Update # 3 on Thalia’s hand!

Thalia continues to make good progress. The bandages could be taken off and her therapy is ongoing.

A photo will be posted shortly; unfortunately the camera of our social worker got stolen and we will have to equip her with a new one..

A very big THANK YOU to everyone who made such a difference in THALIA’S LIFE!!

Update #2 on Thalia’s Hand!

Thalia is very happy and her hand is recovering well! Thank you to all who supported her!

photo0171

photo0173

photo0176

photo0177

ARISE AND SHINE: A 3-year Walk with Destitute Widows

At the moment there are 26 widows in our care. To be a widow with or without children in India is equal to a curse, nobody cares for them, nobody wants to associate with them, not even their own parents, the parents had sold them to their husbands family (dowry, which we fight with all our might), now that the husband is no more … they cannot go back home, and mostly the parents of the deseased husband do not want to have anything to do with their sons’ widow either, they even blame them for the death of their sons.

Our social workers and senior pastors take care of these widows, befriend them, show them that they are wanted and loved and search with them for a little business to improve their livelihood. We teach them awareness in every respect and they are gladly receiving advice. We help them in bugeting and general money handling and a very important factor is our advice in family issues.

Very often we build a small house for them and their children as they have become homeless and live in temporary tiny huts. .. this year we are planning to build 10 houses…… The cost of one very simple house comes to 6,000 francs! If this report touched your heart you may want to donate towards this absolute necessary step …. thank you so much!

Update on Thalia’s Hand!

Thalia has had her hand operation!

Letter from Pastor Paul:

Thila is now shifted from ICU to general ward and she is getting cure little by little. I visited her and talked with her. She told me the doctor previously cleaned her wounds with cotton and scissors on every day. So she was afraid whenever she saw the scissors, but now she is little bit normal with these fears. She told me that she shouted in a great voice when she was taken into the operation theater because of the fear and the previous experience, but now she ashamed it. She is feeling good and happy now.

I talked with the PA to the chief doctor and Thalia will be discharged from the hospital within fifteen days. She needs to sleep on a cot after discharging from the hospital for about two months. Also she needs a walker for about one month. Rajakumari has no cot in her house all they are sleeping on the floor and mat.

The estimated cost of the single cot is rupees 3000/-
The bed and pillow cost is rupees 3500/-
The walker cost is rupees 1200/- The total cost would be rupees 7700/- (140 chf). If we provide these needs it would be so helpful to the girl. I attached herewith the picture of the hand operation. The picture is collected from the hospital.

Thanking you. Pr. Paul

Pallapuram a Hindu village

Pastor Sebastian settled with his family (above) five years ago, slowly he worked among the people holding himself also a job … little by little people joined the Christian church, now the church counts 50 people. They hold their services in a rented hut (picture in previous email) then the congregation started to save money over a period of 4 years: most of the people are all very simple coolies, and earn very little salary only but they got the money together to build the foundation for a multifunctional hall where they want to host various events and of course also the Sunday service and a tuition center for needy children of illiterate parents. (this tuition is already running, presently still in the rented hut. LETS SHARE came in and helps them now to finish building that hall which benefits all the people in the village… they are still busy building … progress will be published in the blog ….. I want to mention the good news that Hindus and Christians in this village live in peace and friendship with each other.

Below is a picture of the Rented Hut which is being replace by the one under construction:

Working to help farmers

As of 01/12/11, we have raised 5,450 chf out of 11,000 chf, click here to find out how to donate.

We are currently working on agricultural developement projects. In this regard, we have formed farmers co-operatives. At present, we have 13 farming groups with a total of 160 farmers. The direct beneficiaries of donations are the 160 farmer’s families which means we are reaching over 700 people. The indirect beneficiries are more than 3000 people from 13 villages.

The project goal is to enable the small, marginal tenant farmers and landless agricultural workers to work for themselves. We aim to create a just, humane and sustainable environment so that the beneficiaries may ensure adequate livelihood opportunities for themselves.

Half of the people in India live on less than $1 a day in rural areas, and most rely on agriculture for their food and income. We work to help these small farmers boost their productivity, increase their incomes, and build better lives for their families. Their success or failure determines whether they have enough to eat, are able to send their children to school, and whether or not they can start a savings.

Small farmers face many challenges:

• Their soil is often ruined from overuse.
• They lack quality seeds, fertilizer, irrigation, and other farming supplies.
• Their crops are threatened by diseases, pests, and drought.
• When small farmers do manage to grow a good crop, they frequently lack access to markets.
• Farmers lack knowledge in handling their finances and so they are unable to invest properly
• Our agricultural experts and social workers help the farmers in our care to solve the problems they face. With awareness programs, help in practical and technical agricultural issues, savings instruction and other financial issues, we teach and stand by each farmer. Once a month our people visit each farmers co-operatives, listen to their problems and guide them.

The project period is three years. During this time, we are working to help small farmers flourish on their farms and overcome hunger and poverty.

Thalia and her hand

Update on Thalia’s hand – Joy Foster’s birthday party raised over 1,100 chf. That combined with other donations allowed Thalia to have an operation in December. Thank you to all who contributed!

This is Thila and her hand. A few years ago she had an accident while playing and broke her right hand and arm. The doctors messed it up as you see… and it was left at that… claiming there was nothing else they could do. In the meantime, Thila has learned to write with her left hand. In India, however, her future does not look bright as she will be looked upon as a cripple…