So we are in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India all together for an all squad month. This means that we will all be staying in the same place and for my team, we will get to partner with another team (Team PAC) in ministry.
The local ministry we are coming alongside for the month is Sarah’s Covenant Homes. They are an organization, through India Christian Ministries, that takes in orphaned and abandoned children with deformities and/or disabilities, including cleft lip, blindness, cerebral palsy, autism, etc,. Unfortunately, in Indian culture these children are usually just cast out and looked down upon. Our host explained that this is due usually to India being a strongly traditional Hindu culture that believes in reincarnation and so people think that these children are disabled because they are being punished from something they or their family did in a past life. Because Hinduism is not just the national religion- it’s embedded into every part of their government, schools, cultures and everyday life- there are no programs for special needs children in schools or otherwise, making Sarah’s Covenant Homes a triple threat of the out of the ordinary. They are a Christian organization, they take in orphans, and care for/truly love these disabled children. The vision is to give these precious children a taste of family life. They are housed in apartment style housing and the goal is to have a foster parent or couple for each of the units.
This is where we come in. As of now, there are not enough foster parents and we will break up into smaller groups to be able to “cover” those units and give them as much love and one-on-one interaction as we can. We will also each partner up with a child in the home to focus on for a couple hours each day. Our special buddy will get one on one time that otherwise isnt really possible with the amount of children ,all with special needs, in one home. (I’ll be introducing you to my special buddy in an upcoming blog. All of the units have “Ayahs” that are basically these children’s nanny. About 90% of these women are widows that SCH employs as part of their ministry as well.
It is amazing seeing what this ministry is doing for these children in a culture that is taught to hate and view these children as worthless. Spend an hour with these children and you are torn to pieces. They are beautiful children that have been through so much and I just want to scoop them up and hold them tight to try and protect them from this cruel and unfair world that they live in. I want to cry out against all of the injustices they face. But more than anything I just want to play with them and bring laughter, speak into them words of truth and life, and hold them close to pour my heart out so that they may feel the love that they deserve.
This month is going to be tough. It’s going to be amazingly horribly hard. Figuring out exactly how to serve them and take care of these children with severe disabilities, find the best way to connect with each child I have in my care, and hoping that my heart won’t be completely shredded when this month comes to an end. Lord, help me to remember and truly trust in John 14:18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” These children are yours, you have provided, you will provide and you love them regardless of circumstance. Help me to love your children as you do.
Check out Sarah’s Covenant Homes online! http://schindia.com
