E-Pray June 2014
Dear Epray Friends,
Thanks to all of you who were able to come to our SERVE India Dinner! We had a really wonderful time with all of you, and thanks so much to all of you who helped in many various ways!! One of the stories we told, which was one of the highlights of our trip last January, is a story of one of the children, G., that the Lord brought to us. When he was just a little boy, around 5 years old, his father died, leaving him and his 2 younger siblings fatherless, and his mother a widow. As a widow, in India, his mother was considered ‘cursed’, and without much hope of ever being married again, since marriages are still arranged and no one would want to marry a ‘cursed’ women. Their little family was in a very difficult situation. It is also very difficult for a widow to find any kind of work. Amazingly, after a bit of time there was a man who came along who was willing to marry G.’s mother, but, he was not willing to take care of the children. G.’s mom had to decide, either remain a widow, struggling with her children and no way to provide for them, or, let them live with others, and as a married women, perhaps someday be able to help them. She decided to marry, and her parents were willing to care for the younger siblings, but did not have enough to care for G. So, this poor little guy, lost his dad, was rejected by the stepdad, and although reluctantly, was also rejected by his mom, & his grandparents. He went to live in a government orphanage. He was thankful for what was provided for him in the orphanage, but it was not a very nice place. He would spend time in the streets, and somehow he heard of a nice Children’s Home, with a really nice lady who took care of the children. He heard that they were Christians, which he did not know what that meant, but he didn’t care, he just wanted to find that place so he could go there. After asking around and finally getting some idea of where this Children’s Home was he talked an old gentleman into walking with him, 15 kms, to the town where this Home with the nice lady was. G. and the old gentleman found the Children’s Home that John’s parents were running, and the nice lady was John’s mother!
G. lived there happily for many years and then when he was about 12 years old our family came to spend the summer in India and he came to live with us, since he was about the same age as our boys. We enjoyed having him with us. He helped around the house a lot, and joined in with all that our boys did. We all learned some valuable lessons as he learned to trust us and we learned to be patient as he learned. He became like a part of our family, and from that time stayed at John’s parent’s place when John was in the U.S., but then always stayed with John whenever he was in India. He moved around with John and learned a lot as John would give him more and more responsibility. He really looked forward to any time the teams from the U.S. would come, especially when our boys were able to go. We always loved to have him with us!
A few years ago, when he was around 20 or so years old, something began to change. He was not keeping up with the responsibilities that he had been given as he always had in the past. He wasn’t following through or communicating clearly with us, even when the team came. Eventually, he was not answering our calls at all anymore, and then his phone number changed and we did not know where to find him or what was going on in his life. We were heartbroken! This went on for a few years, and we kept praying for him and trusting that the Lord would protect him and bring him back to us someday.Well! This past January while we were visiting the town where John’s parent’s place was, he came walking into the compound! He came tentatively at first, not sure of the reception he would receive, since his last contact with us had left responsibilities unattended, but soon he realized there was love and forgiveness and just plain delight as we recognized it was him!! We were SO happy to see him and he us! The Lord had worked the timing of our visit just perfectly with the timing of his visit to a friend that lived on the same street as the compound! He was excited to have us meet his WIFE! J He went home and brought her back so we could meet her and welcome her to our family, too! We are so thankful to know that he is doing fine, has a good job, and most importantly, is married to a wonderful girl who loves Jesus, and they are involved in the local church. What a blessing for us to have that connection again!
Thank you for praying for us and for SERVE India, and please keep praying for all of the children, widows, those affected by leprosy, Pastors and their families, and their congregations! We can only do what we do by what you do with us for the glory of the Lord!
His joy, Love,
The Nanda’s