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A Visit to Happy Valley

The children smile as they stand and say in a unified voice, “Good morning, Madame.”  Clad in their yellow, green or red shirts denoting their “houses,” each class is studying and preparing for the exams they will take on Monday. These exams are government-mandated and come at the end of the school year.  But today, the children are busy, working hard to ensure they are prepared for what is to come. 

Happy Valley English School serves the village of Padhar, but its students also come from surrounding villages, some taking a 45 minus bus ride to get to and from school. It is an extension of the mission of Padhar Hospital to provide the children of the village every opportunity to thrive and prosper. Happy Valley currently has 468 students enrolled, in grades Nursery-12th.

In 2017, we provided scholarships for students and provided the funding for them to purchase a drinking water fountain. 

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Introducing Padhar

Padhar is a small rural village in Madhya Pradesh. The village, its economy and the school system is centered around Padhar Hospital, a 200-bed multispecialty, charitable, rural hospital belonging to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the central highlands of India. Located at the southern border of Madhya Pradesh midway between Nagpur and Bhopal, our patients also come from the surrounding states like Chhattisgarh and Orissa.

From their website: "The primary objective of this institution is to provide physical, mental, emotional and spiritual healing in the Spirit of Christ to all in general, but especially to the poor and needy, regardless of caste or creed. To this end we provide diagnostic, curative, preventive, palliative, research, developmental and rehabilitative services, both in the hospital as well as in the community. Apart from the state of the art medical services available at Padhar Hospital, we engage in a host of community outreach activities targeting the surrounding tribal villages like schools, environment and nutritional enhancement programs, maternal and child health programs, and various community-based clinical outreach programs covering areas as diverse as mental health and cancer screening."

https://www.padharhospital.org/

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Touring, combatting jet-lag and getting to work!

With our feet firmly in Mumbai, Amy and I are in India! We arrived at 3:00AM on Wednesday morning and have spent the first 2 days being tourists around Mumbai and fighting hard to get accustomed to this time zone. For the most part, we’ve done extraordinarily well! Our days have been filled with walking through Colaba, exploring shops and restaurants, taking photos of the outrageously beautiful sights, people and colors of the country.

Yesterday, we visited Elephanta Island, in the harbor of Mumbai. After a 40 minute ferry ride (great opportunity for people watching and making friends), we arrived at the island and toured the ancient caves. The caves, temples and intricate statues of Hindu gods were carved between 450-700AD and are a UNESCO World Heritage site.

This afternoon, we make the journey to Padhar, first by flying to Nagpur, then driving to the village. Tomorrow we will begin the work of catching up with our partners in the region, planning our meeting schedule and starting our school-tours! So much to look forward to and so much to be grateful for. Here's to a good Friday! 

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All packed up and ready to go!

As I wait for the pick-up of my airport shuttle, I thought I'd start the practice of journalling on the blog! It has been seven months since my previous trip to India, and seven months since my last blog entry. 

This trip is different for many reasons. It is the first time I've traveled at this time of year.  My first four trips were in the Fall, last time I traveled in June-July and now, I will be traveling in February! The trip last June-July coincided with the beginning of the school year and this trip will greet the end of the school year, which will provide me an opportunity to check in and discover how our plans worked. 

This year, my friend and fellow Board member Amy will be my traveling companion and an extra set of eyes. I hope she will also contribute to this blog.

So, I wait for the shuttle with much anticipation and my bags filled with supplies and gifts. I've packed gifts for our partners, gifts from the sponsors for their students, bookmarks and letters from the children at First United Methodist Church Redondo Beach, and once all those gifts are given... I will have an extra bag to fill up with things to come home. 

So, for now. we are off! See you on the other side!

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The Mission School Celebrates Republic Day

Republic Day honours the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950 replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India.[1]

The Constitution was adopted by the Indian Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949, and came into effect on 26 January 1950 with a democratic government system, completing the country's transition towards becoming an independent republic. 26 January was chosen as the Republic day because it was on this day in 1930 when Declaration of Indian Independence (Purna Swaraj) was proclaimed by the Indian National Congress as opposed to the Dominion status offered by British Regime.

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Year-End Gratitude

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Year-End Gratitude

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After my trip to India last Summer, our Friends of Padhar Schools' Board of Directors set an ambitious goal: to fund schools, students and supplies in the amount $11,100 for the school year 2017-2018. This was a lofty goal, almost twice the amount we'd raised previously.

And thanks to you, as of today, WE'VE REACHED OUR GOAL! FIVE MONTHS EARLY! It's been a great fundraising year - thanks to your participation and support!

So this year Friends of Padhar Schools has provided:
* Scholarships and support to 55 students at 4 different schools
* Needed repairs and equipment to 5 schools
* Stipends for Teachers at 1 school
* School Uniforms to almost 300 new students at 3 schools
* Books and Supplies to all 600 students at 1 school

What a lot to celebrate for this year! Thanks to you and may you be blessed as you've blessed the people in rural India this year.

Much love and gratitude, 
Krista Givens
Director, Friends of Padhar Schools

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Great Soap for a Great Cause!

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Great Soap for a Great Cause!

Hawaii Soap Company has created a wondered India-inspired soap collection to benefit our Give Books program! The collection includes: Orange Clove, Mango Chutney, Sweet Lime Soda, Vanilla Bean and Lavender Anise.

100% of proceeds will benefit the Give Books program to purchase text books, notebooks and writing supplies for the 630 students of Panchsheel School in the Maharashtra state of India.

Perfect for Holiday gifts, or for your own soap needs! Do some good as you shop!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/196802426/silk-roadorange?ref=hp_rv

 

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2017 Christmas Cards!

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Christmas Cards - Overstock Sale!

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Variety Pack of 12 cards with 12 white envelopes -4 cards per design. 

We are overstocked in our 2016 designs and before we launch our 2017 Christmas Cards, we are having an overstock sale! The three artists featured donated their work to raise funds for Friends of Padhar Schools to support education in rural India.

To purchase cards, click on our etsy site: http://etsy.me/2yb1JfC

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Happy Teacher's Day

September 5, 2017: The students celebrated their teachers and staff on Teacher's Day at Padhar Mission Higher Secondary School. 

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Introducing our New Students!

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We are beginning our 2017 Student Sponsorship Program with 24 students in need of funding. 19 of the students are studying at the School and Rehabilitation Centre for the Blind in Padhar. This is a facility that houses, cares for and educates (in collaboration with the Padhar Mission Higher Secondary School) children with physical and developmental disabilities. 5 of the students are studying at the Panchsheel School in Paratwada and want to continue their schooling to become nurses. $100 provides school fees, tuition and supplies for an entire school year. Sponsor a student and change the world!

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Making a Difference at the Padhar Mission Higher Secondary School!

We are pleased to announce that the Padhar Mission Secondary School has received our support. Yesterday, they hosted a wonderful ceremony to distribute 30 packages of school supplies and uniforms to needy students, and to display the new fans they've purchased for their classrooms. They've installed several fans and intend to install them all before the Summer begins (March-April). Many thanks to our partners, donors and all the Friends of Padhar Schools.

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The Yoke and the Burden - A sermon reflecting on my trip to India

When I was called into ministry in the summer of 1999, I felt my call to be a missionary, and in some ways, that’s what I am. My call was to help children who live in poverty, children who need help, children who need support and resources and love to help them thrive in a world that seems to be working against them.

I didn’t understand my call at first - during seminary I considered being a professor, writing books, being a local church pastor - but deep down, I was being pulled by God toward ministry with children in poverty. My heart was “burdened” with a call and I didn’t recognize that call until after 7 years into my ministry, almost 10 years after my call.

As I reflect on my trip, representing my non-profit organization called Friends of Padhar Schools,  as I try to remember all the stories and activities, all the sights, sounds and smells, I also reflect on this passage from the gospel of Matthew, chapter 11: verses 28-20:

28“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

We all have “burdens”  - things that weigh us down. Challenges and struggles, illness, pain, past trauma, bad relationships, guilts and worries…. 

The word used for "burden" comes from the word for a ship's cargo and indicates theat these burdens -  are indeed heavy and serious - Later in the gospel of Matthew, Jesus criticizes the scribes and Pharisees by saying: "They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them.” (Matthew 23:4)

In rural India they still use oxen to plow the fields. The plow is heavy and so a yoke is placed on each ox and the farmer guides them up and down the rows of corn or eggplant or pumpkins. This image is helpful as we try to understand what Jesus is saying:

28“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Many times, the “yoke” of Christ does not seem easy. The call of God, the work we do for the kingdom is not easy - it challenges us to our very core! It challenges our sense of self-care; it is risky; it requires late-nights and heartbreak when plans don’t turn out like we thought they would; it is hard to follow the call of God. And not just for me, but for you too. Because God does not just call people to be pastors, but God calls you to be teachers, doctors, nurses… God calls us to take care of children and parents, God calls us to help others however we can - with their finances, with their emotional lives, with their relationships. And this work is difficult, when you follow God’s call. It tests us. That yoke is not easy. Let me give you an example.

This is Shital. She has just started the 11th grade and she wants to be a nurse. She is one of 5 students our non-profit will be sponsoring from Panchsheel School. Her favorite subjects are history and she loves to play an Indian sport called Kho-Kho. She was identified by the teachers at Panchsheel School as one of the students who has a bright future and is in need of funding to finish her secondary school education and will need help with funding for nursing school. 

As I was visiting Panchsheel School, near the city of Paratwada, I had the opportunity to sit and talk with these students. And Shital was a special one. 

“Tell us about yourself.” We began. And out came a story of her family: a father she never knew because he left when she was young, a mother who works multiple jobs to support the family, an uncle who drinks and is not able to be a steady presence for them, and older brother who also drinks and gets in trouble, and she and her little sister… trying to get an education. 

“We have nobody.” she said as she started to cry. “We have nobody.”

Immediately, my heart says, “Okay, I will adopt this child and her sister, move to India and raise them myself!” 

But my head says, “What can I do? I cannot do everything but I can do something. I can provide her a scholarship to get an education and in this way let her know that she does have somebody. Me.”

This yoke is not easy.

But maybe this is a misunderstanding of the biblical text: Maybe Jesus didn’t mean that following God would be a breeze!

In this scripture, Jesus’ yoke is described as “easy," and the Greek word used is chrestos -- only one letter different from christos = “Christ". 

According to author Brian Stoffregen, this word -“EASY”- does not mean "not strenuous," but

1. "being superior for a particular purpose or use” so Jesus may be saying that his yoke is better than any other yoke.

2. "being useful and benevolent, being good” so Jesus may be saying that his yoke is more beneficial than others.

3. "being kind” so Jesus may be saying that his yoke is kinder than any other yoke.

4. "being pleasant or easy, with the implication of suitability" - Jesus may be saying that his yoke fits us well -- it is suitable for our human condition and abilities. Perhaps like a couple "who are made for each other" -- being good and kind to each other is not a chore, but a natural and gracious response to the other. (1)

Maybe this saying abut yokes and burdens is more like an If/then statement.

If you follow my call, then the heaviness you feel will be alleviated. If you take my yoke- the better yoke, the kinder yoke, the more suitable yoke - if you take my yoke upon you, and let me guide you, then we can shoulder those burdens together.

One of the ways the LOAD is lightened, as we take up the yoke of Christ, is that we become aware that we are not alone in our work. That beside us is another ox! Another worker in the field, helping us carry the burdens. 

One of the schools we work with in the small village of Padhar is called the School and Rehabilitation Centre for the Blind. Established in 1973, it now is the home to about 200 children who are blind, deaf, physically impaired, and developmentally delayed. 

It is run by one family: the Andrews family. This is Mr. Andrews, who left a very good, high-paying government job in the 80’s, when he visited the school and was called by God to be a part of it. The school houses the children and provides them classes in life skills, vocational training, sign language and braille and helps with teacher’s assistants that accompany them to school and help them translate materials so they can participate. This year, Friends of Padhar Schools will be sponsoring 26 students from the Blind School.

Mr. Andrews is the principal of the school and the director of the live-in facility that houses both girls and boys, and the love he has for these children in apparent upon meeting him. Many of the children have parents and homes in nearby villages and during the summer, the children travel home and then return when the school year begins. But some do not. And those children live year-round at the school, cared for by Mr. and Mrs. Andrews and the staff. 

One night, Mr. Andrews got a phone call from one of the night staff saying one of the girls had gotten out of the gate and was wandering around near the front gate. Mr. Andrews directed the staff to open the gate and retrieve the girl and put her to bed. The staff person said, “I will, but I don’t think she’s one of ours.”

Apparently, the girls’ family had dropped her off in the middle of the night, outside the gate, hoping the school would take her in.

This is Millie. She has a severe intellectual disability - or as they describe it - she is retarded. When she arrived, Mr. and Mrs. Andrews took her in and tried to help her. She was very disturbed, she harmed herself and others, she didn’t communicate with words or signs or sounds, she was difficult. After a time, the staff came to him and said, “Look, we are not helping this girl. She needs more attention than we are able to give. This is not fair to us. She needs specialized help.” 

Mr. Andrews agreed and began to look for a facility to take Millie to, an institution that could help her. If she moved, the burden on the staff and on him would be eased. SO, he found an institution in Mumbai that would take Millie and the staff and the family was relieved. 

They worked for a month to prepare for Millie’s departure and the night before she was to leave, Mr. Andrews couldn’t sleep. He tossed and turned all night thinking this was not the right decision.

When he woke up, he notified the teachers and staff that Millie would not be leaving. The relocation was cancelled and Millie would be staying with them. “This girl,” Mr. Andrews told them, “has been sent to us to teach us how to love. It will not always be easy, but we will all grown and learn from Millie.”

After this decision was made, the staff began to approach Millie in a different way - they followed her lead and they did not expect her to behave like the other children. They listened and looked for the cues she gave them and realized she was communicating - just not like anyone else. And now, Millie is safe and loved and has a home at the School. And because they have not heard from her family, Mr. and Mrs. Andrews have started adoption procedures to officially add Millie to their family. And she is also one of the students we are sponsoring this year.

If we take on the yoke of Christ, the guiding hand of Jesus, the powerful call of God….. THEN we recognize that the burdens we carry- we are not carrying alone. Not only do we have Jesus guiding us, but we have partners in our work to help us accomplish our work for the kingdom.

28“Come to me,” Jesus said. “all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Amen.

 

1. Brian Stoffregen, found on http://www.crossmarks.com/brian/matt11x16.htm

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Culture Shock and Re-entry

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It’s hard to believe my trip is over. I have been home now for a week, I am back to work, Po is home with me, my sleep patterns have almost returned to normal…. and still, it is hard to believe.

Each time I return from India, my response to being back in the “real” world is different. Each reentry shares some commonalities: I am shocked by the quiet, overwhelmed by the choices available, and I go a little crazy for the things I’ve missed (ie: there has been a lot of cheese and ice cream consumed in the last week.) 

The difference in SOUND is not as stark as it was when I lived in Germany. In India, it is LOUD - cars honking in the daylight hours, music played from various venues, loud speaker prayers that waft through the village. It is loud. And Germany is quiet. People do not speak on the street or on the train; no music blaring from open windows. Everyone stays inside and minds their business. 

The differences in OPTIONS is still a shock. When I returned home and went to my local grocery store to fill up my refrigerator after a month away, I remembered this feeling. Overwhelmed, I spent almost two hours in the store, walking up and down each aisle, making sure I saw all the options available and chose the right jam, the right pasta, the right apples. When you’ve lived in a situation in which your choices are limited (“Can you go down to the stall on the road and get me some laundry detergent?”) the CHOICES present in our culture are overwhelming. In a rural village, there are limited supplies of everything. Do you want shampoo? You go to the stall and ask for shampoo. (no specific brands or specialities) Did you run out of toothpaste? You go to the stall and ask for toothpaste. It’s very simple.

With these elements of my culture shock, I add the fact that I do not want to forget my experience. When you’ve experienced profound joy, demonstrations of why you’re called to ministry. experiences that teach you about yourself and the love of God… I don’t want to lose any of that in my memory. 

This weekend I am tasked with “reflecting” on my trip in a sermon and for a Question and Answer time after church. I am hoping I can do it justice and give voice to those I met on the journey.

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