Peace Gospel Blog

We wanted to post some updated photos from our orphanage and Bible College facility in South India. The construction on the security wall has faced some setbacks due to property line disputes with neighbors. However this has been resolved and the work now continues. You can see a portion of the wall in the photo at right.











We decided it would be best to place the new school construction on the ground level, so the pillars on top of the existing facility will be used for future expansion. You can see the unfurnished construction of the school building in the second photo. We will soon complete the partition work to create five classroom spaces. The school is being constructed in the traditional Indian style.









In the third photo you can see the 40+ students who are registered for the new school year in our dedication ceremony. We expect 20 to 30 more students to register in the weeks ahead. Local government officials and several pastors were present at the dedication ceremony. We are very excited about this expansion of our main South India facility. Please pray for this ongoing work!

As mentioned in our previous post, we were able to grant some relief funds to our newest native team as we have expanded our ministry reach into Myanmar. We are happy to report that they have rebuilt their church and orphanage shelter, several local homes, and distributed several kilos of rice and other basic supplies to those affected by Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar. Please pray for our lead Pastor there, who must remain nameless online due to the government situation there. Also pray for the thousands who remain homeless, and the hundreds of orphans created by this disaster.

For the past 18 months we've been exploring a potential partnership with a native ministry in Myanmar. Before the cyclone hit there, we were in discussions with them to launch a pig farming micro-enterprise effort at some point in 2009. However due to the urgent needs they are facing as a result of the cyclone, we decided to accelerate our partnership with them by sending some relief funds. With these funds they will be able to rebuild their humble church and orphanage shelters. We'll keep you posted as the relationship develops, but know that we are very optimistic of the opportunities the Lord is opening up in Myanmar through this emerging partnership!

Back in 2000 we purchased a 4-wheel drive vehicle which has served us faithfully. But lately it has been breaking down and racking up costs in maintenance. We've logged over 200,000 miles on what we affectionately refer to as the "Sumo." The vehicle plays a critical role in bringing supplies from the city to the orphanage along with other important duties crucial to our ministry efforts. We're seeking $15,000 for a lightly used Indian-made 4-wd vehicle. Would you consider making a contribution today to ensure that our operations in South India go uninterrupted?

[ sponsor a share of the new vehicle ]

Our recent fundraising goal of $30,000 for the security wall and the second level expansion to include a school for the orphans on-campus has already been met! On behalf of the children of Hadassah Orpahange, we thank you for your overwhelming generosity. We request prayer for the various permits that are pending for the launch of the new school. Local Indian governments are notorious for their delays in paperwork and permit processing, but we have faith that God wants this school launched and will deliver the permits to us in time!

The photo isn't the best but you can see the pillars and some of the interior walls going up on the roof of our existing facility! Exciting to see the beginnings shaping up. We'll keep you posted when we get better photos from our native team in India.

[ help bring in more orphans | more photos ]

Back in February we updated you on the tragedy of one of our orphans' classmates being kidnapped and found murdered near our property in South India. As you recall, we made a plea for support to build a security wall around our 1/3 acre campus. We're very glad to report we had an overwhelming response to our plea and that the wall construction is well underway! The children could not be happier to see the wall going up. It is difficult for them to comprehend your love and support coming from half way around the world, but they are grateful to you and pray for you every morning in their group prayer time. Please continue to keep these children and their security in your thoughts and prayers. Specific prayer request: the land owner on the East side of the property has brought some complaints to the local magistrate about the wall, even though we received all needed permits from the local government to proceed with the project. Pray for good communication and understanding from this neighbor.


[ help bring in more orphans | more photos ]

Children from our orphanage in South India attend a public school about a quarter mile down the road from the orphanage. Last month, a 7 year old girl, classmate to several of our orphans, was kidnapped on her way home from the school, raped and killed. The authorities were able to catch the man responsible and brought him to justice, but other kidnappings have occurred in the area which remain unsolved.

Tragically, it is not uncommon in India for this kind of thing to happen to Dalit children. The Dalit are regarded as India's "untouchables" and are the victims of some of the world's most grievous human rights violations.

All of our children at the orphanage have been going through an extremely difficult time thinking about what happened to their classmate. We have been in intense prayer for them and have had our native staff spending extra time counseling and comforting them.

This news has necessitated an urgent acceleration of our plans to build a security wall around our 1/3 acre campus. Naturally, the children are frightened and see the plans for the wall as a huge comfort, so it has now moved to the top of our list as our most urgent priority. We urgently need to raise $7,500 to build the wall.

This week we will begin construction on the wall immediately in faith that the funds will begin to come in. Please consider how you might be able to help us raise these funds— even if it's a small amount, it will make a huge impact. Please consider giving something today.

[ contribute toward the goal | orphanage photos ]