Meet, Eat and Donate!

Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, MN recently held an Indian dinner to raise funds for Bethania Kids and discuss a possible trip to India. Church congregation members cooked the various items for the dinner using Indian recipes. Dr. Kate Teece, one of our board members, showed a 15 minute video and talked about Bethania Kids and our homes, care centers and programming. Your church could do this as well! Contact us and maybe a board member, major donor of staff member can help you get started. It may be that one of them could come and help with a presentation.

From the Rockies to Rajahmundry

One of our donors, Mark Lee, from Estes Park, CO, recently visited Angel Home in Rajahmundry and visited with alumni of Angel Home in Hyderabad. Mark was visiting India on business and took a side trip to meet some of our kids in person. He got quite the welcome at Angel Home and was thrilled to be there.

Cilpajodi and Dholdholi Care Centers: Building Continues

Our new Care Centers in Cilpajodi and Dholdholi are getting closer to completion. Walls are almost finished and the activity continues. We are so grateful for the donors who have made these projects possible. A labor of love all around!

Dr Gnanakan and the children and staff at Cilpajodi in front of their new Care Center!

 

Women in Cilpajodi hard at work on the Care Center. These women clean out the building debris and remove the excess materials in baskets they carry on their heads.

 

Windows and doors are starting to be installed.

Great things are happening in Odisha!

Our two ministries in Odisha at Cilpajodi and Dholdholi have been using temporary space for their child care and community outreach centers. Through the generosity of our founding families, we were able to fully fund two new care centers. These two exciting projects are in the works now. The community has fully embraced these projects and the adults in the community are all taking part in the construction, much of which is done by hand. We are so thankful for this partnership and how the residents in Odisha have embraced Bethania and the programs and ministry we are sharing. Joined together by the love of the children and the promise of new hope in the future!

Here are some photos of the ongoing projects.

Cilpajodi

Cilpajodi ground preparation   Cilpajodi

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Dholdholi

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Check out Alan Lull’s most recent trip to Bethania Kids!

Read about Alan’s most recent mission trip with a group from St John’s Lutheran Church in West Bend, Wisconsin. Share in their thoughts and experiences at http://www.stjohnswestbend.org/church/india-mission-trip/

 

Join Us On Our January 2016 Mission Trip To India

Upcoming Mission Trip

Dia DeHaan will be leading a team to India on/around December 28, 2015 – January 6, 2016 to spend one-on-one time with the children at our homes and centers (exact locations TBD). If you would like to know more about this trip and/or want to join this team on a life changing experience, please contact Dia at sonseeker1@gmail.com by October 1, 2015.

The Children Give Thanks

As we approach Thanksgiving, we asked all 47 children in one of our After School Care Centers what they are especially thankful for this year. Their answers are sincere and quite moving…

Abiya – “My father and mother were separated, but they reunited.”
Agila – “My father got healed after an insect bite.”
Alwin – “My family is building a new house.”
Anburaja – “My father was met with an accident twice, but now he has healed and has started working again.”
Angel Pavithra – “My father reduced his drinking.”
Anis Amirtha – “We do not own a house, but my grandfather just gave us a piece of land. We are praying to build a house.”
Anupriya – “My brother got a new job.”
Arockiam – “My father and mother were separated, but now they are united.”
Asha – “My father was an alcoholic and now he has stopped drinking.”
Ashwin – “My father and mother were separated, but now they are united.”
Banupriya – “My uncle gave me a new bike.”
Blessy – “My grandparents got a free grinder from the government.”
Bose – “My family is building a new house.”
Catherin – “We bought a cow.”
Christopher – “My brothers were in a fight and got wounded badly, but the Lord healed their wounds.”
Daniel – “My father bought a new motor bike.”
David – “At school, the teachers are happy with me.”
Evangelin – “There is peace between my father and mother.”
Indira – “Performance in my English has improved.”
Jenitha and Jensi – “Our father’s petty shop business has improved.”
Jeyanthi – “The government built a house for my family.”
Johnes – “My father gave me a play scooty.”
Kevin – “My mother healed from a stomach ulcer.”
Michael – “I used to be alone. But now I am happy and I like to talk to others.”
Mukesh R – “My father got injured while cutting wood. Now he is healed.”
Mukesh S – “My mother healed from a fever.”
Murali – “I improved my academic performance.”
Nivetha S – “I prayed for my father’s drinking habits and there is considerable improvement.”
Nivetha A – “There is happiness in my family.”
Praveena – “The government built a house for my family.”
Princiya – “I have considerably improved my studies.”
Rajesh – “My brother got a job.”
Ramya – “The economic condition of my family improved.”
Sackthimarimuttu – “My parents were separated for three years, but now they are back together.”
Sackthisubramani – “My sister had baldness on her head, but now there is considerable improvement.”
Saipriya – “My baby brother was born.”
Sanjai – “My father fell down in a pitand his face was injured very badly. The doctor advised plastic surgery, but by God’s grace he is healing without plastic surgery.”
Selvi – “My mother finally got a job after a very long time.”
Simon – “My family got help from an NGO and now the economic condition of the family has improved.”
Subha – “My sister (Suja) had a cyst in her neck. They suspected cancer, but it turned out to be a benign cyst and now she is happy.”
Suja – “I had a cyst in my neck. They suspected cancer, but it turned out to be a benign cyst.”
Utthiriyamary – “I improved in my academic performance.”
Varshini – “My sister got high scores in her government exam.”
Veni – “My father had a heart attack, but his health is better.”
Veronica – “After my sister’s demise my family was in a very sad condition. But now, we are feeling better.”

All the children in the After School Care Center send their deep appreciation and gratitude to you and all their supporters. Thanks to you, Bethania Kids has been able to provide all these children with a hopeful and bright future. Thank You and we pray you have a blessed Thanksgiving!

My Religion was Basketball

We welcome the new president of Bethania Kids – Ravi Srinivasan!

A special thanks to Todd Heidelberger, who after five fruitful and blessed years ended his term as president of Bethania Kids. Ravi Srinivasan accepted the role as president of Bethania Kids in June, 2012. Below is a brief story about Ravi and his path to both Christianity and Bethania Kids.

Ravi Srinivasan’s parents were born and raised in India, but immigrated to America shortly after they got married. While Ravi was born in America, his life was a culmination of both American and Indian cultures. He grew up learning about Hinduism and frequently visiting family members in India, but at the same time, he had a love for American music, the drums, hamburgers and sports. In fact, when Ravi was asked what religion he practiced as he grew up, his answer was simply, “basketball.”

There was a defining moment in Ravi’s life that happened shortly after he graduated from college. He made a visit to India to spend time with his relatives and learn more about his cultural background. While on this trip, he visited a clothing factory and what he witnessed made a lasting impact on him. Children as young as nine years old were cutting out fabrics, sewing, and working in assembly lines. He recalls looking into their eyes and not seeing the vibrant sparkle of life which usually radiates from a child, rather there was a burdened, drab, and lifeless look about them. The moment Ravi saw those kids he told himself that if ever an opportunity arose to help children like these, he would take it.

Some years later, Ravi met a woman in India named Meena and they eventually got married. After their wedding, Meena moved to America to live with Ravi. A few years into their marriage, Ravi and Meena were filled with joy when they became pregnant with their first child. However, that joy was met with devastation when, on December 25th in Meena’s final trimester, they lost their baby.

Heart-break, anguish and utter sadness filled their hearts and lives. What was sure to be one of the happiest events of their lives turned into one of the most heart-wrenching. All they could do to cope with the pain was to try and get back to a routine. At that time, Ravi still considered basketball to be his religion, and he had been playing with some friends at a local Lutheran church on a regular basis. He continued playing with them shortly after losing their child to help occupy his mind. Ironically, it was through playing basketball at this church that Ravi found his true religion.

Although Ravi was only visiting the church to play basketball, the pastor heard about what happened to him and Meena, and he came out one evening to talk with Ravi. Ravi was struck by the kindness and empathy the pastor expressed. When the pastor asked if he could have someone talk with him and Meena, Ravi agreed. Shortly thereafter, a woman visited the Srinivasans and spent time listening to their story and sharing her own. It turned out that a similar traumatic event happened in her life. After she left, Meena and Ravi felt a huge burden lift from their hearts and decided that they would like to learn more about God. Before long, they both began attending church and they received Christ into their hearts and lives.

The Srinivasans learned of Bethania Kids through their church, and Ravi, remembering his commitment to help kids in need, became very active in the organization serving as a board member and treasurer before accepting the role of president. Ravi and Meena adopted a girl from India and later had a baby girl of their own. God has worked in beautiful ways through the Srinivasan family, and Bethania Kids is blessed to have his leadership as we nurture and equip the children of India. Also, though Ravi has put his love of Christ before all things, he still enjoys playing basketball in his spare time.

The Depth of our Blessings

By Austin Farinholt

After ten hours in a bus and twenty-two hours in a plane, Dency and Gethsy walked out of the Washington airport and inhaled their first breath of American air. Their excitement and energy filled the car as we made our way to the Bethania Kids office in Winchester, Virginia. As the driving began, so did the questions about our country – “Why are the roads so empty?” “How do they keep all the trash off the streets and fields?” “Why does no one use their horn?” We laughed explaining that things in America are a little different than things in India.

For the following month, Dency, Gethsy, and I traveled around the U.S. meeting countless people and sharing about the work of Bethania Kids. At each stop we were welcomed with hugs, glowing smiles, and plenty of food. The level of hospitality we received through every step of our trip was incredible. We felt exceptionally blessed to be a part of the Bethania family.

As we visited homes and churches around the country, Dency and Gethsy painted a vivid picture of India by telling stories of the children in our Bethania homes and care centers. They shared the difficulties and struggles of the kids before they came to our homes, and how their lives have been transformed since finding Bethania. They exposed their listeners to the harsh reality of life for many children in India.

One such story was of Durga, a three year old who attends one of Bethania’s care centers. Durga’s family lives far below the poverty line, residing in a one-room home that leaks whenever it rains. Her father squanders any money he earns, forcing her mother to find work wherever she is able. When Durga was only one year old, she would stay home while her mother worked with just her three year old sister looking after her. On one of these occasions, Durga’s sister found a razor blade and repeatedly cut Durga on her legs and body. By the grace of God, Durga lived through the incident. The following year, Bethania heard her story and brought her to our care center where she receives love, attention, care, and an education – all of which her family was unable to provide for her.

Having been to India and seen the hardships that many children and families face, I know that America is blessed in so many ways. However, the depth of those blessings hit me hard when Dency shared a thought with me. She said, “Austin, this is truly the land of milk and honey. This country has been very blessed. The people here should never forget who gave them all these blessings. If they do, it will not be good.” Her words were simple, but the message hit home.

How often have I said a quick blessing over my food without sincerely taking the time to thank God? How often have I opened my wallet at church and put the $5 bill in the basket instead of the $20? How often have I stayed silent when an opportunity came to praise and thank God? The answer, sadly, is too often.

While Dency and Gethsy brought to America stories of children in Bethania Kids centers, they left behind something much more valuable. With every person they met, they left an opportunity to change a life by sponsoring a child. The heart-wrenching stories they told of children in Bethania Kids homes and centers all had a joyful ending because someone took this opportunity. Will you also take this opportunity?

Ready For Occupancy

The road surely was not straight and paved. Like many roads in India, the one we traveled to build the Angel Home was bumpy and full of obstacles. But the end of the road is in sight! On April 18th, our Chairman of the U.S. Board, our India CEO, a handful of supporters from the U.S., many of our India staff, and just over 40 young boys will gather together for the much anticipated dedication of the Angel Home.

The Bethania-owned children’s home has been in the works for a number of years. Its beginnings date back to the year 2007 when the cornerstone was laid by one of our U.S. Board of Directors. The obstacles standing in the way were many, and ranged from meeting all the legal requirements, designing the building, to funding the project. However, with enough patience and trust in God, we are now just weeks away from providing the boys with their very own home.
Angel HomeShortly after the dedication, the boys will pack up their belongings and head down the road to their permanent residence in the little town of Narendrapuram, right outside of Rajahmundry. They should be all moved-in and settled in their new residence by the end of this May. The home where the boys currently reside offers little room for them to play games and do all the adventurous activities that every boy between the ages of 6 and 16 loves to do.

Currently, the boys sleep on mats which they lay out on the floor every night because there is not enough room in the building for beds. They also sit on the floor of their room to eat all their meals. In the new Angel Home, there will be nine boys in each room, with each of them sleeping in their very own bed! Also, eating in their sleeping quarters will be a thing of the past because right beside their dormitories is a spacious and welcoming dining hall.

The construction of the Angel Home could not have been accomplished without the help of all our Bethania supporters. When it was first discussed, the Board knew it would require great faith to complete. You, our partners, have made the Angel Home a reality. Thank you for generously helping us build this home.