March 2013
I am amazed how fast last year went and we are already into the third month of 2013.
My family and I had a good break over the Christmas holidays. It was a great time of catching up with friends and extended family and it was a really good break from our normal busy schedule.
2012 in many ways was a tumultuous year but we are extremely grateful that God is forever with us and faithfully working in and through us. About the middle of October last year I rushed off to India to be with my Dad, who had heart complications. What started out as mild heart issues steadily progressed to the necessity for a triple bypass. It was a difficult time but I had many precious times of chatting and sharing with Dad, who is thankfully now fully recovered and back in NZ.
I also had the opportunity to visit our children's home in Vijayawada almost every day, as it was only about a ten minute walk from the cardiac hospital. I became a regular visitor and enjoyed the contact with the girls in the home and the hospitality of Bayamma and Krupa, our two staff members and good friends. They do an outstanding job and we are incredibly blessed to have such fine staff members looking after the girls. In many respects it is a 24 hour, 7 day a week job but they gladly serve the Lord and us by looking after the girls in the home. They do have down time during the middle of the day and on occasion go away on holiday, but it is not an easy task they have signed up for and so we appreciate them all the more. I'm sure they would appreciate any encouragement you could give, especially if you are one of the sponsors of one of the girls in their home. Their email is krupasundari@rediffmail.com
In June 2013 we are launching our latest children's home, the Village of Hope in Tegalamada. We have two buildings that have been constructed on about 2 acre plot of land in the foot hills of the Arakku Ranges in South India. Preetham & Victoria Kadari are overseeing the homes. You will hear more about them as we get closer to the opening day.
We are incredibly grateful to the generous gifts that enabled these two building to be built. Our task now is to fill these buildings with needy children. Do contact us if you would like to become a sponsor or if you would be able to give a one off gift to help us open the Village of Hope to needy children in June. In the coming weeks I will give more specific details on ways you can support the home.
We are incredibly grateful to the many people who support us financially, either through supporting our NZ operations, sponsoring a child, or supporting a pastor. Words fail to communicate our appreciation and the trust that you have in us. We could not do what we do without your support and we are incredibly thankful to all that you have done over the many years that you have supported us. May God bless you.
With kind regards
Steve Saunders