Something is always happening here at the “House of Hope,” part of the ministry of Rays of Hope in Navi Mumbai, India. My team and I have been here for about two weeks and within that time we have celebrated at least four birthdays. There is much to celebrate, as this ministry is inspiring and bringing hope to many people who would have otherwise been hopeless. The most recent and momentous occasion however, has been an engagement ceremony!
This is an event of historic significance since this ministry started, because the young lady pictured here is the first of the children that have been taken in to be given in engagement! Talk about hope! If this young orphan girl had not been given a home here, she likely would have ended up in prostitution. This was the case with her older sister, whose location is unknown. But because of Rays of Hope, the young girl who once had very little else to look forward to than a life on the streets is now engaged to a credible young man.
My team, now called “Pioneer”, was given the honor of being invited to sit in for the ceremony. It was quite a celebration too, including instrumental music, singing and dancing, the formal ceremony, exchanging of rings, and a feast fit for a newly betrothed couple. The entire night was very moving and much praise was rightly given to God. The ceremony was conducted in Hindi, but every once in a while during the singing we would hear the familiar phrase shouted out, “Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!”
So, I am very glad to have been able to see and celebrate what God is doing here. I am continually amazed at the joy and enthusiasm that is constantly displayed here. I can imagine that this a place that would attract the curiosity of angels as eager onlookers. It seems to me that in India especially, ministries like Rays of Hope are providing the answers to some of this world’s biggest problems, giving hope to women and children who would not have had another place to turn.
