November 1980

Hi

Greetings in Jesus’ name.

My literary activities of late must make you think I have nothing else to do but to write letters. I wish it was the case because I write letters for relaxation on, beat up the kids when I want fun and do translation work when I simply don't know what else to do ...

Actually, the truth of the matter is, this old man (just turned 45) is tired because he has been pushing himself harder than usual to get all the odd jobs out of the way before the 29th of December. I will fly from Bombay to Germany on Jan 1st and from Germany to Vancouver on the 25th of Jan arriving there at 8.30 pm. I feel sad already having to leave my kids behind...

Acts is off the press (the money came in time ...) and the Pentateuch (panorama) will be off the press in a week or so. The "Ten Bridesmaids" (a booklet - not a matrimonial ad ...) which were lost have been found - all single and should be off the press soon. Also with the press is the primer, pre-primer and eight pamphlets on health etc. (All three items financed by the Maharashtra Christian Education Committee), and should be off the press before I leave. Another small devotional booklet “Who am I that a king should die for me" sponsored by the same people who paid for “Help from above" will be with the press before I leave. We got another 6000 tracts printed and a printer friend insists on doing the book on the life of Christ for us with the stipulation that we pay him if and when we have the money. He doesn’t know what he is getting himself into....

At times I feel like a juggler with ten balls in the air and I dare not break the rhythm of my breathing lest I loose the whole lot. I am afraid I am a born “Being-out-on-a-limber" - if there is such an animal. But I work on the same principle of "faith" a restaurant owner does; he gives you the food believing that you will come up with the money - afterwards. Surely you are not going to ask a gentleman if he is solvent when he orders a seven course meal. And God - is a gentleman! Unfortunately many people try to operate cafeteria style - pay now – eat later ... My method is however based on experience. When we were just three we were occasionally broke; then when we were five the same thing occasionally happened. As we grew to eight things were very much the same and matters didn't get better when we were 10 and later 13. Now that we are 16 the trend - as it is to be expected - persists. But - we always survived...

It should be obvious to anybody now that if we survived all those times, logic dictates - my logic - that we would survive even if we were 50 and - broke at times... Acting upon my logic (Webster would be hard pressed to stretch his definition of the word to include mine), I decided we should start a project called "Boys’ Home" in which, over a period of time, we would gather and collect - initially - 50 boys which, naturally, in the course of time would become a 100. Since my actions are consistent with my nature we conceived this idea when we were waiting for one of "God's payments" ... True we live from hand to mouth, but just think - "Who's Hand?”

Anyhow let me tell you what we have in mind - which I believe to be in God's mind as well - so that you will be able to join us in prayer. In order to realize our dream we will need about 10 – 15 acres of land. Should the Government decide to end all foreign funds from coming in we need to be able to survive. Since all my kids come from a farming background this should be no problem. Then we need building to put those kids in we can not live like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - in tents. And we need a vehicle to get the back and forth from school. Though, if we are not too far from the city the kids would be able to use a cycle. We have looked at a number of pieces of land and I have given a rough idea of what kind of buildings we would need to an architect friend of mine whom I requested to draw up some blueprints etc. for us. A local contractor than will give us an idea of the cost etc.

While it cost nothing to dream, to buy land and build houses does and so in order to make those dreams a reality we will need - hold on to your seats - $40000 which is approx. 250 000 Indian Rupees ... Are you still with me? We will need about 150 000 Rupees for the land and the rest for the buildings etc. The vehicle would be another 75 000 Rupees above the Rs 250 000...

The reason why I would like to enlarge my family is because the pilot project has worked out so well, that is with 15 kids and several semi-dependents. Dadu who used to hate school came first in the mid-term exams. Last year it was Reshma who came first in the final exam and the year before that Rekya. Now Reshma, who two and half years ago knew no word of English, is doing well in 7th Standard English medium school. The principal of one school offered to take some of the other kids next year because he realizes that our kids are good students. This is only part of the story. I have seen a great change in all of the kids including Matthew and Susan. They and Kurien will be working in the Halbi language alongside their studies for a degree. And so I want to include many more kids in our somewhat mad but happy family.

If I sound like boasting then I am boasting in that great, wonderful, inexplicable love of God. After all, the thing that made the burning bush so unusual was not that it was a special bush but that God was present there – any old bush would have done. The Lord has done some great things for this old bush ... And I feel that I want to share God's great and wonderful blessings with others less fortunate then I am.

Otherwise things are going as well as it is to be expected. Ledaram went to a YFC camp and three of the other older chaps went to the village - and got stuck for several days because of trouble with the trains. The little fellows gave me a belly dance for my birthday. The problem is that none, with the exception of Dadu has much of a belly to dance with ... In early Nov we had Peter Youngren, the evangelist, once for lunch (at the table not on ...)

For the whole month of November we had a group of five young fellows from an outreach programme (Love Maharashtra) for lunch every day ... My house reflects my own personality; ever moving ever busy, comings and goings. It sure is not a good place for people for whom the doctor prescribed rest and quietness. Though, I tend to tell myself that it is activity speaking of life and growth and involvement and not just turmoil restlessness. But then I am always kind to myself explaining many things away should probably be dealt with more severely...

Well I better close this. I simply talk too much. I am afraid people will identify me with the chorus. "He is wordy” When I get the heaven the Lord will have to put me on an extra large cloud - away from everybody else - so I can harp around the whole day without "blowing the fuses in the hearing aid of some of the older saints" ....

Thank you for all the blessings you been to me and the kids.

With love in Jesus

St. Francis & the Saints...