NAIOTH CHILDREN’S HOME NEWS
A testimony of prayer and trust in God Sewing Instructor: Mrs. Bharathi Yarlagadda – once our old student during 1996- 2002; now married and blessed with two daughters. Started sewing centre and started a Bible Study group under the guidance of one of our BMi Associates Rev. Rao.
Bharathi Meripe lost her mother when she was young and thus she was brought to the Orphanage. She comes from a very poor family and her father was unable to feed and take care of his kids after his wife died. Bharathi left the orphanage when her father fell sick and the younger sister and brother could not take care of the sick father. Her father recovered well after sometime and later on married Bharathi to a young man from a well-to-do family. Rajababu Yarlagadda, Bharathi’s husband, inherited some money after his father died and spent all that money on drinking alcohol and with his friends. Bharathi was beaten badly for questioning him about all this and he persecuted her for couple of years.
While he was beating her and speaking very bad language against her, she used to kneel down and pray until he subsided. It went on for some time and Bharathi
patiently endured all that suffering through faith and prayer.
One day Rajababu realised what he was doing and how his wife patiently put up with him and his abusive behaviour and he turned to the Lord. He gives a very thankful testimony of all this and glorifies God by saying that Bharathi was the reason for his realisation and salvation. He lost all his money and he finds work, as a Painter, only for a few days in a month. Bharathi was trained in Sewing at Paul’s Training Centre (supported by the Lees) and was given one Sewing Machine as a gift. We provided two more machines through House of the Rock funds as she builds a good business in the neighbourhood. As she found it very tiring and tedious to work on the manual machine, we provided an electric motor that runs the machine. She is able to support her two daughters and her husband through difficult times.
She expressed her willingness together with her husband that they wish to help the women in their neighbourhood with Sewing Training and Tutorial Centres.
This would help the couple as well as several young women in their neighbourhood. That’s how the Sewing Centre and the Tutorial Centre started in the Village last year.
Other News from Naioth
- It was with great pleasure to have had Samuel Babu from India with us last month. Unlike us who travel to India on a regular basis ,Samuel rarely gets to
visit here. So it is a special occasion for him and us. Samuel and John first met 20 years ago this coming November when they established together what is now known as Naioth Children’s Home. He and Vijaya had a young family of three children then. Now his two eldest children have just graduated completing a degree in India then a Masters in Computer Science and Media in the US while Danny the youngest (aged 19) still studies in India and helps his dad with the children’s home. They are a loving family and together have helped many young people in India mostly from the poorer villages to experience a Christian home and schooling and receive a vision for their future better than what would have been their expectation. We thank everyone who has supported the work in India by sponsoring, praying or going there with us. - Naioth students have sat for exams in May and are beginning the new school year in June.
- India Team Trip 2016…anyone interested in coming to India in November for 3 weeks (Nov 15th-Dec 8th) for a wonderful experience: contact Jenny Barnes at barnesj@internode.on.net
- Can You Help with things we are collecting for the India Trip this November? Cut out pictures from magazines, beads and buttons, face painting crayons, skipping ropes, hair brushes, hair ties, small bouncing balls, coloured pencils, textas, balloons and bubbles. We are collecting financial gifts to purchase a set of clothing and shoes at $20 per child for 200 children.
Thank You.
CHRIST SPECIAL SCHOOL NEWS
Many things have been happening at CSS…We are especially blessed with new physiotherapy equipment. Most of the things are useful for our differently abled children. And a few things for mentally retarded children. One of the class rooms is getting prepared for physio therapy studio. Thank you for your prayer and support for this equipment. We recently celebrated World Disabled Day and Christ Special High School participated with other schools and performed dances and they received prizes and certificates from the district collector.
The Christ Special High School children sat for exams and are on leave with relatives. They will come back to school in June. We are going to visit different villages and motivate and invite more physically challenged children to study at CSS.
We pray and thank all our friends and supporters from Australia.
Paul (CSS Manager)
Report from John and Christina—Working in surrounding villages in Tamil Nadu
The Home work Study Centres are going well. The students are enjoying coming to these centres. Parents and guardians for the children are happy to note the positive change in the children. The teachers are very cooperative and hard working. We have started 5 centres. About 40-60 children attend each centre regularly. A teacher, youth worker or pastor is in-charge of each centre. There were 5 tuition centres with about 40 children in three centres and 30 in one and 20 in another. The new centre which has been started on 1st June has about 40 children. All together we have about 210 kids in six centres /villages. We have told the kid and parents about the fees of Rupees 25 each per month, which all of them have agreed. However, we will be flexible while collecting the fees at the end
of each month. We asked the teachers to be sensitive and in case the parents unable pay the fees we will give concession or fully exempt from paying. This we are doing it to make the parents as partners in the program. We hope it bring positive outcome and sustainability in the long run. We project to collect about Rupees 4000 to 5000. Hence we may not require additional support for the new centre but we need continued support for the existing 5 centres.
We are all doing well with regard to work. The tuition centres, elderly support, hostel visits and children support are going well. Through these programs it brings lot of changes and empowers the individuals and their families. Glory to God.
The elderly program which was recently started is going well and through this program we were able to connect with the community/village. In Easter celebrations some of the family members of the elderly participated. It was a good chance for them to know of the compassion of Jesus Christ. We intend to have the group meeting every Friday from 9am to 1 pm, providing morning tea and lunch for them. The children have finished writing school exams, some of our children express that they would like to change the school and hostel. We are visiting new schools and talking to Principals regarding the enrolment in
June. We are planning to have end of school year meeting at CSS for all CSS past students at the end of this month. We would be inviting the current CSS children too. Students gathering on 28th went on well. The children were happy to catch up with others and enjoyed the get together.
Mrs Banu has come down to Vellore for a medical check up. She is becoming weak and needs care, though she is mobile and able to look after her personal needs.
Please pray for:
- Tuition centres – especially the new one (If God willing we can start more centres as we have requests from neighbouring villages to do so.)
- Youth work among Hostel students.
- Elderly program.
- For John, Christina and Paul and other individuals involved in the program to work effectively as a team.
Praise the Lord for His continued guidance and we could see that He has been expanding the work.
Thank you for the all the support and hard work at your end.
Kind Regards, John and Christina
Here are 2 children from NAIOTH CHILDREN’S HOME who are in need of a sponsor:
- Balu POTHABATHULA Age: 8 Class: IV Standard Balu comes from a poor family that belongs to the fishing community, which is one of the lower castes in India. His father is a chronic alcoholic and doesn’t care for the family. Balu exhibits a cheerful disposition and is playful with the other kids. He was quite uninterested in studies to start with but has adjusted well in the Children’s Home and is now keen with his studies.
- Lakshmi BODDU Age: 6 Class: II Standard Lakshmi was unable to be cared for by her poor father since her mother passed away so was admitted into the Children’s Home. Although she battled loneliness and depression in the beginning at Naioth, Lakshmi has now been able to make friends and enjoys the worship services.