Jesus’ kids!
November 2003 Volume 6, Number 11
“He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy.” Psalm 72:4
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Jesus’ kids! November 2003 Volume 6, Number 11 “He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy.” Psalm 72:4 |
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| He blesses so
richly that we cannot even count all the blessings we have experienced
here at Betikara, and we are eager to share those blessings with any child
who has a need. That’s easier said than done. Last week we
had a request to take in six children, all from one family, who have lost
both mother and father. However, we have no where to put even one
more child until the new home is finished.
I wish you could see her. She’s about seven or eight years old. Her hair is almost yellow which is extremely unusual in this country where everyone has black hair. It’s a sure sign of malnutrition. Her dress is a rag that has been bleached by months in the sun and has turned to a dirty gray. She wears no shoes. I’m sure she hasn’t had a bath in months. I see her just about everyday, and everyday my day is brightened by the twinkle in her eyes and the ear-to-ear grin she sends my way, but I don’t even know her name. She lives on a set of steps in front of a corner store just one city block from Betikara. There she sits, day in and day out, with her mother and a younger sister (a babe in arms), a small basket with all their possessions beside them. They sleep on those steps at night, and they beg for food during the day. We, at Betikara, have watched them “live” on those steps for half a year now. They first came to our attention when the mother, with children in tow, showed up at the Betikara center to inquire about our program. Mom explained that she had been thrown out of her local village for excessive fighting with her husband and step father of the children. Betikara was full to bursting at that time, but that seven year old with her bright eyes and sunny smile grabbed our hearts and we were more than ready to share His rich blessings with this little sprite. We showed the mom the facilities and talked about all the love at Betikara. We sat her down and explained carefully about the legal procedure for placing a child in Betikara, assuring the mom that she could visit as often as she wanted. She assured us that she had a birth certificate and promised that she would bring it to the Center the following week and legally place the child at Betikara. We were excited and waited with joyful hearts for our new little lamb to come and share the love. Mom never showed up the following week. For a few weeks they were gone from their “step”, but it wasn’t long before I found them back in their customary position, begging and sleeping on the step. Esther and I went to visit them on their step and again offered to take this little lamb so that she could eat at a table, sleep in a real bed, and learn of a loving Savior. Again the mother promised to bring the birth certificate and again our hearts fell hard when the mom did not show up. It has been almost six months now and I still watch her everyday that I pass by “the step”, and everyday I pray for that bright little tyke who has so little to be bright about. I pray that God uses Betikara to help this little one and as many little lambs as possible. I pray for His wisdom to approach those on the streets with a humble heart and a willingness to help the children who sleep on “steps”. I pray for the children who already live in homes but need the love of Betikara because they no longer have parents to love them. And, we continue to work to expand the Betikara program. The roof is almost on the common (central) room of the new Betikara Center and the basic structure of the home will be finished. We have stone walls to wash, floors waiting for a finish coat of cement, bathroom fixtures ready to be installed, kitchen cabinets to build, and finish work to do all around, and furniture to buy, but most of all, we are petitioning the electric company to hurry along with the installation of electricity. They have promised to have us up and running with electricity by January 6th of the new year. This is the third world though, and we know that promises like that don’t mean much. We are praying for electricity before June. Everyone who visits the new Betikara home stands in awe of the rich blessings He has showered upon us.
The richest blessings
of all though, are the four volunteers who work directly with the Betikara
lambs five days each week. Sandy has been with us for nine months
and teaches English, Geography and Swimming. Irma is heading into
her seventh month at Betikara and teaches Math and Sewing. Yann and
Sylvie are in their first month as a part of the Betikara team and are
already installed as French, Math and Computer teachers. All four
volunteers pour out their love on the children in hundreds of different
ways and with hundreds of different talents. Betikara is deeply
grateful for every blessing they receive from volunteers, care givers,
and from those of you back home who send your love over in more ways than
we can even count.
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If you would like to help with a monetary donation, write your check out to BETIKARA and send it to: Indiana Church of Christ
“He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him
for what he has done.”
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