October 1999

Dear Saints and Aints.

Shalom.

“Holidays are the days that the Lord has made ...” is the belief of our boys who look forward to three weeks of these “Divinely appointed days” beginning with Monday November 1st ... As for me, I believe them to be a special dispensation of grace so Yohan, the staff , and I can recuperate from the rigors of looking after them during those days apparently outside the purview of Divine creative activity.

The weather having turned nice, as it is wont to do towards the end of October, is an added boon to aid in the process of recuperation. The long periods of dark, dreary, cloudy weather are past and the sky, most of the time, permits us a look at the stars and the worlds beyond our puny earth.

The mornings are beautiful and by about 7.00 AM the rays of the morning sun enter my bedroom unbidden and paint the leaves of the money plant golden. One but wishes them to remain thus but quickly the dream of riches fades as the sun rises higher in the sky exploring a world larger than Frank’s bedroom. But for those moments at least -- I dreamt.

As I open the door, the dog sleeping on the doormat wakes up and with him – his fleas. He scratches furiously for a while and then, seeing nothing edible in my hands, curls up again and goes back to sleep. For someone who lives but a few years, he sleeps a lot of it away. How anybody can give “it is a dog’s life” a negative connotation beats me. I feel like joining him though – without the fleas.

Quickly does the day pass filled with important and unimportant activities: Writing letters, watching the kids at work, working on a new Web Site and simply talking to people.

The New Administration building, which has provided me many hours of fond dreams – 6 years of them - is finally being completed. Just the painting and electrical work - and then Yohan and his staff can move in. The multi-purpose building that will be a gym, chapel and for general meetings is slowly coming up and we hope to have our Christmas services in there. A room was added to the technical school and a host of other things were done. Many of those, though trifling to you seem great to us. Though in charge of none of these things anymore, I am still involved making for a busy day.

Now, still hovering above the horizon, the sun is about to bid farewell, making way for the darkness that encroaches on the eastern edge of the sky ... The noise on the playground is subdued. Most of the kids have accepted the sun’s verdict: “Time to get washed up.” Others want to squeeze out a few more minutes of play: Shooting marbles, flying a homemade kite, and at one corner of the ground, kicking a ball. One boy, his face painted almost golden by the last rays of the setting sun, mouth wide open in a scream, leaps in a gigantic effort to meet the airborne ball. His lust for life, for one more challenge, one more brave deed ere night falls, etches itself deeply in my mind.

Musing about the events of the day and those of my life, I stand there long after the last glow faded and the playground looks dark and empty, the kids having left for studies or sleep. I will be sixty-four in but a few days and the evening of my life is fast approaching. Yet like those kids, I yearn for one more last fling, one more adventure ere night comes finally and irrevocably. Once more bathed in the joy of life leaping up to meet a final challenge, grasp a final dream and then – I will not fear the lengthening shadows -- let night come.

Some final great deed or small deeds with great results? Can “deeds” for God be measured by size? A little boy from the hostel gives his grandmother a booklet telling her it is good, “This is about God, you should read it.” She did, she received Christ. Now her family is finding Christ as their Savior. Another little boy during the summer holidays explains the story of Easter to his friends with whom he is shepherding goats. Yet another little boy tells his friend about Christ in such a way – that his little friend wants to know more about Christ. None of these involved any great deeds of mine only the small ones -- of loving, caring and providing.

Unbidden to mind comes another thought, while mulling over God’s ways, , “In God’s economy night comes before the day. “It was evening; it was morning. The first day.” The dark, difficult times before the happy and joyful ones. Suddenly I whisper to myself, “You have it all wrong. It is not your day that is about to end – but your night. Your “night” haunted by fears, mauled by sin, torn hither and thither by worries, the “night” with all the pains, the sadness, loneliness is about to pass -- your morning awaits you.”

Before the eyes of my mind, the years roll by like an old film: The horrors of war, the years of hunger and need, the uncertainty and awkwardness of adolescence, the loneliness, the rejection. Yes, indeed, this is night.

Yet if the “night” with all that was hard and difficult and painful was often so good, often so joyful, what will the “day” be like? What joys will meet our eyes when the real day dawns. Throwing my head back I look up and laugh silently to the star flecked sky. Since I accepted Christ my day’s dawn came – it can only get better.

I am filled with joy as I walk back to my room. I think of all our kids and even their kids who will be able to say the same thing at the evening of their lives because of the small and great deeds of all our friends like you who made our homes and all their provisions possible. Who made it possible that once little boys like Yohan, Kewaldas, Shamu, Bapu, Viru and many other could rise from their various backgrounds to their present position of leadership – helping others to attain the same.

As for me now, tonight - forget the last fling, the last great deed. I shall have my supper, then grab a good book, flop on my bed and read. Close by, within the comfortable reach of my hand, will be several small bowls with candies, cheddar cheese, crackers and whatever else I can find. It is a fitting way to end a good day. Tomorrow? Let tomorrow come. We will take care of it then.

For all the above and many more things we thank you. We owe you so much that a 100 years of saying “thank you” is not enough. But still, many many thanx!!!

With love from us all. Frank, Yohan, Staff and kids.