"Only he, who sees the Invisible, can do the impossible!"

There were times when we started with doing the impossible...

... Early April 1982. Three or four of us came by bicycle from the city to look at the land we just bought. I remember sitting on a big boulder, in what was about the center of the property, looking around in disbelief: "This is actually ours" I thought over and over again - all 17.5 acres - OURS! This piece of land - a barren, treeless, building-less piece of land at the North-Eastern edge of Nagpur city; this piece of land without fences to demarcate it, no water, no electrical connection - was going to be our new home!

"Frank has gone mad", was the common consensus among my friends. "He sometimes has no money for food, often couldn't pay the rent on time and now he drags 10-12 poor tribal kids, two tribal farmers and a rickshaw puller to this piece of land at the end of the known world to build a home. With what?"

With what?" A good question! Two weeks later we built this hut - a humble beginning - and never went back to live in the city - but we began to "create" our home from nothing even if not ex nihilo. There were times when I wished our home, like the promised "New Jerusalem", would have descended, ready-made, from the skies. But where would have been the fun in that? Where the test of faith? Where the proof of God's overwhelming faithfulness?

I was but a few months short of forty-seven, full of the joy of life, with boundless energy and the belief that nothing was impossible; I could do anything! Above all was the total certainty that my God was with me and that God loves me - not for what I was doing - but just for my sake - God loves me as me. I neither was nor am a means to an end to God's love. I am the end of that love!

The certainty of that love makes me love ... When I look over the playground swarming with kids playing cricket, flying kites, playing with marbles or simply sitting there and chatting with each other, I am glad. Sometimes I visit the school or attend the kids' Bible study; I see them play and laugh; study and struggle; sing and worship, work and finally sleep, I am thrilled. The thought comes to me again and again: They are my kids! In a more poetic mood I would say they are "the travail of my soul". I wouldn't be far wrong. The kids, like this place, are an extension of myself with all that is good and beautiful in me and all that is petty, bad and ugly. They often exude a zest for life and a joy in living that marks my own life.

They are also poor kids, often neglected kids, kids just left behind by parents who had other plans for their own future, and kids left orphans by the death of their parents through accidents, disease or even murder. Yet they are not second class kids; neither Heaven nor I acknowledge such an evil. Admittedly, some are not the brightest or the cleverest; some definitely have learning disabilities. Some certainly are neither good nor nice, but what do we expect? Most come from a background where for thousands of years they have been treated like chickens and now we expect them to fly like eagles.

I am in the "salvaging" business. I go to any length to help a kid even the bad and ugly ones. When I worked as a carpenter apprentice in a factory I took something home without asking permission - I stole. I got caught by the security staff. The man in charge of us youngsters interceded for me and saved my job and future. From that moment on I became a debtor to every thief. When a mission organization rejected me and others followed, God offered me a chance to work for Him "directly" without going through an "agent" and promised to look after me. From that moment onwards I became a debtor to all the rejects, the unwanted, the disenfranchised.

Some time ago a young man came and introduced himself as the "Candy Thief". When several years ago he was at the hostel he stole candies, meant for the kids, from my room. We caught him. After he left the hostel, having completed grade 10th, he promised himself to reform. He went to Bible College etc. Several years later formed his own society of which Bapu is a board member. He has one or two pastors with him. Of course - we pay for one.

Another boy, having failed tenth exam a few years ago, turned bad and got into stealing. The police finally caught him with two new cycles -- stolen from our compound. Last year he approached me to attend Bible College. It didn't work out. But I sent him to a Christian camp. Now he runs a Sunday school for little kids. In July he will join Bible College.

The past 25 years my kids have taught me what the sheep taught Moses: Patience!

This year we will "celebrate" our 25th anniversary - 25 years have gone by since we set foot on this land. Though we came somewhere around the end of April 1982, to celebrate it then is not practical: The kids won't be here and the temperatures could be between 115° - 118° Fahrenheit (46.1° - 47.7° Celsius) So we decided to hold it on the 21st of November which also happens to be Yohan and Priya's 6th wedding anniversary and my 72nd birthday. At that time the kids will be here and the temperatures will be pleasant. It also will give us the extra months to complete the dining hall and hopefully the school building plus spruce up the place. But you still will see the place as it is; no deception - no "Potemkin's Villages" showing prosperous peasants; you will see the "peasants" as they are... Still you will be delighted by what you see. (Please mark the date on your calendar)

Though our property has dramatically increased in value and though I love this place, God's purposes never rest in a piece of real estate never mind how valuable it seems to the eyes of the greedy. The temple was not valuable because it was a beautiful structure nor because of the "real estate" it was placed upon but - because of God's Presence and once that was gone it became a pile of rubble just like any other rubble. There is no such thing as holy dirt or a holy structure it only becomes thus because God dwells there. My God dwells among us!

I have often been told, especially of late as our place has developed, that I am wasting my time and energy on the poor and academic backwards; I should go scouting for clever kids, bring them here and develop them. No way! I am committed to helping the poorest of the poor and the dullest of the dull. Our recent advance in academics is paying off; the teachers teach better and the kids study harder. The results are encouraging. Soon we will not need to go scouting for clever kids - we have them right here in our school. Bapu and I, from money that comes directly to me by check or draft, help several of our "clever kids" by paying their college fees, buying books etc. and if need be pay their hostel fees at the place of their college.

It is on behalf of my kids that I ask for your continued help; we are still in debt in spite of careful spending. We need your help!

Other news: Yohan has been diagnosed with advanced diabetics. Between him and Priya they can feed a doctor. Yohan is sick and looks sick. Bapu will sit for his final exams in his Masters in Psychology in March. Please pray for them. Our kids will sit for their exams starting the first week of February till the end of March. My heart goes out to them - let your prayers follow my heart.

I am well. A recent checkup showed I am in good shape. My friend, a doctor, suggested I loose some weight which would add "shapeliness" to my "good shape". So I have been starving myself for the past three weeks. The amazing thing is that now even plain fare is very tasty. God doesn't take anything away without giving something better in return...

In closing let me Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for your support in whatever form and shape. In providing help for us God still uses "agents". Thanx for being such!

God's blessings upon you,

Frank, Yohan, Bapu and kids...