March 15th 2014
D-Day
(Departure Day)
I'm Leaving On A Jet Plane:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGZLELC9RCs
I have met so many amazing people who I can only stand back and remember in wonderment for their caring, compassion, self-sacrifice, dedication... the adjectives could go on and wouldn't adequately describe them.This includes everyone connected to Sarah's Covenant Homes, India - both those from overseas and also greatly, the wonderful, friendly, smiling Indian people who have hopefully put up with my quirky ways with such tolerance, patience, love and - oh those smiles (meet the 2 who had to patiently put up with me the most - Beulah and Sudahakar)
The saintly resident Foster Moms who dedicate themselves to their new families of children so selflessly - I stand in awe and amazement at you ladies - please meet them all on the SCH, India website.
Also people who have been indescribable help to SCH, the teams of incredible young people on the World Race Teams who had to raise the necessary $15,500 each to go on their amazing 11 countries in 11 months journey of discipleship, ministry and ministering - your loved ones should be immensely proud of each and every one of you - living and travelling in much hardships, extremes and with such dedication and cheerfulness. Your lives will have been positively changed forever.
Then there's the children - you've seen a number of them included in my blogs and been on a 2 month journey with them - but there are so many others - and there will be so many more to come. None are turned away and as many as can be taken in are. When they are here - it's for the duration, forever, or until they go to an adoptive family (see later in this blog).They arrive with just a photograph and an estimated birth date. Unloved by those who brought them into this world and seemingly nominally 'cared for' by the authorities. It's so tragic that a large number of these children would be 'normal' given adequate care at the start of their tiny lives - but because they aren't, complications soon develop which then becomes a downward spiral.
You'll recall that in my very first moments here we experienced the death of poor baby Rosemary - the happening that nobody here ever wants but is an inevitable consequence of the tragic situations that these poor children are rescued from. At the end of my journey we received baby Ella who was not expected to survive her first month and at 5 weeks still only weighs 1.4 kgs.
Litle Dahlia, who was left in a dumpster to die, where maggots ate off her nose. Because she wasn't wanted.
Ruby who arrived just after me and who has transformed in that time:
And oh so many more that you can read about. Please visit SCH,India website to see each story, videos, needs and hopes. These are unfortunately why there is such a need for Sarah's Covenant Homes.
There are certainly many marvellous moments - you met Nolan in my last blog who was deaf from birth and because of the shirt wedged over his head, wasn't aware of our arrival with his new bike - well there has been a wonderful moment with him - he has been able to hear for the very first time. Please take the time to share that precious moment with him and his wonderful stepmoms Nikki and Tori in this link:
http://hisstrengthnotmine.blogspot.in/2014/03/miracles.html
Breaking news:
During the last few days of my stay there has been a remarkable development. It seems that there was an anti-Christian government official who was preventing any adoptions going through by not processing any of the necessary paperwork to declare the children officially as orphans. Well he's been replaced suddenly and the floodgates opened and over the past few days, all of the eligible children have been to an Ongole court to be dealt with and this means that they can now be adopted. A few of the children already have adoptive parents lined up - but had been frustrated by this (non) process.
Now it has all changed.
Unfortunately Nikki and Tori had to make the 200 mile trip with their 8 kids there and back over a couple of days - what an ordeal for them especially given the disabilities that their kids have - but hey, it's all been for the better outcome!
So for any would-be adopters - what more rewarding than giving one of these a new start in their lives?
Finally - at the end of my trip - please click on this link and meet Sarah.
Sarah who loves and lives and fights for each and every one of her special children. A remarkable lady whose tank I've seen seemingly running on fuel fumes at times. Please pray for her, her incredible family, staff, the children in her care and the future which their and our God holds in His hands.
http://www.schindia.com/meet-us/james-sarah/
Will I ever go back?
Asked that question soon after the start - it would have been a very quick 'NO'.
BUT
That's just because I'm me. I received a very friendly, warm welcome and soon after the soon after, I acclimatised, came out of my shell bit by bit and can see that at the other end, somehow I'm leaving a small part of me there.
Now, at 63 years and 2 months more than when I arrived, I'd have to give it a very, very long thought and then maybe never be able to answer other than 'God Knows'. One thing I do know now is that I may have planted seeds in the minds of others (men particularly) to go out to give Sarah and her extended family a 'go' - to give a little of their lives to help make a big difference to those who give so much of theirs.
What anyone can be sure of is that there is a whole family of people that you hadn't realised were your relatives, waiting for you here. This includes those here for long periods and those like myself who come for short ones; both Western and Eastern. The evening before departure day - I was called from one of my odd-jobs to discover a new band of 'daughters' who I'd only discovered 2 weeks ago - you will see there world premier performance in the video below - meet 'Lost Direction'....
It seems that they had been booked for a surprise farewell party in my honour - a really Indian style function of pizza, Snicker and Oreo balls and an amazing cake like this:
They said they'd miss me ( I think they meant it)
And Sarah's daughters Shayna and Amira seemed to mean it (although they'd been horrible to me the whole time I was there!)
Thank you to all those wonderful new friends that I have been privileged to meet and become acquainted with (even if you are Johnny Foreigners) - the invites to visit us are rock solid - but don't wait until I'm too much older.
ఠంక్ యు అండ్ గుడ్బై ఇండియా అండ్ సరః'స కవేనంట్ హొమెస్.
GOODBYE INDIA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTdcQ6j4JnM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDedUcmvgL8
PS - Is this really 'The End'?
Well no, not quite. Watch this space as I intend to make a postscript maybe in a month or so in which I plan to note my reflections on my time in India, the effect that I feel that it might have had on me and also any differences that my family and friends notice (you may wonder if perfection can actually be improved on). So speak to you all then........
D-Day
(Departure Day)
I'm Leaving On A Jet Plane:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGZLELC9RCs
I have met so many amazing people who I can only stand back and remember in wonderment for their caring, compassion, self-sacrifice, dedication... the adjectives could go on and wouldn't adequately describe them.This includes everyone connected to Sarah's Covenant Homes, India - both those from overseas and also greatly, the wonderful, friendly, smiling Indian people who have hopefully put up with my quirky ways with such tolerance, patience, love and - oh those smiles (meet the 2 who had to patiently put up with me the most - Beulah and Sudahakar)
Also people who have been indescribable help to SCH, the teams of incredible young people on the World Race Teams who had to raise the necessary $15,500 each to go on their amazing 11 countries in 11 months journey of discipleship, ministry and ministering - your loved ones should be immensely proud of each and every one of you - living and travelling in much hardships, extremes and with such dedication and cheerfulness. Your lives will have been positively changed forever.
Then there's the children - you've seen a number of them included in my blogs and been on a 2 month journey with them - but there are so many others - and there will be so many more to come. None are turned away and as many as can be taken in are. When they are here - it's for the duration, forever, or until they go to an adoptive family (see later in this blog).They arrive with just a photograph and an estimated birth date. Unloved by those who brought them into this world and seemingly nominally 'cared for' by the authorities. It's so tragic that a large number of these children would be 'normal' given adequate care at the start of their tiny lives - but because they aren't, complications soon develop which then becomes a downward spiral.
You'll recall that in my very first moments here we experienced the death of poor baby Rosemary - the happening that nobody here ever wants but is an inevitable consequence of the tragic situations that these poor children are rescued from. At the end of my journey we received baby Ella who was not expected to survive her first month and at 5 weeks still only weighs 1.4 kgs.
Litle Dahlia, who was left in a dumpster to die, where maggots ate off her nose. Because she wasn't wanted.
And oh so many more that you can read about. Please visit SCH,India website to see each story, videos, needs and hopes. These are unfortunately why there is such a need for Sarah's Covenant Homes.
There are certainly many marvellous moments - you met Nolan in my last blog who was deaf from birth and because of the shirt wedged over his head, wasn't aware of our arrival with his new bike - well there has been a wonderful moment with him - he has been able to hear for the very first time. Please take the time to share that precious moment with him and his wonderful stepmoms Nikki and Tori in this link:
http://hisstrengthnotmine.blogspot.in/2014/03/miracles.html
Breaking news:
During the last few days of my stay there has been a remarkable development. It seems that there was an anti-Christian government official who was preventing any adoptions going through by not processing any of the necessary paperwork to declare the children officially as orphans. Well he's been replaced suddenly and the floodgates opened and over the past few days, all of the eligible children have been to an Ongole court to be dealt with and this means that they can now be adopted. A few of the children already have adoptive parents lined up - but had been frustrated by this (non) process.
Now it has all changed.
Unfortunately Nikki and Tori had to make the 200 mile trip with their 8 kids there and back over a couple of days - what an ordeal for them especially given the disabilities that their kids have - but hey, it's all been for the better outcome!
So for any would-be adopters - what more rewarding than giving one of these a new start in their lives?
Finally - at the end of my trip - please click on this link and meet Sarah.
Sarah who loves and lives and fights for each and every one of her special children. A remarkable lady whose tank I've seen seemingly running on fuel fumes at times. Please pray for her, her incredible family, staff, the children in her care and the future which their and our God holds in His hands.
http://www.schindia.com/meet-us/james-sarah/
Will I ever go back?
Asked that question soon after the start - it would have been a very quick 'NO'.
BUT
That's just because I'm me. I received a very friendly, warm welcome and soon after the soon after, I acclimatised, came out of my shell bit by bit and can see that at the other end, somehow I'm leaving a small part of me there.
Now, at 63 years and 2 months more than when I arrived, I'd have to give it a very, very long thought and then maybe never be able to answer other than 'God Knows'. One thing I do know now is that I may have planted seeds in the minds of others (men particularly) to go out to give Sarah and her extended family a 'go' - to give a little of their lives to help make a big difference to those who give so much of theirs.
What anyone can be sure of is that there is a whole family of people that you hadn't realised were your relatives, waiting for you here. This includes those here for long periods and those like myself who come for short ones; both Western and Eastern. The evening before departure day - I was called from one of my odd-jobs to discover a new band of 'daughters' who I'd only discovered 2 weeks ago - you will see there world premier performance in the video below - meet 'Lost Direction'....
And Sarah's daughters Shayna and Amira seemed to mean it (although they'd been horrible to me the whole time I was there!)
Thank you to all those wonderful new friends that I have been privileged to meet and become acquainted with (even if you are Johnny Foreigners) - the invites to visit us are rock solid - but don't wait until I'm too much older.
ఠంక్ యు అండ్ గుడ్బై ఇండియా అండ్ సరః'స కవేనంట్ హొమెస్.
GOODBYE INDIA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTdcQ6j4JnM
PS - Is this really 'The End'?
Well no, not quite. Watch this space as I intend to make a postscript maybe in a month or so in which I plan to note my reflections on my time in India, the effect that I feel that it might have had on me and also any differences that my family and friends notice (you may wonder if perfection can actually be improved on). So speak to you all then........
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