Finding our Sponsored Students

October 5, 2023

*The 34 girls we are sponsoring from Panchsheel Ashram School for the school year 2023-2024.*

The last few days of my trip have been occupied with locating, identifying and photographing the girls we are sponsoring this year. WE’ve had a great response to our Sponosrship program and this year we are supporting 34 students from Panchsheel School and 10 from Felix Convent School. (And perhaps more… stay tuned!) All of the girls are from village families and are struggling financially to afford the necessities of their school. Our support “fills in the gaps” with school fees, uniforms, books and stationary, and other school supplies. The process has been complex and it goes a bit like this:

*Our Sponsored Students from Felix Convent School in Paratwara.*

First, we have a list of the girls we’ve sponsored last year. So I take that list and make sure those girls are still enrolled, then I match them with their sponsors from last year. Then, with the teachers’ help, we identify new students to add to our list. This year, five students out of the ten girls we sponsored at Felix Convent School either passed out of the 10th grade exam, or moved away, so we needed to find 5 more to replace them.

The next step is taking photographs! But I need to make sure I match the photo with the correct name! That can be challenging. Recently, I started to record them saying their own names, which can help if/when I get confused.

The next step is to match all the sponsors with all the students and the final step is to notify the sposnors of the photos, names and information I’ve gathered. It can be a daunting process (and I am sure it coud be made easier and more streamlined….) but it works.

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Providing Blessings to Felix Convent School

October 3, 2023

When we work together, we can provide blessings to those in need. One church community in Spain worked for the summer on a special fundraiser to address a fundamental need for school children: the need for drinking water. We received a gift from the congregation of La Siesta Evangelical Church in Torrevieja, Spain: 800 Euros to provide safe drinking water to the children of Felix Convent School. Today, I had the opportunity to visit Felix and watch how the water cooler is being utilized. Each child brings a water bottle to school and throughout the day, is able to fill that bottle up with safe, clean, cool drinking water. What a blessing!

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Whatever you do for the least of these...

October 2, 2023

‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

~ Matthew 25:40

Reflecting on my time here in India, I have thought about how this work fuels my faith. Our organization is intentionally non-religious and does not require adherence to any religious belief. But for me, this work is central to the expression of what I profess. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable about sheep and goats - those who follow his teachings and those who do not. The goats are not those who are actively preventing his work, but those who don’t do what is uncomfortable. Those who do not feed those who are hungry, those who do not welcome the stranger into their midst; those who do visit the sick and imprisoned.

I do not do this work out of pity or guilt. I do not do it because of some threat of Hell. I do not do it to be the ‘white savior.’ I do it because my faith propels me. If I CAN help, shouldn’t I?

The more time I spend in the mission field, the more I am convinced “the church” is not about singing familiar songs, “good preaching” and choosing parament colors. It is about motivating people to step outside their comfort zones and do the work of Jesus:

Heal those who are hurting in body, mind and spirit,

Reconcile warring parties - within our minds, within our families, between our cultures and countries,

Listen to the cries of those unheard,

Forgive ourselves and others, so that we can move forward together.

Feed those who are hungry for food, opportunity, and education.

Give what we can, to allow others to have enough.

And Break the systems that keep some wealthy and leave the rest to fend for themselves.

When I am here. - in india, among the children of Panchsheel School - I think about their lives and am amazed at how resilient they are. They sleep with 250+ of their classmates in a hall, on mats on the concrete floor. They eat three simple meals of rice, daal and chapatis each day. Their parents work in the field, as laborers in construction, as maids, housekeepers and drivers, to support their families and to give their children an opportunity only education can provide.

But “the least” as Jesus refers to them are not to be pitied or shamed. They are children of God and deserve all the best the world has to offer. But they are (as we all are) stuck in systems of injustice that keeps some wealthy and some poor. They are not “least” in terms of value to the world, to God, or to me.

There are a lot of things I cannot do, but this I can.

Donate $100 to provide a girl a year’s worth of school? I can do that.

Provide opportunities for others to be involved in such a worthy cause? I can do that.

Share the challenges and joys of these beloved children, to move others to action? I can do that.

So I do.

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Impromptu Photo Session at Panchsheel

October 2, 2023

I took photos today of 22 of the 34 girls we sponsor at Panchsheel Ashram School (more photos to come tomorrow) and an impromptu photo session occurred!

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A Time for Felix

September 30, 2023

Felix Convent School, located in Paratwara in the state of Maharashtra, educates children from Nursery to Grade 12. They currently have 550+ students and 24 staff. In 2019, they moved from a small building into this newly constructed facility. Because the COVID pandemic interrupted their plans, the first full session was in 2021. They have finished construction on the 3-floor classroom building, tennis and badminton courts and now a new table tennis court and a music room. Financially, they are self-sufficient and with small donations are able to maintain a high level of education, good salaries for the excellent teaching staff and provide opportunities not available to village children in this area.

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A Visit to our Nursing Students

September 29, 2023

The Jaime Kim Scholarship provides support for exceptional female students in their post-secondary education: teacher-training, nursing school, medical school, career-training or university education.

Today, I had the great opportunity to visit the young women we’ve supported through the Jaime Kim Memorial Scholarship. Sonam, Saloni and Angel are now second-year nursing students at Mure Memorial Nursing College in Nagpur and will take their first Board exams in November. I met the Director of the Nursing College who took us on a tour of the hostel and the mess hall. The scholarships we’ve provided fund their housing and food, as well as school fees and supplies. We are proud of all they’ve accomplished and we are grateful to those who’ve donated through the Jaime Kim Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Ms. Sonam Kasdekar

Sonam, a graduate of Panchsheel Ashram School, finished her first year of nursing school at Mure Memorial School of Nursing in Nagpur and has started her second year. She is dedicated to her family and would like to become a nurse to help provide a better life for them. Friends of Padhar Schools’ Jaime Kim Scholarship has provided a scholarship for the first and second years of Nursing School for Sonam.

Ms. Saloni Ingle

Saloni, also a graduate of Panchsheel Ashram School, has finished her first year of nursing school at Mure Memorial School of Nursing in Nagpur and has started her second year. Saloni’s childhood dream was to become a nurse, but when her parents died and she was left to provide for her younger siblings, she thought it was just a dream. Friends of Padhar Schools’ Jaime Kim Scholarship has provided a scholarship for the first and second years of Nursing School for Saloni.

Ms. Angel Chauhan

Angel, another recent graduate of Panchsheel Ashram School, has finished her first year of nursing school at Mure Memorial School of Nursing in Nagpur and has started her second year. Angel is a bright student, but being from a poor village her educational options are limited. Her hard-working family provides enough to manage the family needs, but not the fees for education. Friends of Padhar Schools’ Jaime Kim Scholarship has provided a scholarship for the first and second years of Nursing School for Angel.

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A Tour of Panchsheel Ashram School

September 28, 2023

Yesterday was my tour of all the classes at Panchsheel Ashram School: Grades 1-12. 500+ students live and attend school at this facility and everything works like a charm: dinnertime, chores, study hours, play time. They are sweet children and asked me all about my life: What is your mother's name? What is your father's name? etc... Today, we are heading to Nagpur (3 hour drive) to visit our Nursing students.

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Warm Welcome at Panchsheel School

September 27, 2023

I have arrived in Bahiram and am settling in to a new environment. I will take these next few days to visit Panchsheel Ashram School and Felix Convent School, but I am also hoping to have some time to reflect on all my school visits, my time in Padhar, Sarni and Shahpur as well. But I thought I would start with the amazing welcome by the staff and children of Panchsheel School. It is a joyful noise when greeted by 550 children and all the teachers with flowers, dancing, colors and smiles. Here is a glimpse of the experience.

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Visiting Ebenezer

September 27, 2023

On our busy Tuesday, after the warm welcome at St. Mark School, we drove to SHahpur to visit the Ebenezer Hostel and Hindi Medium School. We were welcomed warmly by the students and taken on a tour of their facilities, including a hostel and the school building. They have about 100 student enrolled at the Hindi Medium School, grades 6-10. Currently there are 18 boys living at the hostel. Many years ago, we funded a washing machine to the hostel - it is still in good working order and still helpful!

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A stop at Shahpur Mission Primary School

September 27, 2023

After our visit to Ebenezer Hindi Medium School, we stopped at the primary school in the village. We are not formally supporting them, but this was my second visit. They have 39 children, grades 1-5. They did some dances for us and we had a nice chat with the teachers.

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Traveling to Sarni and St. Mark School

September 27, 2023

Tuesday started with a drive to Sarni (about 90 minutes from Padhar) and then a meeting with Pastor Johnson Crusoe and family. After sharing some coffee and snacks, we were welcomed to St. Mark School and a wonderful celebration, tour of the school and gifts exchanged. A few years ago, we funded the purchase of 5 computers for the computer lab - it is still being used for the benefit of all grades.

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A look inside the School and Rehabilitation Centre for the Blind

September 25, 2023

First, my apologies. I have been so busy these last two days that I have had little time to post, to reflect, to think about what is happening around me. On Monday of this week, I did three school visits and a meeting of the education committee of Happy Valley School. In the morning, I visited the Mission Primary School and in the afternoon I went to the Mission Higher Secondary School and then the School and Rehabilitation Centre for the Blind. Although this School was established as a centre for the blind, it now houses more hearing impaired and deaf children along with those with visual impairments, physical impairments and developmental challenges. The school is a live-in facility with 122 children and employs 24 staff. Here is a look into their home/school.

Last week was International Sign language day

The students had a contest for signs and posters to share.

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A visit to the Mission Higher Secondary School

September 25, 2023

What a joyful celebration at the Mission Higher Secondary School! The students shared songs and dances to welcome me and to celebrate our partnership. Here are some photos of the festivities.

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Visiting the Mission Primary School

September 25, 2023

This morning, I met with Mrs. Benjamin, the head teacher at the Mission Primary School and discussed their challenges and how they are doing. Then I met with children, grades 1-5.

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Sunday Walk in Padhar

September 24, 2023

It has been a relaxing and beautiful Sunday here in Padhar, with an early church service, an after-church nap and a nice walk to take some photos. I did some laundry in hopes that it will dry. During Monsoon season, it rains often and the air retains about 90% humidity, so it takes a while for clothes to dry. Even though it is Sunday, there were some shops open for business this afternoon: the ironing man, with friends hanging out and talking; the tailoring women sewing on their push machines; fruit and veg stalls and some other essential shops.

Tomorrow begins a busy few days of school visits, so it was nice to have a slow day.

The gate leading to the Guest House at Padhar Hospital. This is where I live for the time I’m in Padhar.

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Celebrating at Happy Valley English School

September 23, 2023

This morning, I was the Chief guest at the Investiture Ceremony and Inauguration of the new Food Hub at Happy Valley English School. The ceremony began with Welcome dances, including a special dance from Madhya Pradesh. The Investiture Ceremony was an installation of new student leaders for the school year - school captains, games captains, prefects and all class leaders. The food hub will be used to provide breakfast to students who do not eat before school. They will begin this program on Monday.

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Transportation Stories

September 22, 2023

One of my favorite ways to see the country is out the window of a car (or train). Traveling through communities you see the way people live: the kids on their way to school, people working in the fields, people dressed for office jobs on the bus or a motorbike. You get a sense of the “life” of the community - how people react to each other, to their circumstances, etc. I have gathered some short “out the window” videos for you.

I took a taxi to the train station in Mumbai and it seemed like everyone was going to the train station as well.

After a night on the train I woke up and the landscape had totally changed! This is taken through the train window.

My friends picked me up from the train station in Itarsi and we drove the 90 minutes through villages. You can really see the difference in lifestyle between city life and village life. You will also notice the bumpy roads.

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On the train to Itarsi

September 22, 2023

The overnight train adventure was a success!

Made it to the train station in a taxi and when we arrived a young porter helped me with my bag and took me to the platform, to my train car and helped me find my compartment. That process gave me a lot of anxiety - making sure I found the right spot. I tipped him quite well but he was very helpful and I was very grateful. The family sharing my compartment has been very nice and offered me some dinner. Nice folks!

Did you know? Itarsi is a city and municipality in Madhya Pradesh, India in Narmadapuram District. Itarsi is a key hub for agricultural goods and is the biggest railway junction in Madhya Pradesh. My friends Mr. Singh and Mr. Andrews picked me up and we drove to Padhar, about 90 minutes and we stopped in Shahpur for tea with Mrs. Singh.

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Thoughts about traveling during High Tea

September 21, 2023

I spent the afternoon at the Taj for high tea and then will return to the hotel to catch a taxi to the train station. My overnight train leaves at 7:30pm going to Itarsi.

At tea, a pair of British ladies sat next to me and I overheard them talking about eating lunch alone. Maybe it was my ear, but I thought they mentioned me eating solo…. Maybe I was just being sensitive… but it got me thinking about traveling alone and once being asked if I was ever scared. And really, I never am. I am careful. I don’t go out after dark. I go to familiar places. I am always polite and respectful, and I try to be accommodating to others. And I like my own company.

I don’t get bored easily. I spent all morning in the hotel room watching videos and sleeping. I think my kind of holiday would bore others, but that’s why I like traveling alone. The freedom to do less.

I think it is important when traveling with others that you each understand the others’ pace. On our holiday in Greece, my friend Molly learned I only do 1 thing, maybe 2 things per day. If I push myself and do more, I am grumpy for a long time afterwards. She would make fun of me because she would go and go all day, and I would need my rest time. But it worked out once we learned about each other.