Tuesday 1/9 4:00pm – We visited the orphanage in Raipura (30 minutes from Kota where we were staying). They were doing their daily “prayer and song time” when we got there, so it was neat to see all of the kids singing the songs (some in English). The most amazing thing to me was that the orphanage was run by orphans. When the children grow up and “graduate,” some of them elect to stay and become leaders. The students are divided into rooms, and each room has a leader and a co-leader. The leader is about 16, and the co-leader is 15. When the 16-year-old graduates, the 15-year-old becomes the leader, and they continue to move on. Students then graduate study to become nurses, teachers, or pastors and begin ministries of their own. There is a hospital just down the street from the orphanage where students study medicine, and they also offer services to the community. A majority of the nursing staff there are actually orphans that came through the program there.
It’s an amazing model, and we saw evidence of it in Veer. Veer grew up in the orphanage in Raipura going to school there, and then went to Bible college. He is now 28 and he runs a school of 300 students in Beawar as well as pastors a church there. He is beginning an orphanage as well (he has already adopted two boys of his own). He truly is one of the most amazing individuals I’ve ever met, and yet he remains such a humble servant. Veer came and met up with us Tuesday night in Kota, and then sort of became our tour guide for the rest of the trip. I can’t imagine traveling in India without him.
8 comments:
the children seem to be very sweet and kind. they are very cute and look like they have been given love from the three of you visiting. you have also given them hope that someone else does truly care about them, even if they are living in a different country.
Wow, neat blog. Its very interesting how some of the orphans become leaders, especially at just 16. It would be hard for me to imagine myself taking care of orphans just a year from now. It must be a huge responsibility.
Its crazy how much dicspline these childre have at such a young age, they are alreayd taking care of other children at age 15 that is insane. All the children seem so happy all the time in the pictures, it proaly is amazing to come back and see how much we take for granit.
casie
Sweet wish i could go. I'm jealous for all the people that are going.
Johnny Juliano
thats really cool how the kids get to move up in leadership positions and become the leaders of all the little kids at 16. that must be a very big accomplishment for the kids.
Wow it must have been amazing seeing all these orphans and how much they appriciate their lives eventhough they don' have much.
Hey, these are the kids we saw singing in chaple. Too bad you didn't figure out how to upload a video clip on here, that'd be neat. Just thinkin of these orphans and knowing I am scared and dreding have to get my wisdom teeth out cuzz no room and they hurt, also makes me thankful I can have that done here but these guys prob. rarely get to go to the dentist if ever so.... Yea I am luck I get what I Need.
I came across your blog when searching for the orphange. I went here in 2005 and it chagned my life. The really ironic thing about me coming across your blog is that I have a picture of the same the little girl Usha, up hanging in my room only two years earlier. I spent my whole week there with her and have never forgotten her. It brings me such peace to see that you went two years later and she was still there and doing well.
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