Dear Saints and Aints.

Shalom.

The Muses have absented themselves; I am on my own. Gazing out of the window offers no help. The fir trees and other trees among them, bare of leaf, devoid of colour, offer no inspiration. The fog quietly embracing them adds dullness to dullness; it is enervating. My thus palsied hands lack the strength to cast in bold strokes word pictures depicting the events of my present life and activities.
The Wordsmith’s bellow blows but on dead coals.

The faint sound of a train whistle, carried on the slight breeze, penetrates the silence of my room. It sounds nostalgic and evokes memories of India where other trains with other destinations emit the same haunting summons to a journey. How oft, I muse, have I sat by day or by night or through both in an overcrowded train compartment often in the aisle on my suitcase or on the floor or simply stood through endless hours leaning against the vibrating wall of the bogie; numb with weariness I  wondered to what purpose? I knew though that the Bible Translation demanded it; the care of the kids demanded it; so did a host of other necessary activities...

The sound of the train whistle also brings to mind the thought that I am but a wanderer without fixed address and without a fixed home. And, though my heart aches for it, India, by the decree of that country’s Government is not my home; and by the decree of my heart, neither is Germany nor Canada.
                       
The Call of God that thus has decreed that I be but a stranger, a wanderer wherever I dwell also decreed that I make a home for others; for kids who dwell in shacks and shanties in utter misery without hope of ever escaping the despair of those places, without possibility of advancement or even the dream to do so; a decree to make a home for a thousand plus kids. The Call, among other things, decreed I become a merchant of hope; to put smiles on their faces and laughter in their hearts. To hear them say, “I want to be a nurse, or a teacher, or a doctor or a pastor, or something else”; left to themselves, they could never have dreamt of such goals.

Not that every kid takes advantage of the gift offered, made possible by many sacrifices, but many do. Still others go further and chose to escape from the clutches of hell to a life with God, the purpose for all we do, through the greatest sacrifice of all – that of Our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross.

From among those who have taken advantage of the hope thus offered, some have become leaders who now with confidence take over the reins of Prem Sewa. Bapu is one of them. We are constantly in touch. Once, after enumerating all his problems and work he wrote “... and (but) the good thing is I enjoy all this.” I could not help but smile – with a little tear of joy forming in the corner of my eye. Still, like me, he goes up and down like a yo-yo. Cries for help for money are followed by a defiant, “But I am not afraid.” In another e-mail, “If there is money in your account can I take some for the kids and creditors?” (He has a copy of my credit card). Then again, “If not don’t worry I will manage. God is with us.”
I concur! But how can God use him without testing him, testing his resolve?

The Call also decrees that we salvage kids regardless of the situation they find themselves in. Once, as a kid, I pilfered – I stole – and my master at the carpentry class salvaged me by preventing that I be thrown out. From that moment I became a debtor to all thieves.

Here is a brief letter from one of the kids.

Dear Bhaisahib
Thank you for saving me last year when the Hostel Superintendent refused to take me again because many times I ran away and I also was a thief. This year I was very good. I did not run away and followed all the rules. So permitting me to come back was a good thing for me. If I had to stay home it would have been bad for me.
I am also doing well in my studies and I am sure I will pass. Next year I will be in 10th class. I wish I had studied better last year.
Please pray for me. 
Also, if you can tell Viru Sir to give me some pocket money, that would be very nice.
Much love.
Your son ...........

It is nearing three months since I left India and a bit over two that I am in Canada. (I spent three weeks in Germany with my brother who just now has passed away) I have already visited a number of churches but will start my journey across Canada by mid-April. I am adding my itinerary so, if you want to catch up with me you know where I might be found. Dawn Steinke at the BC district office of the PAOC is still working on it and filling in the gaps. The Lord, probably weary of lining the roads with angels who would direct my path (I get lost easily) got me an electronic angel – a GPS. Fear not! I will find you! Also, God willing, by then Bapu will have joined me. His visa application is pending with the Canadian Government.

Another great development is that a group of friends have taken on the task of assisting with the Prem Sewa work in Canada. Errol De Souza an Indian born Canadian who knows both cultures and speaks several Indian languages is on the Board of Directors of the Heronbrook Foundation with whom Prem Sewa is making a partnership (agency) agreement. As a registered charity governed by the Income Tax Act of Canada, the Heronbrook Foundation, will disburse funds on charitable projects carried on by Prem Sewa Shikshan Sangh.

Errol and Myrna at the Prem Sewa booth at the PAOC BC district Conference

This will give Bapu and thereby Prem Sewa the added help in dealing with foreign partners and is the fulfillment of a long cherished dream. Myrna, Errol’s wife, will work closely with him on Prem Sewa issues. They will help to create much needed awareness of our work in Canada. Also, should Bapu in the future have to come on his own to Canada, they will help him to get about, etc.”

Yohan, Priya and the baby are going through a time of good health and feeling well. I am happy for that. Should the funds for renovating the kitchen come through, Yohan will look after that. He prefers working with bricks and stone over that of working with people...

Looking back over the almost thirty years since I first started to look after kids, I never had to send a replacement to take care of them and the homes during the times I have been away for several months on furlough. Even when I was exiled for more than 10 months the homes functioned well. My trust in my kids has been vindicated; I have been rewarded with trustworthy people.

In closing, let me offer as my thanks to all of you:

The happiness of more than a 1000 kids and that of their families.

This is our thanks for all you did and are doing for us; for the flame of hope you have kindled in the hearts of our kids.

 With mega blessings – Frank, Bapu and Yohan.