February 2006 Update

Dear Saints and Aints.

Shalom.

Just a quick word of greetings from that wayward old soul from Nagpur...

Though Christmas is past - some might even be thinking of Easter already - it still does deserve a brief mentioning. “Spend and be spent” – a phrase though not coined for the Christmas season –certainly befits it. A less prosaic way of putting it would be “broke and beat”, a condition I share with probably most people the world over who “celebrate” Christmas. But for the kids it was great. Our “Singing Christmas Tree” program went well. None of the singers, mistaking their appearance for the “real thing”, tried to fly off the 40 odd feet high “tree” … The only “mishaps” occurred during the season were tummy troubles. They should put a statutory warning on Christmas cards as they do on cigarettes: “Christmas can be hazardous to your health!”

My kids think me an ATM machine: They put in a smile and try to withdraw cash … I always tell them they would be buried only three feet deep – so they can keep their hands out. One of the college going students here at Nagpur, said to me, “I asked God for a flower and He gave me a garden; I asked God for a glass of water and He gave me a lake.” Before I could say “Hallelujah!” he continued, “I asked God for money and – He gave me your address.”  He certainly is not the only one whom God entrusted with my address …

What might be difficult for many people to understand is that to my kids I am neither a “missionary” nor a Rev. nor anything that exalted -- but simply “Bhaisahib” elder brother, the old man and all such things kids are prone to call their “father”. Some, no doubt, taking advantage of my semi-deafness, call me other names ... Whatever, what we call people or, they call us, determines our relationship to them and theirs to us and, for anybody who has kids, it makes us also subject to exploitation. That there are times I feel like screaming, running away or worse still, murdering somebody is understood … I guess it is too late to separate my job from my life. It is not that sometimes I do not think about that but then – I also dream of having somebody drop me a million dollars from the sky … to keep Prem Sewa green …

While at the subject of money – over the past year, due to an increase in gifts and also better financial management, our financial situation has greatly improved; though we still owe about $90,000 US to various creditors. In spite of the debt, Bapu keeps a one or two month’s buffer in the bank ... It is the first time in our history that we have this. This is not a lack of faith but a different approach to faith – faith in the same God with the same result – God provides in response to it. God treated the Children of Israel differently in their own land then when they were wandering through the Wilderness; whatever their situation ― they were still dependant on him. When they thought otherwise He sent a prolonged drought to correct their misconception … Furthermore, it is Yohan’s and Bapu’s approach to God. Regardless, it is a miracle to me.

But, Saints, please believe me, the greatest miracle in this place is that at 70 my health is still good – barring the occasional minor “disturbances”. I need not tell you that this is subject to change without prior intimation … Yet, after all these years here, considering the constant pressures, tension, struggling to make ends meet, worrying about my visa, dealing with a lot of stupid people – of which I am one – having bounced around in busses where the only silver lining was my nose being higher than most people’s armpits ... Added to that was the kind of food I had to eat at times, and sometimes still do, out of utensils my mother would not have offered to our cat ...  All considered, I should be a nervous wreck, suffer from hypertension, have my guts skewered by a myriad of parasites, have a number of mental disorders (some staff and kids claim I do – something however not clinically verified), being plagued by insomnia and who knows what. Yet I am basically healthy. Moses’ blessing to Asher applies: “and your strength will equal your days.”

The strength is certainly needed again as we are moving towards the summer. The Almond tree having shed its green, glossy leaves is putting on a new coat while the Neem trees are doing the same; and some Mango trees too are getting new ones. The Teak tree, as it is wont to do, is beginning to look bare as its big leaves need too much water to be “maintained” during the summer. I guess like people, some trees are more industrious than others.

We are in the process of “shedding kids” for the summer. The 11th graders finished their exams; in but a few days the 12th graders have theirs to be followed by the 10th grader the middle of March and the other grades thereafter. After their exams the kids go home to their families, relatives and/or friends for a couple of months. For those who have no places to go or have one where they do not want to go, the hostel will be open during the summer; among those remaining are at least two Bible College “kids”.

Four of the nine young people in various Bible Colleges will graduate this year. This will leave us with only five aspiring to become saintly through that medium. It didn’t work for me and I tried for five years … But it is great to see quite a few of the kids desiring to go into “full-time ministry”. Maybe, as the time draws near to decide, others from the home might want to join them in various Bible Colleges. Already quite a few of our “kids” are in the misery – sorry – ministry - It certainly is a great investment in their lives and in the Kingdom of God.

Yohan and Bapu are doing well running the homes. It is not easy considering the fact that they are “the first among equals” meaning that several others of the staff are older than they. But they are doing well even if peace is not a common commodity in this place. Maybe growth is only possible in the fertile soil of struggles and difficulties.

I asked God for peace. Then I said, “No Lord!” Don’t give me peace but help me to remove from my life that which keeps me from having peace” and I wasn’t necessarily thinking of my neighbors or the people I am working with – though it would probably contribute a lot towards it … I neither want artificial satisfaction but one that arises out of the knowledge of a job well-done or at least attempted. As for joy that is easy as it is the product of a thankful and grateful heart.

The last is made still easier when I think of your wonderful friendship exhibited through your consistent caring and demonstrated by your obvious love. Many, many thanks saints! Your prayers and giving is responsible for the fantastic reduction in our debt. Now I beg your prayers that there be peace and harmony among the staff – the most difficult aspect of most Christian ventures – that the children will be blessed and properly cared for.

Multiple blessings upon you!

In His great love

Frank, Yohan, Bapu and kids …