July 2006

"Not holding our hands but …
Strengthening our arms …"
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Dear Saints and Aints.

Shalom.

"Duty makes us do things well, but love makes us do them beautifully."
--- Zig Ziglar

This is what our place is all about … The summer is ended, the rains started, the kids are back and I am bushed, kaput, on the fritz, worn out -- yet -- full of enthusiasm and the joy of life. I am healthy and feel well; God kept me that way because, over the past 35 years, I neither took the time nor trouble to worry about it. I was too busy following my dream …

"Hell, there are no rules here — we're trying to accomplish something."
--- Thomas Alva Edison

Maybe the above quote sums up our summer activities - probably my life … We worked hard not only here at Nagpur but at the girls' home; Bapu and I spent ten days there arranging for the building of new toilets; getting the back wall of the big dorm plastered; and arranged for a number of other small projects. Yohan was practically alone in Nagpur saying unkind things about Bapu and me for "deserting" him while he tried to keep the tradesmen working -- should they decide to come …

He is growing up into the person I saw when he was but a little kid. The other day he admonished me not to spoil the kids. When I looked at him in utter astonishment he said, "Yes, I know - but if you had not spoiled me I might be a better man today." Parents take heed!

In spite of fretting, worrying and biting our finger nails, when the first kids came back the repair and improvement of the facilities were completed. The hardest job was to get Bapu to release to us the needed funds to do it all. He almost had conniptions when I asked for five computers with tables, chairs etc. We bought six; I paid for one …

The wonderful thing is a lady donated the money for the concrete slab. When we pressed the builder for a guarantee that the slab would stay where it belongs - up - he got cold feet and suggested we consult an architect as the foundation is some 15 years old. The architect, one of the best in the area, (we are getting smart) made suggestions if followed through he would give the guarantee. So that's what we are working on right now.

What we didn't count on were some 660 boys at the Nagpur home plus some 300 girls who showed up at the girls' home. Now we're praying for new dorms to accommodate them all...

As we want to reach the poorest of the poor and the dullest of the dull, we have very little latitude in whom we accept in our school. The quality of teachers we get for what we can afford to pay also leaves a lot to be desired. So we had resigned ourselves to poor results in the exams. This year's results however shook us as, had it been any lower we would have been below zero. A wakeup call!

About a year and a half ago we had such a "wake up call" when our debt reached unacceptable levels; we were faced with a financial crises that was about to destroy us. We fought back; we initiated a financial reform that brought us back from the brink; we are now steadily "nursing" ourselves to financial health. We are not out of the woods yet but we are moving in the right direction.

This academic crisis is no different from the financial one we faced; rather than apportioning blame which produces nothing but hurt feelings - of which we have enough already - we are fighting back! We put all the kids from grade 7 upward on a strict, supervised, study regimen - 6.30 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. which includes time at school, two hours free for lunch and two hour for bath and supper. The staff and the teachers, though initially skeptical, rallied behind me; the kids too are with us though one kid groaned, "I go to sleep at night and when the morning bell rings I think I only slept for 5 minutes …" I marvel at the turnaround and the incredible enthusiasm displayed. God at work!

Spiritually it was a great year; I watch in astonishment some of the kids develop "a taste for God and the things of God." Kids came back with glowing reports about their time at a camp. This year I am again sponsoring 8 or 9 young people for Bible College. Our three young pastors under the able care of the Trinity Bible College in Hyderabad are doing well. The new-fangled word "networking" simply replaces the old, yet somehow more meaningful phrase - "helping one another". I am also sponsoring seven young people to attend a good Christian Industrial Training Institute - where for one or two years - the Bible and a trade are taught side by side. I feel good about the way things are going. In "true humility" I wanted to add: "Lord, hide me behind the cross." Then I grinned, thinking that a cross, the size I could hide behind - Jesus couldn't have carried...

Looking at it all I have come to the conclusion we do not need nor want foreign people to come to run our organizations or institution be they Schools, Bible Colleges, Hostels, Hospitals or whatever; we are more than capable of doing so. (I am an anachronism).We do not want people to come "to hold our hands but we will gladly welcome those who strengthen our arm!"

Prem Sewa does not need nor want a different Chief Executive, Yohan is doing fine but he would not object to somebody skilled in that "art" spending some months with him and "tutor" him, to become a better Chief Executive always conscious that Yohan is in charge. Prem Sewa does not need a different Administrator, Bapu is doing a great job - but surely he would not object to a skilled administrator spending some months by his side to make him more effective. In other words, "not holding our hands but strengthen our arms".

My aim through all my years of ministry in India has been to empower people. At Yohan's wedding reception in Nagpur, attended by some 950 people, I remarked to an acquaintance, "Everybody congratulates me concerning the arrangements and I didn't do a thing." he replied, "This is your greatest contribution to our country; you empower people." This should ever be our top priority - empowering people- "not holding their hand but strengthening their arms."

We would also love to have some people come and set up our woodwork workshop with new machines etc. or with the metal work workshop with new machines and tools. The machines we have are so old they qualify for a museum not a workshop. That would strengthen our arms-; we could combine training with manufacturing …

Your financial gifts are another way of "strengthening our arms." When money is mentioned some people complain, "They only want our money!" I believe we should use the gift we have to further the Kingdom of God. The Bible doesn't teach "If you can't do anything else - give; The Scriptures (at least the One I read) teaches that giving is equal to going and/or doing. There is no hierarchy of service in the Kingdom of God only different levels of commitment!

Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:6-8

Thank you Saints for using "your gift of giving" to bless us - giving the poorest of the poor and the dullest of the dull a chance. As for accountability, if our place does not "display my accountability" no piece of paper in the form of a report or spreadsheet will ever do...

May our Father bless you for blessings us so much … Blessings!

Frank, Yohan, Bapu and all …

NOTE: If in future you send money to the office in Mississauga PLEASE write: “Frank Juelich – ERDO” on the bottom of the cheque.