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Sometimes the work the church does in remote and interior parts of India leaves you thinking, “What if no one was doing this work?”, especially when that work is with young people.
And often it does two things: makes you feel tremendous gratitude for what you have and also feel gratitude for what others have, thanks to the church, because without that help, they wouldn’t have anything.
We went to visit an orphanage, Snehajyothi Sisubhavan, in Kerala. It houses children who have either never known their parents or, if their parents are around, the parents have chosen not to see their children. The orphanage is recognized by the Indian government.
The children here have been through so much. Mona, for example. She was left on a train as a newborn by her teenage mother. A passerby heard her cry and took her to the police. She was then brought to Snehajyothi.
Or Lisa, who was sexually abused by her father until she was 7 years old. Her mother had mental health challenges. When Lisa told a neighbor about the abuse, her father was arrested, and she was sent to Snehajyothi. She’s now 19 and studying social work.
Catholic Near East Welfare Association, or CNEWA, provides a grant to Snehajyothi Sisubhavan. It goes toward formula and diapers for newborns and medicine and food for others at the orphanage. Children from Snehajyothi are also on the register for adoption.
We also visited a nursing college where CNEWA pays toward scholarships for underprivileged students. Sanjo College of Nursing and Allied Sciences was founded four years ago and accepts 60 students annually. Most of the students here are from underprivileged backgrounds, and the CNEWA scholarship pays toward tuition fees and books.
We visit Ance Jiboy’s home. There’s a crack just above the front door. It’s where lightning struck. They haven’t had the money to repair it yet.
Jesus always provides where there’s no hope or when we have given up hope. It can arrive from the most unexpected places and make us believe in the power of prayer and the miracle of life.
Read more about how the church is helping the most vulnerable in Ms. George’s story, “Ending the Poverty Loop,” in the June issue of ONE magazine.