|
 My
first contact with Little Hearts Orphanage happened in 2001. I had been
on a mission trip from my local church to our partnership mission in
Andrea Pradesh, South India. At the end of the trip our team had a few
days to spend in Madras, South India and had been asked to visit the
orphanage to open their new building. As I was the oldest it was down to
me to cut the tape. (Age has its benefits!). I was not sure what to
expect and also did not realise then what an impact this was to make on
my life. When the team arrived at Little Hearts we were met by all the
staff and friends and then shown around the Orphanage. It was wonderful
to see the children being taught in a structured way and cared for with
great gentleness and compassion.
My task
was to officially cut the ribbon on the new accommodation block and pray
that God would bless it. I remember the day very clearly as I was not
sure what to pray for, how do you pray for disabled children? But God is
good and understands when we don’t say all the right words and in the
right order. I prayed a very simple prayer asking that God would “bless
Little Hearts and meet their needs” and that is exactly what has
happened. At this time there was no physiotherapy centre and the
classroom building was single storey. Today there is a purpose built
Physiotherapy building, Occupational Therapy room, the classroom
building has three floors, they have two mini-buses for transport, and
the single storey accommodation block has three floors, they had 35
children and now they have over 100. They have also expanded to work in
the local villages helping the children prepare for mainstream school
and teaching health care to the adults. The disabled adults within the
orphanage (50 approx.) have been moved to their own Development Centres
(Kadapakam and Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.) in accordance with state
requirements.
I left
Little Hearts that day challenged, humbled and full of admiration for
all that Iyyappan (director) and his staff had achieved, and with a
desire to come back some day.
It was two
years later that I went back to Little Hearts (October 2003) and again I
was amazed at how the work had progressed and developed. God had
answered my simple prayer, they were truly blessed and their needs had
been and were being met. We spent four days with the staff and children
and again it was challenging to see what they could achieve with so
little. It comparison to our western lifestyle they have nothing but
what they lack in material goods they make up for in commitment, love
and compassion. It is a delight to be in the Orphanage surrounded with
an atmosphere of care and love and you can see this reflected on the
expressions of the children.
Four
months later I returned again to Little Hearts. I had not planned to go
back so soon but then our ways are not God’s ways and He determines how
we lead our lives. This time I spent two weeks seeing the full extent of
the work and travelling to the Development Centres for the adults. Words
cannot adequately describe the difference that is being made in the
lives of the disabled children and adults, and the village children.
Those who had been abandoned, now in a place of care. Those who could
not walk being helped with physio. Those who were rejected, being
loved. Those who were without hope now in a place of safety. Those who
society thought had no value now in a place where they are treated with
purpose, significance, and dignity.
I also had
the opportunity to cut another tape at the opening of Little Buds
pre-school building (for village children) and it was very humbling to
look back over the two years that I had known Little Hearts and give
Glory to God for His faithfulness in blessing them and meeting their
needs. Yes, you guessed it my prayer was just the same “God bless the
work in Little Hearts and meet their needs”.
At the
start of 2006 God led me to be involved with starting a new charity so
that the child sponsorship support for the orphanage could continue and
ACTS Ministries has now been established. ACTS Ministries want to
demonstrate the love of God to disadvantaged people and will help in
any developing country where people need Assistance, Care, Training or
Serving. I am not involved because I feel I can make a difference, but
because God has touched my heart with the work of Little Hearts in South
India. Also because he has promised to continued to answer my simple
prayers “God bless the work in Little Hearts and meet their needs”.
I commend
to you ACTS Ministries. Pray for us often and support the work
financially if you can.
email Raymond:
artomson@Hotmail.com |
