Work, work, work!

Suffice to say that, almost 7 weeks in, we are feeling quite comfortable with India (well this little haven in India at least).  We are successfully bartering auto-rickshaw drivers down and are savvy to the sneaky ‘skin tax’ a lot of vendors seem to add to their produce.  We've mastered the art of head wobbling and eating with our hands (cutlery seems very odd now) and, although it always procures much laughter for the general public, we have a small grasp of Tamil enough to buy, for example,  five eggs, a little milk, “two teas/coffees please” and ask how much it’ll cost.  However, it would also seem that our immune systems are continuing to sample the delectations that are Indian colds/tummy bugs.  At the moment, about every 7-10 days we have a bed/down day and feel rough as dogs which can be pretty disruptive especially if visits and meetings are planned.  As a result there are quite a few times when we feel rather homesick. If you’re a prayerer then praying for our health would be much appreciated. However, on the whole we are very much enjoying it here!

You may be surprised to hear that in between all of our gallivanting and mini adventures we have actually been doing some work too!  In the UK, a wonderful group of people headed up by a man named John Eke have been busying away and staying up til all hours to progress the bid to become an official, UK-recognised charity.  A launch event was held on 9^th Feb to raise awareness of Bethesda Children’s Foundation (UK name) and gain interest in things like child sponsorship schemes.  Therefore, back in India we've been typing, reading, researching and quizzing away amongst a mountainous flurry of (mostly Tamil) paperwork and dubious facts to provide the UK with correct details of all the children here at Bethesda.  Thankfully we've managed most of them and the few unanswered questions we still have should be resolved next week as we venture to Erumad (finally!) to the other children’s home. 

Dorm 2 foundations a week ago

We've also been the liaison between the UK and Pastor Sam.  Sam is incredibly busy at the moment.  The building work in Mettupalayam is taking up most of his time as he’s supervising the laying of foundations and making sure the workers work fast enough!  On top of that, a group of about 15 Americans have just landed to be in Coonoor for a year and Sam has generously spent the last three days in Coimbatore (the Manchester of India) showing them where to buy pretty much everything to furnish a house.  As a result, he has very little time or energy for tedious email checking and updating all array of technological communications. As people who spend half their life on facebook we feel fairly well suited to the computer side of things here and, as there’s easy, fast internet here (provided the power doesn't cut out…usually about three times a day), it’s no hassle for us to do that side of things for him. 

Check out their moustaches!

Our latest project has been a government set task. Bethesda has been asked to put in-depth details of all the children living here on a missing child website so they have records of all children not living with their family.  This seems, to us, a little unnecessary as none of our children are ‘missing’, all have a story of how they came to Bethesda and at least one living relative.  Nonetheless, we were given this task and having been ploughing through yet more information to answer the government’s questions.  This probably sounds incredibly dull and, for the most part, it was. But we have had occasions of laughing fits and snickering behind hands at some of the questions.  I think the most amusing section was labeled ‘Habits’.  This required the admission of any noticeable habits the child may have.  Some tick boxes may have been classed as appropriate like smoking or nail biting but when it goes on to stretching, eyes blinking/shifting, cinema crazy and bragging…. Then come the truly bizarre when we’re talking about children. Does the child have a habit of moustache twisting or prostitute mongering? I think you see our amuse/amazement. 

Anyway, why are we doing this? Well, I guess there are two answers.  Firstly we wanted to see India and Bethesda seemed like a prime opportunity to do this and still be useful.  Secondly, and more prominently, we believe in Bethesda and Pastor Sam’s work and vision for these children.  We have found that it has had such a profound effect on so many children’s lives and is providing so much where there is need.  The UN and Indian government are, quite rightly, enforcing new regulations and policies regarding child welfare and it would be so great to see Bethesda as a leader and an example in how child care should be done in India.  It would be amazing for people to see Bethesda and think ‘Yeah, they've got it spot on’.  I think as far as the children’s emotional, physical and spiritual welfare is concerned, Bethesda is already a shining example and so all that’s needed now is to tick all the government boxes concerning practicalities of running a children’s home.

The Dining Hall a week ago

As you may know, this is the reason for the new home being built down in Mettupalayam.  This is, obviously, a very costly project.  So far the land has been cleared, the foundations for the main rooms built, bricks are starting to go up and the electricity is wired up and ready for action.  However, anyone who’s built anything of substance before will know that this is but a start.  Roofs, doors, windows and plumbing not to mention building a driveway and furnishing the place for 150 children plus wardens, cooks and security.  The initial budget Sam came up with for the building was £220,000.  Amazingly, he managed to raise £100,000 by selling one of the homes and a further £80,000 has been funded by generous givers from a couple of churches in the UK.  Correct me if I’m wrong but that leaves a mere £40,000 left to raise.  With the children due to move to the new site in June Sam is, understandably, fairly anxious about getting the building finished in time but more so about how the building will be finished without further funding.  Now, the charity in the UK are rightly focused on investigating a more sustainable, long-term and constant income of money for Bethesda.  Therefore, we are desperately looking to people like you to donate anything you can to help with this project.  If the building is not complete, the children cannot move, regulations cannot be met and therefore the Indian government has every right to close this amazing, beautiful home down.  A pretty urgent situation I think you’ll agree.

To pull on your heart strings a little more and provoke you into digging a little deeper, here is just one of the many stories at Bethesda.

Pradap & Satheesh 2001 and 2013 below

Eleven years ago these two little boys (aged 3 and 4), Pradap and Satheeshkumar were brought to Bethesda home.  Their mother had died leaving them in the care of their disabled father.  Their father was unable to care for them and could not afford to feed them let alone clothe them well or send them to school.  They were discovered at the side of a road eating dirt out of hunger.  We've been told that, when they first arrived they were shy, quiet and nothing could make them smile.  This is them eleven years later.  Satheeshkumar is a drummer in the church band and is hoping to become a doctor and Pradap is now in 9^th grade, is literally one of the most smiley kids I've ever met and is aiming to join the military.  These two boys owe their lives to Bethesda and are a real example of what a massive impact this place has on children in the local area.  There are more stories and testimonies of those who have now left Bethesda at http://bethesdamissionindia.com/childrens-stories.php.

Unfortunately, until the UK charity is fully set up and running, there is no really easy simple lovely link I can give you so you can donate at the click of a button.  Therefore, if you would like to give (and please please consider giving) please contact us on facebook or email us at emily.rebecca@live.co.uk and we can sort something out. Thanks!!