The one with the craziest road ever.

Our first day here we rested which was entirely necessary after 3 long days of traveling.  Also, it is hot here.  Very hot.  More than you can possibly imagine hot.  I think I have taken more showers in our three days here than I did my entire month in Tanzania.  Just trying to keep cool, or at least a little less sweaty.

We are working with a ministry called GEMS.  Yesterday they showed us around the 22 acre campus they have here.  Including several schools, a hospital, printing press, computer classrooms, massive church that holds about 1000 people.  And more.

Basically it’s like they have their own city in the middle of a bunch of small villages.

This morning we left to go out to see some of the projects they have started in different villages.  Our first stop was at a small school in a village a few minutes away.  We met the children, they sang for us, and we prayed for them. 

Then we were off to where the GEMS project was stationed.  It is about 37 kilometers away from where we are living.  Getting there we went down one of the worst roads that I have ever been on.  And believe me I have been down some pretty gnarly roads this year.  On our way back we hit a ginormous pothole and I smacked my head against the window.  As you can imagine it felt pretty good.

When we reached the project site they gave us some information about it.

GEMS OUR PEOPLE PROJECT

The condition of the people:

During the reign of kings in ancient India, some women were
kept in the King’s palace in order for prostitution and entertainment purposes.  The king allotted them a place in the
palace and a village for them to live. 
Amari Tola is one such village.

 The main occupation of the people even today is
prostitution. The men, women and children are addicted to drugs and alcohols of all
kinds.  

 Most of the women don’t have husbands.  It is the duty of every
girl of this village to earn money by prostitution and to take care of her
aged mother and brothers.  The
women say their husband’s name is ‘Rupchand’ which means ‘money’.

 The girls of Amari Tola are taught to dance from the age of
6.  They neither take baths nor comb
their hair; they have received no parental care.  The girls are dragged to dance forcefully; the boys have to
sell illegal liquor.  They don’t
know their father’s name.  These
people live alternatively in Mumbai, Calcutta, and Varanasi Red Light areas. There are approximately 200 women and 150 men.

 

MINISTRY AMONG CHILDREN

With God’s Grace we started Sunday class to Amari Tola
children in 2006.  GEMS Our People
Project became operational from 08-01-2008.

Physical Care:

Everyday children were provided with breakfast, lunch and
evening Tiffin.  Weekly they
receive nutritious food such as egg, non-veg., fruits etc.  All of them were provided with 1 set of
Christmas dress, 2 sets of uniform and sweater.  They get their hair cut monthly.  Washing soap, bathing soap, oil, paste, and brush were given to
keep them clean and healthy. 
Every evening they play for an hour.

Education:

We are giving more attention to their education also, so
they are going to our GEMS DCC School. 
They are provided with books, notes, pen, pencil, slate, and school
bag.  After the school is over they
are divided into 5 groups and receive tuition.  Most of our children got good marks in their examination and
we could see much improvements in their studies.  It is very good to see that they have competitive spirits in
their studies.

Medical Care:

We are feeding them with food which
is rich in proteins.  Previously
our children had difficulty standing for 10 minutes, but now they are
strong enough to stand for more time. 
We are also giving First Aid to those who suffer with any kind of
disease.

We take them to hospital, whenever it’s needed.  They had an eye check up and were
provided with medicine also.  Now,
they are cured from eye defect. 
Each and every child got a full medical check up and they are provided
with Vitamin tablets and tonic.

We made arrangements to test for HIV and Hepatitis – B for
56 children.  The diagnosis is that
21 HIV+ and 12 have Hepatitis B+. 
So these children have often succumbed to have sickness like regular
fever, cough, cold, unhealing wounds, diarrhea, etc.  All the Hepatitis negative and other children were
vaccinated for three doses.

By the grace of God, now we made arrangement for another HIV test.  14 of the HIV+ children now show negative results.

Spiritual Care:

Every morning children have their devotion for one
hour.  Every Saturday evening, they
have their bible class.  We are
trying to teach the bible in a right way. 
In church service also, children are very much competitive in order to
read the bible.  This gives us real
joy in our hearts.  We praise God
for this.

We ask the children to have ‘Family Prayer’ in their
home.  

 COMMUNITY PROGRAMMES

Parents Meetings:

We had parents meeting once in two months.  We taught them how to take care of
their children and how to start self-aid service.  We preached gospel through that.  They had an eye camp and health awareness program also.

Tailoring Unit:

These people are fully involved only in dance and
prostitution.  In order to change
their life style totally, we started a tailoring unit.  7 people were trained in that.

Community Spiritual Programmes:

Through children, we show Christian VCD to their
parents.  Every Saturday we conduct
Bible study for Amari Tola people, 15-20 members attend this bible study.  We have seen a lot of change in their
lives.

Ministerial Activities:

Bishrampur Tola people are also doing the same business as
Amari Tola people such as prostitution and dance.  It is 4km away from here.  By the grace of God, every Sunday,
Sunday school is being held in Bishrampur Tola also.  Our Amari Tola children go there and they are taking Sunday school
and tuition for 70 children.  They
are teaching Bible verses and stories. 
The children also collect money rupee by rupee and buy chocolates, books and notes for these children.

By God’s Grace GEMS Our People Project has r 30
children from Bishrampur TOla since 01-11-2010

 

VISION FOR FUTURE:

Prostitution should be stamped out of Bihar

The children are quite intelligent, they must get high
education.  Some must become
doctors, some engineers, and others must complete theological studies and become
great pastors.

The girls should get married to good Christian men and
settle down for a clean life.

A church should be established in this village.

The people of this village must join a good job in a big
factory.

 

PRAYER POINTS:

As the girls go home every evening, they are forced by their
families to go for dances and they get into prostitution.

They need a good job so that they can leave behind their
sinful life.

Pray that God should provide us with a better land as a
government is taking this land to extend the railway tracks.  Pray that God should also provide us
with a good hostel for the students with dining hall, tuition table facilities,
etc…

 

We really enjoyed our time with these kids today and with the staff as well.  We got to play games and pray over them and really see the heart behind this ministry.  It is definitely an area full of darkness but the Lord’s light is brighter and is beginning to really shine in this place.  So please add this ministry to your prayers.  Especially that they will be able to find land or keep their own.  

I’m really excited about this month there is a lot of variety in the ministry that we will get to be a part of and I really feel like the Lord has us right where he wants us for these last few weeks.

Also, continue to pray for me as the time to come home is quickly approaching.  Pray that I am able to stay focused on the ministry that I am a part of this month and that I’m not consumed with thoughts of home and plans for when I get there.  I really want to be able to be here where I’m at 100%.  Thank you all so much for all the support you have shown me these past 10 months.  I couldn’t be doing this without all of you back home.