with their parents because of extreme poverty, alcoholism and/or abuse.
This is the Pre-K 'classroom' in one of 13 schools that Paparao
founded and directs in Kakinada. These are Christian schools and there are a
few hundred
children in each.
Some teachers have up to 80 children at a time, all day. The average teacher
salary in India, despite a college education, is $1 per day, not even enough
to provide food for the immediate family. This pic, I chose, for you to be able
to see the obvious needs of this school. During school hours in India, there
are children everywhere, so many go completely uneducated. Let me not fail to
mention the enormous respect among the children who are in these schools, regardless
of poverty. They seem so very thankful.
Mission to the Nations ministers to approximately 200 people and their
children in this Leprosy Colony. Leprosy is preventable, and curable... at a
small cost. Paparao brings medicine to these people, food and other items that
they need. A few years ago he brought them enough material to make shoes for
each other. He said that they need more shoes. $400 would provide enough material
for all of them to have new shoes. This woman is young and beautiful, but leprosy
causes her feet and hands to be numb. It's gross to say, but the reason they
lose fingers and toes is because they bump them on things, they get infected,
and they can't feel it when rats chew on their open wounds. Shoes take on a new
meaning, wouldn't you agree?
Women and Children's Outreach The Bible emphasizes the importance of reaching
out to orphans and fatherless children. Paparao has organized an awesome program
for mothers in need. They apply thru local social workers and evangelists. Those
in greatest need are accepted into the program and provided for in various ways,
including groceries that will increase the birth weight of their baby, helping
them to be born and grow up to be healthy. I believe there are currently 250
women in the program. It takes place in 6 different Vocational Training centers
that Paparao has set up to teach different skills for 9 months at a time to ...
local women in need, many of whom are victims of sex trade.
Evangelism Outreach Programs Paparao is a pastor and leads his own church
in Kakinada (The construction of which was paid for by Sam Baxter in Longview,
TX. :) Small World) There are also over 200 evangelists for Mission to the Nations
who go out into the villages carrying the love of God and the gospel. He's also
looking to help equip over 200 pastors in this area. He asked if I know anyone
who'd like to come and lead a conference for them and if I could help him find
sponsors to support some of the pastors to go and live in the villages, at $10-$25
per month. One American donated money to Paparao for any pastor affected by the
Tsunami, thus the above church is being rebuilt. :) We went to visit today and
met the pastor's wife, she's in the green dress on the right side of the picture.
Our main focus is on the orphanage here and 100% of the money you've given will
go directly toward the children there and their needs. However, if you would
like to donate to any of the other projects described above, please let us know.
They each seem so important and are all used to share the love of God, to meet
needs, and to carry the gospel of Jesus Christ. You would receive a picture of
the money being used just as you would like it to be. :)
Prayer Requests :
- For Gui Shang at China Care who has recently received surgery thanks
to your donations.
- For Jun Ping with China Care who has been claimed by an American
- family. :) Your donations are providing some private instruction by a
specialist at the moment. :)
- For Paparao and Mission to the Nations.
- For our little Nepali friends who I miss so very much. ;)
- And for us, to be set on our Shepherd at every moment, taking every
opportunity to let His love and truth shine thru us.
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