Over the last few days (how crazy is it that we’ve only been in Bangalore a WEEK? It already feels like a year…) we’ve been all over the city doing all sorts of different children’s ministries, from slum kids to Christian schools, from crowds of ten to crowds of hundreds.
One place that really grabbed hold of my heart was Jireh Children’s Home.
Jireh Trust was started by a couple (Thelilungrong and his wife Sendme) who graduated from Bible colleges and were “moved and touched by the conditions of the orphans and underprivileged children. [They] wanted to do something [more] than just feel pity.” So, in 2006, they established a home that gave very poor children (usually orphans) a place to live, food to eat, and the chance to join regular school and complete their education.
Here’s the thing: Jireh is operating all on the paycheck of Thelilungrong. They have no corporate sponsors or even government aid. There was a grocer who used to provide food, but he died suddenly about two years ago. With no steady financial support, Jireh has to get creative, so the children have arts and craft times where they create cards, key chains and bamboo flowers to sell for support.
When we went to see these kids, they were the most incredible children I think I’ve ever met. They have nothing (many of them didn’t have shoes, one night when we were there they didn’t get dinner), but they had the biggest smiles and sweetest spirits you can imagine. We sang songs, told them some Bible stories, played volleyball, and just enjoyed their company. The oldest was 14, the youngest was 5, but they all looked out for one another and took care of each other.
We also got the privilege of meeting their Bible teacher, Thelilungrong’s childhood friend, Hongsha. Coming in on a completely voluntary basis, he spends his nights and weekends pouring into these kids, sharing the love of God not only with the kids living at Jireh, but all of the kids in the neighborhood who are invited on the weekends for a Kid’s Club. The goal is to impact the Hindi community with the Gospel, and slowly, they are seeing families transformed.
One girl was living in a tent with her grandparents, who would send her on the streets to beg and beat her. When Sendme heard of this, she put her foot down, and now this little girl is under the care of Jireh, going to school and looking forward to a future of possibilities.
There are so many stories like this, all because some people in southern India weren’t willing to sit back and allow injustice to win. They have 12 kids currently living with them and hope to accept 5 more this year. They can’t save all of the kids on the streets, but they’re sure doing an amazing job with the ones they have.
I almost forgot! Jireh is Hebrew for “God provides.” This is a place to see faith in action, God and work, and lives being transformed.
God DOES provide.
If you’re interested in supporting the ministry, either by praying, volunteering your services, supporting financially or sponsoring a child, please contact Jireh Children’s Home: [email protected]
[And, as always, check back for pictures haha.]
