Sanctuary Home For Children
Dear Friends,
We are writing to share with you some of the work that the Lord is doing in Tenali, India, and to request your prayers and support.
This is the story of what has led up to this letter:
Last December, our dear brother in Christ, Isaac, sent us an email requesting support for the purpose of providing Christmas gifts to certain poor preachers and church members in his area. He asked that we also forward the email to our family members who are acquainted with him and know the work he does. This was no surprise; we have been sending a financial gift of this nature for several years now at Christmas time. Now let us back up a minute…
We sponsor a child in Ethiopia through Compassion International, and we are on the Compassion Prayer Partner list, which means that each month we receive a calendar from the organization with a specific child to pray for every day. The plight of these little children has really been on our hearts over the past several months. There are so many little ones in this world who do not have their basic needs met, who do not have loving parents, and who are hurting and lost. God loves them, and I (Amanda) had really been wanting to do more than pray for them. I prayed that God would show me what more I could do, that He would lead me to do something to help the world’s needy children.
Now back to the story with Isaac: We forwarded his email to Amanda’s sisters and parents, and soon Alison (Amanda’s youngest sister) replied. She was excited to hear Isaac’s request, because she had just been praying that the Lord would show her family a need that they could meet. She and her husband, Kevin, had talked about dedicating some money each month for something, but had not known what it might be. She wanted us to ask Isaac if there was any sort of monthly need, maybe supporting a preacher or widow. Quickly Isaac replied and shared his dream of opening a children’s home!
Our first reactions were fear and denial. What a huge undertaking it would be! We thought there was no way we could make it happen. But the more we thought about it, we realized that even though we alone couldn’t make it happen, God certainly could. And if it was something we could do through our own power, then there was no need for God, and I don’t think He really works that way. He uses people to do His work, small, insignificant people, and it is clear that His power is the driving force. And a little voice kept reminding me that I had prayed for this, for a way to help needy children, and that my sister had prayed for a need to meet as well. We believe in the Lord’s guidance, and we know that He will bring this about if it is His plan.
Now the proposed orphanage has a name: Sanctuary Home For Children, and we pray that it will truly be a sanctuary for these lost little ones so desperately in need of a home. The building has been rented, and the academic year in India starts in June, so the children need to be settled before that time. Isaac is purchasing beds, dishes, and school books, along with a host of other necessities. We have the budget prepared, and we urge you to pray for this work, and to consider contributing in some way.
Any donation would be appreciated, and the budget is laid out exactly below so you’ll know what we need.
Monthly Expenses:
Building rental: $125
Salary for caretakers: $150
Salary for warden/tutor: $75
Medical care for all 42 children: $50
Sponsorship for each child: $30
There are also one time costs as we make this facility habitable, such as beds, linens, dishes, and a gas connection for the stove, and initial fees for incorporating as a nonprofit organization, opening a post office box and website, etc.
If you can help, please fill out the enclosed form, or call or email for more information.
Sincerely,
Ray & Amanda Pettit
Sanctuary Home For Children
P.O. Box 2238
Abilene, TX 79604
Ray & Amanda: 325-672-9046
More information is available online at www.sanctuaryhome.org.