christmas 2010

 Gathered around in their new Christmas clothing, the children surround Martha and Deena with Jacob, looking very dapper in his new beard...or at least this is our first peek at the beard!! This was a  very nice Christmas for one and all, thanks to the Board and the people of New Beginnings Church in Paulsboro, NJ.

Here are a few pictures of the children as they presented the Nativity Story.

   They include singing and dancing in their presentations, and Deena and Mary are the ones who hunt out and prepare the costumes. This is something the children enjoy very  much and it has become an annual tradition to perform not only for their own church but for other organizations and groups in the area.

 (Note, I do wish someone could help me so that I could get these photos to go where I want them...it is a problem!!)

Little ducks all in a row...the children don their new raincoats!!! And then there they perch on the one bunk cot that Jacob ordered. With the recent fundraiser completed by the Board, he will be able to purchase several additional bunk cots and soon all the children will be able to sleep "Off" the floor.

Hepatitis B shots all around

Because of some plagues recently prevalent in the area, government officials have required all of the Fold children to receive the series of Hepatitis B vaccinations. In these photos, the children are being administered the first dosage/shots. Jacob reports that all were well behaved except for two of the younger ones who "made a big clamour and cried." Apparently there will be two more doses following a period of time at the cost of $3.33 per little ones and $3.88 per high school children. Private hospital nurses were hired to administer these, being given at the home. So many diseases run rampant in India because of weather and living conditions, and the children are exposed to lots of germs at the school they attend. Their school is actually located in a slum area and the grounds surrounding it flood during rains. This is one reason school is often called of during a heavy rain. Still, they go and learn and are happy with all they have.

Martha, a trained nurse herself, helps the children remain calm.

The two nurses are the lady with her back to the camera and the gentleman seated taking down names and ages.

Evening classes: homework and study time.  I wonder what the young person hiding behind the chalk board is up to??

Back to School in Guntur

It seems that Jacob had his work cut out for him in supplying all these items for this new year. Not only every book, notebook, pen and pencil, but also uniforms are required and are the responsibility of the "parents." In addition, fees must be paid for each child. It is wonderful to know that the Fold USA is so vital in providing an education for these very special children.

Some of our US children may dread returning to school each year, but not so with these happy ones, glad to have the opportunity and not be forced to provide for themselves from begging, household labors or factory or field work. Instead, they have the chance to be part of a productive society.  

Martha is dishing out breakfast before the day begins in earnest...rice in abundance to keep the tummies happy.

It was always a special time for me to watch the children line up for school and to bid they good day. Once I walked with them, a perfect line of little "duckies" on their way to classes. Here they are showing off their new uniforms...and their gorgeous smiles as they wave hello to us and good bye to their "family."

What's the latest?

How to build a shed, Indian style....this structure is adjacent to the white building already present on the site, and here workers are attaching palm leaves to the web working to form the roof. The shed is being constructed to protect worker's tools and other items as soon the rainy season will be upon them and it is not good to leave things out in the weather. Below the roof is on, but there remains a bit more work until all is ready.

On a more personal level, we congratulate Karuna for her successful completion of her high school and passing all government examinations. Deena and Mary are diligently searching out possibilities for her to attend what they label pre-university classes. It seems that she will be living in a girl's hostel since it would not be wise for her to attempt travel to and from on a regular basis. Here is our Karuna growing up so beautifully.

    
She does look serious there with her new eye glasses and in  her more grown up attire.

Reports have it that Roshini is doing very well with her intern work at the hospital, and Mary may soon be leaving for her studies to obtain her teaching certificate. Amos is still engrossed in his university work and field trips to various factories and other work places.
Jacob himself has been often called back to work at the school in Chennai where he must spend differing amounts of time depending on the need. Here he is pictured with other staff in front of their building.

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I am becoming more and more frustrated with this site as it seems harder and harder to make it do what it used to do easily. I could not make the curser go below the photos to continue my posting; therefore, here is the rest:

What is in India an "Exhibition" is here called a fair or a carnival. Whatever name we wish to give it, this was a rare and wonderful treat for the children on May 7. Here are a few photos taken of the joyful experience.

And now...drum roll please...here is an architectural drawing of what is envisioned for the land, a combination building for dorms and school - an all purpose construction. This was done professionally and according to government specifications. It is quite wonderful...the price tag is rupees 80, 70500. So as is obvious, much help is needed to begin such an endeavor, but with God ALL things are possible.

News Flashes...SOS signals...celebrations!

Updates on the land...a real plea for help, help, help...and a look into a fun time at the Fair....

Jacob has been taking the children out to the site to help with small chores. The boys' job on this day was to pick up what he calls metal chips, things that needed to be removed from the soil.

Septic in the making...real excitement!!

It may not seem so thrilling to us, but for the children and care takers at the Shepherd's Fold India, to see that progress is being made is always reason to smile.  Mary, Amos & Roshini peer into the the pit dug for the septic tank. In the distance sits the Fold jeep and the outer walls can be seen...beyond which are some hills that are for Jacob a sign that this place is God-ordained. On this particular day he took three of the girls out to the site with him, as pictured below. The contractor doing the work (in photo alone) is noted as a man of integrity and one on whom Jacob is relying to finish the work in a timely manner and at a reasonable cost.

Both girls, Mary (Prabhodhini) and Roshini are home for while; Mary from her work as college instructor, and Roshini from her nurse's training. She has completed her courses and now will be in apprenticeship for one year, beginning in about a month. Amos is finishing up his year with the University. The girls here are Pravallika, Rajeswari and Soujana...all of them growing into lovely young ladies.