New Arrival
Yesterday I had such a wonderful time showing a brother from Pittsburgh around who decided to come and encourage the children and myself. After a full day, interesting adventures that you can only part take in if you live in India, we came home to rest. I noticed that the light was on in the office, That seemed odd to me because it was getting close to 8 and no one is working that late. As I made my way up stairs all the kids rushed over to me and whispered over and over “new boy new boy”. I peeked my head in the office and saw some of the staff but didn’t see any boy. I looked back at the kids as to say where is he. They kind of motioned he’s inside open your eyes old man. I crept in just a little and rose my neck for a better look as I didn’t it became obvious that there was a little boy sitting in the chair. The staff motioned for me to come in and spoke of our new arrival. I made my way over to the boy to great him. I lost my breath at the sight of how emaciated he was. I very slowly and gently took his hand to say hello, I looked at his hand in comparison to mine, It was like and infants hand. I’m thinking in my head awe this will be so nice to have a toddler running around this place making everyone laugh. I turned and asked Balan, the program coordinator how old he was. His reply was that the boy is 10 years old. My eyes widened with shock. “He’s 10 years old, you’re telling lies”. Balan reassured “yeah he is 10”. Apparently he is suffering from so many things that he just isn’t growing properly, a few things he is suffering from is stage 2 malnutrition, Tuberculosis, and Aids. As I looked into the boy’s eyes it was hard not to cry over his physical condition.
After taking down all his details we brought him downstairs and laid him down to rest. His fear was so obviously written all over his face, His face just seemed to scream “what’s going to happen to me? Where am I? Who are all these people?” I knelt down next to his bed and gently rubbed his back. I told him in Tamil “ I like you very much, you’re a beautiful boy”. After some time Nathan, the kids and I took his hand and prayed for him.
It’s funny how, at times, I can doubt my impact then I’ll see these little rays of light shine through the cracks. I was kneeling over Santhosh to pray for him and I noticed a small little car that looked familiar. I asked the children to ask him where he got it, then Sunil spoke up and said “I gave to him, He doesn’t have anything to play with.” Now this may not seem like a big deal But these children are very possessive over the few things they own. They don’t even like other people touching their things. So to see Sunil give his own car away on his own accord is an amazing selfless act. Over the last week I’ve seen all the boys show so many acts of compassion and kindness to Santhosh and it encouraged me so much. For instance he is not able to sit with the others when he eats because of his TB so some of the boys will serve him his food on his bed. They will also help him dress because he is really weak and unable to do it himself. It’s really awesome to see these children showing the tangible love of Jesus to this new boy. It’s even more awesome watching that love change this boy’s heart and make him not afraid anymore. Since he arrived he has started to talk and even smile once in a while.

Naomi Part Two
I wrote once about one amazing woman who inspired me in great ways to do what I’m doing, her name was Naomi. After studying out the book of Ruth I was blown away by the simple faithfulness of this woman. For no logical reason she gave her life away in service to a woman who was not of her people. At best this woman could offer her friendship in return for her time and nothing else. Why would this women offer herself so humbly to this women? I think because she had an increasing amount of compassion and faithfulness, so much so that the Holy spirit deemed her worthy of being an example in the Holy Scripture.
Well, now that I touched base on that I’ll get on with the story. It takes place in a really poor slum, which is mostly compiled of circus gypsies. These people are some of the most friendly, humble people I’ve ever met. I came into contact with them about a year ago when passing by a marriage ceremony. Over the last year and a half I have built a relationship with these wonderful people.
Just the other night I wondered into their little village and spent some time praying with different families that have been going through some very hard times. One of my dear friends gave birth to a beautiful baby and within two days the child went to be with Jesus. Along those lines one other friend was morning his grandfather’s passing. I was feeling a little down hearted as I left them to go home. As I walked, a boy named Santhosh asked me to please come to his home. I came up on his decrepit hut and was ushered to sit. His mother and father knelt before me and presented a humble request. Rocky anna please name our daughters.
You see these people came to know about Jesus after a missionary reached out to their village. There was an even split half became Christians the other half stayed Hindus, this family converted but they had named their children after Hindu god’s. They wanted to rename their girls but had very little knowledge about the bible. They brought both girls out. One’s name was Rajeswali and the other girl’s name was Bacalacabingbong (just kidding I can’t remember her name for the life of me). As these wonderful children knelt before me I was immediately sure of the powerful names I was going to give them. I opened both a Tamil and English bible and turned to the book of Ruth. Pointing out a word, I asked Santhosh to say it, He spoke “Naomi”. I then began to explain what a wonderful woman this was and why his sister would now be called this. Taking some paper I wrote the name in English then in Tamil. For about 10 minutes I taught Santhoshs’s father and mother to say the name. After some time they were saying the name with confidence. I turned to Rajeswali and said do you like your name? “Yeah”. After that I repeated the process for Bing Bong, It was such a neat thing that God allowed me to be a part of.

Teach me Phonics
Something I’ve really tried to focus on this month is teaching our kids to read. I don’t know if I mentioned before but after helping the kids with their homework I discovered that most of them can’t read. When I say this I mean even children in 7th and 8th grade. God has been so awesome to help me connect with other disciples who are teaching Indian children to read, speak and write English. For the first couple of lessons I was unsure if it was going to work but last night I saw just how possible all things are with God. Through a method a sister in the Kalpakkam Church shared with me, our kids have started learning to read. Just yesterday some of our youngest kids read the following words: pat, pet, pit, pot, put, putty. This has given me a great deal of excitement for what they can achieve if I continue to have faith and persevere.

This month marks the sixth month in, I am more than amazed at the things God has done.
To date with your awesome love and support these are some of the needs your money has been able to meet.

1. Keeping me here as a friend, a brother, and a dad in the lives of these children. Thus far no one has stayed with them and offered them family (April 30th-Oct 13th)
2. The steal to build 35 bunk beds, this does not include the bedding itself.(Aug 1st)
3. A trip for all the children to Kishkintha water park(Sept 3rd)
4. 6500 rupees for provisions (Sept 7th)
5. 5000 rupees to build a window and her three children a bathroom. Before it’s construction they were going out in the woods and bathing outside in the open.(June 9th)
6. Providing all the external medicines for the children, things like creams, band-aids, ointments, wound dressings and three kinds of eye drops for Muni’s monthly eye treatment.(monthly)
7. 625 liters of reverse osmosis water per week.(weekly since May)

These are to name a few I’ve also attached a few photos so you can show your friends and family some of the work you support. I know I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again you are a stream in the dessert, without you I could not remain sustained here. Thank you so sincerely from the kids and I. You may never know how much it means to them to have someone who is so concerned that they receive the love that being in a family provides. I tear up as I write this because it means so much to them. Every time I leave they are always so concerned when I’m coming back because they have come to trust that I’m here for them, You offer that to them through your support GOD BLESS YOU.

Love your Brother,
Rocky