Suffer the Little Children . . .
Let me give you some examples of the circumstances, which families in Haipi and the surrounding areas are coping with:
Ganesh , aged 13 years, lives with his father who is a low-caste Nepali Hindu. As a low-caste Hindu, the father can only aspire to certain trades – in this case, that of blacksmith. He makes agricultural tools – spades, hoes, khukri, harvest sickles, plough hoops and so on – but earns very little. Sadly, he is in poor health and has little work. His wife is dead, and he finds it difficult to care for Ganesh. He approached Kai and asked that Ganesh be allowed to attend Emmanuel School. Kai replied, ‘Of course he can.’
Geeta is 12 years old. Some time ago she was badly burnt – possibly she fell into a fire. Her face and hands were damaged in the accident. She has no fingers on her right hand and three fingers on the left hand. Her wounds have healed but she remains scarred. Luckily her hair has grown again. Geeta was determined she wanted to go to school, and to do so she has to walk two miles to Emmanuel School and two miles home again as a day pupil. Her mother had asked that Geeta be allowed to attend Emmanuel School. ‘Of course she can.’
Ashok is 11 years old. For some time he was attending a ‘free’ school, but recently that school has become fee-paying. Ashok’s mother is a single parent in her early twenties. Hers was an arranged marriage, but the husband left her seven or more years ago. (Imagine how old she was when she gave birth to Ashok.) She could not afford the fees so Ashok had to leave school. Since then, every day he cried because he so much wanted to go to school. When Ashok’s mother asked Kai if he could attend Emmanuel School, the answer was ‘Of course he can.’
I could write about Santosh, Neipahhoi,and Naryan. Also about Jangminlen and Nemminnei. All of these are children who are suffering in some way – often the children of single parents or refugees. None of them can be denied a future. And so, despite our 10% policy, we now have 45 children in the sponsorship scheme. Thus, you will realise that there are five more children than numbers allow for, and 12 for whom there are no sponsors at present. Numbers, numbers – who cares about numbers?
If the need is great, a way will be found to manage. And this is the need where we must direct our prayers. Pray that sponsors will be found for some of these children.
Jesus said:"Whoever welcomes in my name one such child as this, welcomes me." (Matthew 18:5 NIV)
Vivienne Kendall
