Many of you have seen the movie “Slumdog Millionaire.” In Hyderabad, India there is a slum called Beggars’ Valley. It is one of the most dreadful of living conditions. The Indian government has provided no schooling for most of the children in that slum. A young pastor has provided a school but he really needs help. You can see pictures at the following website:

http://us.wwcs.org/Regions/Asia/India/StMarksHyderabad.html

The 200 students at St. Marks School in Hyderabad, India, are primarily children of beggars and those in low-paying occupations such as street-sweeping. Twenty are orphans, and 70 are children of single mothers.

St. Marks has been providing a school environment for children of this slum for many years, but in the last three years their student population has grown from 60 children to 200. Nearly half the children are unable to pay any tuition at all, which means they are shut out of any government provided education, as even the cost of the necessary uniform or pencils and paper is unattainable for their families.

Two of us visited a Christian school that serves the children who live in Beggar’s Valley in Hyderabad, India. The building is very run-down. It is in such poor shape but there is no money for repairs.

The children are hungry but there is no money for a lunch for them.

The following is from Pastor Samuel, who runs the school:

__________________

First we appreciate you very much for your favorable consideration towards us and we appreciate you also for remembering us. We praise the Lord that it is come from the Lord and it is God’s plan.

We are also praying a lot with fasting for a financial miracle.

We started by faith and hope our school on the Word of God ‘Train up a child in the way that he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it” Proverbs 22:6.

And pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James 1:27.

And “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” Mt. 28:19.

We have no missionaries or groups and churches or denomination in foreign or here behind us. This school work is running only by faith and hope and prayer.

We want to spread gospel to the children and their parents and give free education on non profit basis. We started our school on 1999 June 12th by prayer. Since then we have educated many orphans and slum dwellers. 99% of the children that study in our school are slum dwellers. Many children come to school without eating anything at home in the morning. In the afternoon they bring very little food.

For few years we also provided midday meal to our school children because of their pitiable condition. But due to our financial crisis we stopped midday meal but continuing free education.

We took this building on rent for long lease for 30 years from 1990 to 2020- May 30th ending. We deposited Rupees 100000 with the building owner and made an agreement for 30 years lease.

1) We are paying Rupees 10,000 per month at present. We have 10 years more agreement until 2020. This is for your information.

2) We have 175 children in our school at present. We are collecting Rupees 150 per month from each child from 100 children.

3) We have 11 teaching and 3 non teaching staff, and we are paying salary of Rs 21000/- per month

The school is running in losses of Rs.21000/- though day by day it is becoming very difficult for us to run the school, but by seeing the pitiable condition of the children that are in the slums and at beggars’ valley we are running the school. We are not hopeless people but in the Lord we are hopeful people and expecting that God will bless us one day for better future for His glory.

Pastor Samuel

It is wonderful to help children in orphanages and schools for the poor in India.But some of them are excellent students and need a university education. Friends of ours who have such an orphanage and school in India are hoping to raise money to send three students to university.

The need is as follows:

This year: $ 575 (for 3 boys)

Next year: $575 (for the 3 boys)

Third year: $ 325 (for 2 boys)

Details:

James $ 250 per annum (he is already in 2nd year)He is studying Bachelor of Science in Math with Computer application.. 

Daniel $ 175 per annum:He will join Bachelor of Arts in English.

Gnanavel $ 150 per annumHe will join Bachelor of Science in Computer Sciences.

In his blog on nurturing faith, Dan Berens wrote the following:

When it comes to hiring a new faculty member for next year, what qualities are you seeking? Allow me to encourage you to consider some recent research done by Dr. Laurie Matthias, assistant professor of education at Trinity International University. She wondered what themes and qualities would emerge from studying professors considered exemplary by their peers in the integration of faith and learning at Wheaton College. She discovered a common core virtue of integrity/wholeness in these individuals. This sense of integrity and wholeness resulted from these characteristics: genuine faith, an attitude of humility, passion for their academic discipline, and openness to change.

I certainly agree with her assessment and submit this attempt as a “Top Ten” list of qualities needed in a Christian teacher:

1. Passion for God, kids, subject – in that order
2. Desire for, and skill in, nurturing faith in kids
3. Integrity – wholeness as a person (see above!)
4. Strong emotional intelligence (what we sense about others and what we do with that awareness)
5. Curiosity/creativity
6. Team player – working well with others
7. Commitment to personal learning and flexibility with change
8. Strong understanding of biblical perspective and skill in revealing God’s truth in the curriculum
9. Desire to build community within classroom and school
10. Sense of humor

What would you add or subtract?

His blog can be found at: http://nurturingfaith.wordpress.com

Even in schools where teaching was going on, children were getting a raw deal. Mindless rote learning still dominated the classroom. The reviewers came across children chanting mathematical tables for several hours. When asked even a simple question, they faltered; when asked to “read” anything outside the text, they often could not. They frequently found children copying blindly from the blackboard or the textbook without comprehending it.

It is therefore not surprising that children learned little in most schools. even in terms of the elementary “3Rs” learning achievements were very poor. They found that 80% of the children in grades 4 or 5 could do simple addition and 60% could do simple subtraction. However, when it came to even single digit multiplication, the proportion dropped to 55%. And only half could do a simple division by 5.

Further, a large proportion of children was unable to read and write, or answer simple questions, even after 4 or 5 years at school. For instance, nearly 62 percent of children studying in grades 4 or 5 in a government school could not read a simple story. And more than 80% could not write the answer to a simple question. Unfortunately, years of schooling and grades completed continue to remain an unreliable guide to what children learn and know.

Is there any “quick fix” to revive classroom activity in Indian schools? Some have been tried but with limited results.

NEW LIFE SCHOOL:

Upon returning home from India I wander through our house several times. I really enjoy the space, quietness and comfort, and want to soak it up all at once. Our house is small, it is the minimum square footage Trenton bylaws stipulate. But coming back from the 2/3 world it can seem obscenely excessive for just two people. In the 2/3 world the majority of people are packed in small two or three room houses or apartments.

Recently I came to know about “The New Life School” in the state of Orissa. Orissa was in the news last August, when extremists murdered many Christians and burned their homes. New Life staff and students had to flee into the woods and live like wild animals for several weeks. Their crime being that they are Christians. They have now returned, but it would not surprise me if they are still nervous. If their homes are small by our standards, schools are functional but much smaller. Classrooms half the size of ours here accomodate twice the number of children there.

Fortunately the needs of the people are much smaller too. A teacher makes the equivalent of $62.50 per month. The principal makes $125.00.
Total cost to run a school with 8 teachers, 2 teacher assistants and the principal is $1050.00 per month. This includes rent, utilities, phone and maintenance.

The school is presently in a rental facility but New Life is in the process of building a new school. It is up to the roof. The cost of the roof is estimated at $11000.00.
New Life School is trusting God to provide for their needs.
George Couperus.

Greetings to you in Jesus’ most precious name.

By the grace of God everyone is keeping well here. All the children are fine and enjoying the blessing of the Lord. We are grateful and thankful to you for your love, prayers, concern, care, encouragement and support.

The Lord is doing wonderful works here because of your prayers. New Life School is running well, children are preparing for the annual examination.

Praise God that more than 165 poor children have enrolled in this school. New Life School is a real blessings to many needy children here in Orissa. We have 8 teachers and 2 non teaching staffs, 1 principal involved in this ministry.

Your support goes beyond New Life School, and directly impacts hundreds of children’s lives who would not otherwise have hope. Without your prayers and support we are unable to run this worthy work. As the ministry is growing, the needs are also growing. Prayerfully herewith we are sending the expenses details for your kind consideration and necessary action. Please pray and help for God’s glory and for the extension of His kingdom.

Thank you again for your love, prayers and support. We are praying and looking forward to hear from you. Thanking you

With much prayers and Love.

In Christ
Siani Harpal

Monthly Expenditure details of New Life School, Kesinga

Salary to 8 teachers @Rs2500/- per teacher So total Rs20000/-
House Rent : Rs5000/-per month
Salary to Principal Rs 5000/-
Salary to 2 peons @Rs1250/- per peon So total Rs2500/-
Electrical Bill per month Rs3000/-
Phone bill Rs500/-
Chalk & Duster Rs300/-
Printing, Xerox etc Rs700/-
Others , maintenance Rs5000/-

Total Rs42000/- per month

Yearly expenses:

Books, stationeries, Notebooks, pen , pencils Rs200000/-
Uniform , shoe , socks, tie, belt etc Twice in a year Rs200000/-
Sports equipments, Bench, desks, chairs, computers, toys etc Rs200000/-

If you would like to donate to this worthy ministry, please contact Worldwide Christian Schools at www.wwcs.org.

From George Couperus

One of my Mumbai friends is very religious. He is Hindu, but also professes to be a Christian. He believes Jesus is His Saviour.

Every Tuesday he goes to a special temple to worship. When I am with him I usually go along. At 6 am people are already lined up the entire length of the street of the temple. I cannot see the building yet, but I can clearly hear the temple music. The sides of the street are lined with merchants selling things needed as offerings. It makes me think of when Jesus overturned merchant’s tables in the temple. What a mess it would be.

At one point our shoes and socks had to come off and were handed to a person looking after several hundred pair already. For a moment I worried about having to go home on my bare feet. We are stil a long ways away from the temple.

Closer to the temple the men and women seperate. Once inside, I go to the spectators gallery, but my friend moves on to hand his newly bought offering of coconut and some wilted flowers to a couple of temple priests. The priests just dump the goods on top of the huge pile behind them. My friend moves on with the crowd to pray and to prostrate himself in front of the statue of a cow and kiss the floor.

On the way home I ask why he goes and what he gets out of it. His simple answer is: “It gives me peace”

A friend who works in China sent the following:

* Twice a week in sunshine, rain, or snow, Little Bean cycles to our apartment from her home in a neighboring village. As this tiny woman lets herself in, greets us, and begins her cleaning tasks, the wood-smoke smell clinging to her clothing tells us how she heats her simple house. The $1.50 an hour she earns helps Little Bean supplement her earnings from a paper route and other odd jobs that make up her main sources of income. She’s a tireless worker, and a resourceful one. We’re hesitant to offer her worn or faded items we no longer use, but Little Bean accepts them all eagerly, her face splitting into a grin that reveals a mouthful of broken teeth. She has had some education and, along with Chinese characters, she’s able to read and write pinyin, the romanized version of Chinese. This is a great help to us since we can read the notes she leaves us without struggling through characters (we know between one and two hundred characters, but there are thousands). Since most days Little Bean comes to our home while we’re away at school, we don’t have many opportunities to talk with her. At Christmas we gave her a bonus and a colorful pamphlet explaining the real meaning of Christmas; she was happy with both. Will she take the words of this message to heart amid the harsh realities of her life?

* Ann was born in this country but has spent the past 20 years living in the US. She and Lynn have been friends for a year and have met together regularly for tea, conversation, and an exchange of books. Ann likes to discuss philosophical and ethical issues, and she reads many current bestsellers dealing with such themes. Last spring Ann became increasingly interested in Christianity, and this past summer she e-mailed Lynn, “I’m finding myself reading the Bible almost constantly these days.” However, Ann’s interest in the Christian faith had cooled by the time she and Lynn met up again in the fall. She now espouses what she calls “a universal light within all of us” and holds that all belief systems are equally true. Spiritual journey is more appealing to her than spiritual commitment. Ann considers herself to be a good person and is offended by the idea that she, like all of us, is in need of forgiveness by and reconciliation with God. She is doubly offended by the idea that this reconciliation can only be obtained through Christ’s atoning work on the cross.

* We met Pete in the Bangkok airport recently during a 1:00-7:00am layover. John offered him a Ritz cracker after he sat down across from us in the waiting area, and as the hours rolled by Pete poured out his story. He grew up in Europe during WWII and immigrated to America in the 1950s. He rose to a respected position in his chosen profession and later married the love of his life, caring for her tenderly until she passed away a few years ago. We were impressed by this vibrant, interesting man’s grateful attitude for the good things in his life. After Pete mentioned for the third time that it seemed as if everything in his life had been planned out so well, John asked him if he believed there was a Planner behind all that planning. Pete eagerly took up this conversation, and the three of us discussed related ideas nonstop throughout that long night. Pete grew up in a church but now believes a little bit of everything. He told us emphatically, “And one thing’s for sure: there are no absolutes!” (He assured us he’s absolutely certain about this.) The authority on which Pete bases his mix of theology is himself, yet at times he hesitated when asked how convinced he was of his own belief.

* Thomas is enrolled in a registered seminary in our city. He is passionate about studying the Bible in its original languages. With permission from the authorities he asked John to teach him NT Greek, and the two of them are meeting weekly. Thomas grew up in a non-believing family and as a young man became interested in a Christian woman who agreed to date him if he would go to church with her. He attended church throughout the course of their relationship just to please her and found himself captivated by the music as well as the message. Thomas was devastated when he and the girl broke up. He grieved not only over the lost relationship but even more at the realization that he had only been pretending to be a Christian. He says now, “I felt God was punishing me for faking a faith I really didn’t have.” He went to visit a trusted friend who sat down with him and explained how he could be made right with God through Christ. The transformation resulting from his commitment that day continues through the present as Thomas trains to be a pastor.

A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.

(Luke 8:5-8)

A friend in Canada wrote:

We went to see “SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE” Not because of the “OSCAR” hype.

The setting is in a Mumbai, India slum. The film is a typical Hollywood production. It portrays India’s worst with a happy ending when love prevails.

The reality is that the majority of the slums are filled with industrious hard working people. Behind many doors there is a small business. One person sells flowers, another occupies a corner of the sidewalk to cut rocks, next is a person repairing shoes. Another is expert at removing wax from people’s ears, or cutting hair. A frail looking lady hawls a bag twice her size containing plastic for recycling. The list goes on. It really is amazing how ingenious the people are at eeking out an existance.

The slum is not a cesspool of prostitution, mafia and beggars, as the movie may suggest.

I came to know Ramesh who lives in a slum in Mumbai. A very pleasant normal 11 year old. No different then boys his age here. Ramesh has two brothers and a sister. The father expired. Mother works as a domestic earning an average of $1.50 a day. Ramesh is lucky, in that his family is acquainted with a Christian family who will lend some support to them. They will help him with his school work.

Meanwhile, Ramesh is only one out of the 42 million people living in India’s slums, a population roughly equal to the population of Spain. But 42 million slumdwellers occupy less space then the city of Toronto. We bemoan lack of privacy on our one acre lots, a slumdweller would be happy to share it with 100 others and still feel blessed.

George Couperus