Sanctuary Home For Children

This was taken looking from Isaac's front courtyard across at the first floor of the church building, where the children were gathered, watching us.

While we waited to get the sponsor video set up, the children took turns being examined by the doctor. Ellen is the young lady wearing black. The doctor is seated, examining Chamondeswari. Ray and Amanda are looking at the medicines set up on the table, and Isaac and Mary are supervising.

This was taken in the first floor of the church building. The unfinished floor is often covered with a tarp and used as a seating area. The children are waiting to see the doctor, and also to see the sponsor video.

The children, especially the boys, were getting a little fidgety, so Ellen directed them in this exercies. She said it helps them to calm down and is good for the back. You can't see it in this still photo, but these little boys were still somewhat wiggly, and peeked as often as they thought they could.

Note that some of the girls are finished with their meeting with the doctor, and they've received some vitamins, supplements, and in some cases, medicines.

Strange combination: we were purchasing a nice computer and accessories, while across the street people lived in tents and ground rice or something) with stones.

We successfully bought the new computer and accessories in Vijayawada, and the Indians wanted to tie it to the roof of the car. We objected, and volunteered (insisted!) on riding in the back of the vehicle ourselves with the boxes.

This is an open area on the same property as the church building and Isaac's house. When preparing food for a large number of people (a church dinner, or food to distribute in the slums), it's cooked here, outdoors over an open fire. The area is shaded by coconut trees.

While Ray, Amanda, and Isaac made a second trip to Vijayawada, Ruth taught an art class for the children. Ellen translated.

Each of the children received a canvas bag, paper, and oil pastels, among other art items.

These colorful drawings are now with Ruth, and will eventually be made into notecards. These will be sold as a fundraiser for SH.

The children also decorated their new canvas bags.

Ruth brought illustrations of the creation and other Bible stories, told the stories to the children, and then invited them to color in the pictures.

Jeevanbabu is the tiny boy standing next to Amanda, looking at the decorated bags.

Fourth and fifth graders decorated cards and pencils for the SH children. Ruth shows the photo of the American kids, Amanda holds up some of the pencils, and Isaac translates.

The white car is an Ambassador. At first we thought there were many government officials in the area; then we realized that Ambassador is just the name of the model of car.

We taught the children this song, and they enjoyed doing the motions, even before they knew the words.

First row, from left: Malathi, Srilakshmi, Sandyarani, Ramya, Amanda (seated), Rebakha, Divya, Levi (the new girl!), and Buddu. Second row, from left: Shirisha, Chamondeswari, Durga, Reetu, Tirapathamma, and Bhavani. Jansi is standing at the back left, and Mary and Isaac are standing back center. The only girl missing is Sony - she was very busy with school work, and I assume she had gone to school or for tutoring at the time.

These are children in a slum area, receiving rolls and eggs.

This mother asked us to take her boys. She is a young widow, and very ill with tuberculosis. Their home is the small tent in the background. The boys, Venkatesh and Hanuman, came to SH the next day.

These flowers, when strung together, are for wearing in your hair.

Ruth brought bags donated by the City of Abilene, and distributed them to the widows.

Before the widows' meeting, the rice was brought, poured out onto a mat, and divided into equal portions. Each of the yellow bags was filled with rice and given to a widow - 155 of them.

Disclaimer about the banners: not our idea! They're ever-present, proclaiming who is doing what for any and every event, especially religious or charity. Also, they're a good way for Isaac to document the charity work his organization is doing as they pursue legal charity status in India.

After the morning session, during which Amanda and Ruth each spoke to the women, they were treated to lunch downstairs.

We each helped distribute the items to the widows: a saree (see them stacked on the table), a bag of rice, and an Abilene bag.

Cotton sarees (for older widows) are stacked on the table, silk sarees (for younger) are stacked on the floor, and Isaac's book is opened with details of which woman gets which kind of saree, and where they've come from. He also knew to give a longer (more yardage) saree to those who couldn't afford undergarments.

Teja is an orphan brought to SH by Mary's washer woman. The boy was regularly begging in her village, and she asked if we would help him. How could we say no?

Ray taught Jansi and Babblu valuable skills all the way from America.

Unopened flowers from this tree make a little popping sound, and children pop them for fun. Sathish, Reetu, and Tirapathamma are looking at the camera.

Sambaiah has the bat; Anil (the SH caretaker) sits with Bhima, Pavan, and Samson to watch.

The children loved being photographed, especially if I would turn the camera around afterwards and show them the digital image.

Like in America, children sneak behind each other an add rabbit ears - or horns, in this case.

Rebakha, Chamondeswari, Divya, Sandyarani, and Sambaiah. Buddu is in the background.

Ramya ran over to this flower and called me, "Mommy! Mommy!" As soon as I took her photo, all the children started looking for objects to pose with, from flowers to buckets.

Babblu's nickname is koti (monkey), and it's well-deserved! He was extremely entertaining.

This small grassy area is part of Isaac and Mary's front courtyard.

Levi always seemed to have this silly expression - it was so cute.

Not to be outdone by Babblu, of course. Rajanikanth is watching from the wall in the background.

You can tell which children enjoyed the camera the most!