Little Lights • Children Of Leper's Home

The children of the Little Lights Children of Lepers Home in Chennai, India

We traveled to the Little Lights Children Of Lepers Home in Chennai India.  We arrived just before the children got home from school.  What a delight to see these children that we've known for several years and to be amazed by how much they've grown since we first met them.

The children come from 11 different leper colonies near Chennai, and are viewed as the lowest cast in the nation.  As the children of lepers, they're outcasts and considered not even worthy to receive help.  BUT, they are loved by God and by the caring staff who live with them and provide a real 'home' for them. 

I loved seeing the kids overflowing with gratitude for a little thing like an orange. 

We took a group photo of the Little Lights, and then gave them a special treat.  They seldom get oranges, but we had stopped at a market and got oranges for all the kids and the staff.  In a place like India, you begin to realize how many things we take for granted in our culture of abundance.  I loved seeing the kids overflowing with gratitude for a little thing like an orange. 

Then, the children shared in song and dance.  These are very gifted kids who love to celebrate.  They are entering some song and dance competitions soon, and have worked very hard on their productions.  They are so talented, that even in public school, the teachers have asked the children to perform at several of their school events.

We first met Joe three years ago!

It was great to see little 'Joe" again.  We first met him about three years ago.  He came from a leper colony where his parents would go each day to beg on the streets of the city.  They didn't want to take their little boy with them, so they tied him to a mango tree every day before they left to go beg.  They placed food and water near him, but his life was limited to just a few feet of space near that tree.   The staff of Little Lights saw him tied to the tree and one day came by when his parents were home.  They asked if little Joe could come to live in their home where he would be loved and given a wonderful education.  They said 'yes', and Joe entered the home.  What a delightful little boy!!  He is now filled with life and hope.  Little Joe is a vivid example of what this precious home does for the children of Lepers.

Modern Day Mother Theresa's - Showing God's Love at the Leper's Medical Clinic

We traveled an hour and a half outside Chennai through massive traffic congestion to visit the Leper's Medical Clinic.  After the long journey, we arrived in the village of Chengel Putt.  It's a village with a cluster of small homes, isolated off the major highway.  There are about 700 people who live in this colony.  Most of them don't have leprosy, but are the children or grandchildren of lepers who must live in this place because of society's prejudice against anyone who is a family member of a leper.  For those with leprosy, medical care is very difficult.  Their greatest need is for wound care, and to have their infected feet and hands treated and re-bandaged.  The hospital is too far away, and few care for their needs. 

We met the team that works full time, providing medical care in 6 of these leper colonies.  They are the heart of God 'lived out' for these rejected and hated ones.  The team travels to each colony every week, and treats the wounds of the lepers.  They also leave medical supplies and bandages for them for their own wound care the rest of the week.  The team shows God's care and love as they clean wounds, pour in antiseptic medicine and re-bandage the wounds.   Few would EVER touch a leper, and only those filled with God's love would give this kind of medical care.  We were shocked to hear that there are 16 leper colonies around the city of Chennai.  Only the 'brave' would ever come to this place.  They are isolated and outcast.  Sadly, their isolation kept them from knowing the love of the Father until this team started coming.  

The lepers head toward the clinic.  It's a simple block building with a porch and a single room that is the treatment room.  We're deeply impacted by the staggering needs.  Lepers with missing fingers and toes come hobbling through the streets toward the place that will meet their medical needs.  Some of the lepers use homemade crutches. A few come with 'real' crutches, one of their greatest needs in this colony. The dirty bandages on their hands and feet will soon be replaced by fresh, clean bandages that the team have made after days of hard work at their main office in Chennai.  The medical team give the professional care that they need, but also offer prayer and assistance in many different ways.

As the clinic closed for the day, our hearts overflowed with awe for these caring workers who truly show God's love.  This medical clinic is made possible because a home fellowship in Nashville supports them every month.  Your home fellowship, prayer group, or church can do the same thing!  You can join together to support an orphanage or medical clinic that changes the lives of those who are deeply loved by God.  

Rescue House - Rescuing Girls From Sex Slavery

Sex Slavery is the hidden secret in most societies. It is not discussed but it affects most families or extended families in a country like India. In India alone 200 girls A DAY are sold into prostitution. This is NOT their choice, and shockingly, 80% of them are sold by family members.

We drove through the streets of a major Indian City to an office tucked away in a dead-end street, hidden away from most potential visitors. The office is not easily found. When we arrived at this very ordinary building, we were met by Michael. Michael has been rescuing young girls from the brothels of their city for the last 10 years. There is a real 'fire' in his eyes as he talks about these horribly abused children. Michael works with the Indian national anti-trafficking police task force. When young girls are discovered in a brothel, the task force is mobilized, and police raids are conducted to rescue these children. In the brothels, the youngest children command the highest prices. They are hidden away from the view of most clients, and are often locked in small closets when they are not with the 'clients'. Hidden, and horribly abused, life is a living nightmare for these children.

In India alone 200 girls A DAY are sold into prostitution

Saritha was 12 when her uncle offered to take her to a nearby circus. Her parents said yes, and she eagerly anticipated this outing with her uncle. Fear gripped her young heart when they did not go to the circus, but to a house of an evil man. To her horror, Saritha's uncle sold her to a child trafficker for $250.00. She was a very beautiful girl and was bought for a premium price. Most children are sold for $100.00 to $200.00, and most, like Saritha, are sold by family members. When he returned home without her, the uncle told her parents that Saritha had run away at the circus and he was unable to find her. Saritha had entered the underworld of child trafficking. The trafficker would sell her to a brothel for about $2,000.00, and she would be a sex slave for the rest of her life.

Days and nights turned into the blur of a living death as she was sold daily to multiple men.

Several years later, the door to the brothel was left unlocked, and Saritha escaped! What joy when she was able to flee the horrible place and return to her family. She was able to return home after years in her prison. She knocked on the door, and was greeted by angry parents. Why had she run away? Where had she been? Saritha told them the story of her uncle's betrayal and the horrible life she had been forced to endure. To her shock and dismay, her parents informed her that they no longer had a daughter. They told her that THEIR daughter had died. Her lifestyle had brought shame to the family! The victim became a victim once more, as she was turned away to the streets.

The grieving teen ager made her way to a police station, and they referred her to Michael's Home. Saritha now lives in the Rescue House, is in school, and has a family and hope for the future.

The Red Light District • Children of Prostitutes Preschool

A woman in the Red Light waits at her door

Light of Life Preschool

We traveled through the streets of Pune, India, and were headed to the Red Light District.  This area is on the spiritual dark side of the city.  We had heard of Dr. Ruby for some time and were eager to see this ministry for ourselves.  As we walked down the street to a simple doorway, we observed the prostitutes who were out early in the day.  They looked beaten down.  Their eyes were lifeless. 

Children at the Light of Life preschool

We came to the door, turned into the building and walked up an unbelievably dirty stairwell.  At the top of the stairwell, we entered a simple room.  To our great surprise, the room was filled with the energy that only 15 preschoolers could have.  The kids were eager to meet us, and didn't disappoint us with their joy and energy.  These kids are the children of prostitutes in this very Red Light District.  Without the Light of Life Preschool, these 3-5 year-old children would wander the streets of the city unsupervised while their mothers sleep after a night of soliciting 'clients'.  

The Light of Life Preschool operates 5 days a week, from Monday to Friday.  The loving staff train in life skills and hygiene, and give the children a spiritual foundation for their lives.  They are prepared for school, and begin to learn their letters and numbers.  Their favorite thing is the arts and crafts times, and a hot lunch, which may be the only hot meal that they receive that day.  This pre-primary day shelter is a safe haven in a very dark place for these kids.

Kids in the Red Light enjoying bubbles

We began to play with the kids and broke out the bubbles.  My grandson, Will, had purchased them because he wanted to do something special for orphans.  The children ran around the room, and jumped and laughed as they tried to pop as many bubbles as possible.  After the bubbles we broke out the balloons.  Again, the room was filed with laughter and joy as the children hit balloons into the air, and ran and played with exuberance.   Someone made a profound comment:  ' I think that there will be bubbles and balloons in heaven'.  For these children, this day was heaven on earth.

Playing balloons with the Light of Life kids

The Light and Life Preschool has operated on day to day miraculous provision.   The entire operation of this ministry can be funded for only $750.00 per month.  Would your church, home fellowship or business want to support this haven for the children of prostitutes?  Please contact us at info@streamsofmercy.org if you would like to support this very worthy ministry.

Beauty From Ashes - The Santvana Comforter Aids Home

With the children of Satvana Comforter Home

What a joy to see Dr. Edwards again. She's a retired medical doctor, and a woman of great compassion and faith. She founded the Santvana Comforter Aids Home almost 6 years ago. There are 30 children who now call Santvana their home. These kids have been infected with, or affected by, the Aids virus. Most of them are orphans, whose parents have died of Aids.

Dr. Edwards founded the Satvana Comforter Home 6 years ago.

I looked at her while we were together and said, "Dr. Edwards, you're my hero". She is truly a woman who shows the compassion of the Lord to adults and children alike. Much of her medical career was spent in community health, caring for the poorest of the poor, and providing outstanding medical care for them. In the course of her medical work, she soon found children whose parents had died of Aids. Her prayer was "God send someone to minister to these little ones". The answer to her prayer came in an unexpected way. As she prayed, the Lord spoke clearly to her heart. "I want you to help them". Out of that journey, the Santvana Comforter home was born.

One of the Santvana boys

Dr. Edwards told us the story of two different children in the home, each story had a very different ending than the other. The first story she told us was of a dear boy named Yogesh. Yogesh came in the very early days of the Comforter Home. In those days, Dr. Edwards told us that much time was spent in prayer for each child. Yogesh was tested for HIV, and the results showed that he was HIV positive. A second test confirmed those results. A year later, the staff repeated the HIV test, and the testing center called for Dr. Edwards to bring Yogesh back for another test. When the results came back, Yogesh had tested negative for the Aids virus. All of his subsequent tests have come back negative! Yogesh was healed of that disease!

The second story she told was of a little boy, Sanju. Sanju's mother was a prostitute, and it was a lifestyle that she wanted to live. Sanju's father loved her very much, and married her even though he did not approve of her choices. Sanju was born into that home and he too, was loved by this dear man. When Sanju was a young boy, his mother died of Aids. In another tragic twist, Sanju tested positive for the Aids virus. As is often the case, there was enormous social pressure placed on his father to send the little boy away. He finally brought Sanju to Santvana, and wept loudly when he dropped off his son. One day, Sanju became sick, and it was obvious that he needed hospital care. Dr. Edwards and a staff lady took him to a local hospital and were refused help because the boy was HIV positive. They sent them to a second and then on to a third hospital. Two other hospitals were called, and they too refused to help. Sanju died in Dr. Edwards arms. This was such an unnecessary death, all because of prejudice in the medical community against those with Aids. We were all deeply impacted by both of these stories. We experienced joy over Yogesh's miraculous healing, and deep sadness over Sanju's unnecessary death.

We arrived at the home just before the children returned from church. As they filtered into the home facility, the sounds of precious kids filled the air. These sounds impacted our hearts. We watched as the children played soccer in the courtyard, using a basketball for the soccer game. We brought a soccer ball for the home, and now they can use that for their courtyard soccer matches. Our team spent time loving children and then we broke out the bubbles that my grandson Will had sent for the children. As we saw at the last home, kids love bubbles! They laughed, chased bubbles and had an amazing time just being kids. Finally the time came to head off for our next appointment. Our lives were deeply impacted and challenged by this amazing ministry.