Hearing from our alumni is always fun and gives a gauge as to our successes and failures. I am constantly after staff to send me stories when I am not at Prakash to see for myself.

One RGI girl, Mangala, stole my heart with her sparkling personality. At a very young age Mangala was placed in an orphanage, because of fear for her safety, (due to her drunken father.)

Talented but not a proficient student, she did not pass her 10th standard, so was unable to attempt further education. RGI accepted her nonetheless and she developed into an exceptional, self-confident, vivacious young lady. Her desire to pass her 10th almost became an obsession. When she was ready to leave RGI I was concerned that she NOT return to her home situation. Arrangements were made for her to attend a school specializing in tutoring for this mandatory 10th exam.

Here are three stories from Nupi the Administrator of RGI.

“I heard from Mangala last week, she has passed her 10th standard. How happy she was when she called me. She will be deciding what to do now. There are two options– one to go for nursing and other to come back to RGI for computer. She asked me for guidance. I told her, ‘Do what YOU want, not what others tell you. I will always be there to help you and support you in your decision.’ She is now living with her Aunt.”

A girl with NO hope for a life SHE desired now has TWO options, because you have helped sustain a facility where young disadvantaged young Indian women are given a chance to be loved and taught self-worth. Without your continued support stories like this will never happen.

Last week Mamta, an RGI student came to the Warden and said, “Mother I want to buy the devotional book that we follow for our evening devotion.” The Warden told her it is a bit expensive. Mamta said. “I will try and buy it even though it is expensive because it is going to help me along with my Starting Point book when I go back to my family and talk about Jesus.”

Mamta came to us from a Buddhist family and she says, “I now know Jesus and want to go back and tell my family about Him. Please pray for me.” She came here because of Shital who studied computers last year with us. Mamta said, ” I saw the difference in her and wanted to come and experience the education here.” Another girl from the same village wants to come next year. No one in their village is a believer except Shital and now Mamta. (The devotional book is less than $5, but is equivalent to $500 to us. There are very few Christian resources in Marathi.)

Our Dress Making teacher got married in May. I (Nupi) had called her and her husband along with the Beauty Parlour teacher and her husband to dinner this Saturday. To my amazement the Beauty Parlour teacher’s husband asked me for a Bible. He said, ‘The SERVICE that you do at RGI is different. I want to read the Bible for what I have seen and heard about RGI.’” Both of these teachers are Hindus but have been impacted by the love and lifestyle of our Christian leadership.

Nupi says, ” I do have stories and little experiences that make me feel proud (me too) about RGI. I will make sure I write them down and send them to you.”

Again without your support none of this would happen.

For over four years Vasantha’s extended family had been trying to find a girl for his marriage. Due to the fact that Vasantha’s father is a drunkard and not capable, his uncle is the one who found Shashi. Vasantha had seen many girls, but none were acceptable. I asked, “What were you looking for in a girl?” He said, “I wanted a girl who was not quarrelsome and knew about Christianity.” I asked, “How did you know she was not a quarrelsome girl.” Matter of factly he stated, “By looking in her eyes.” I think I know what he means, because I have found it is the only evidence they are unable to hide in regards to honest feelings. He went on to say he asked her questions about Christianity and felt good about her responses.

It is very unusual that he was allowed to have this kind of contact with Shashi before their engagement, but Vasantha insisted. He said, “I liked her.” She said she also likes him.

She had learned about Christianity from a village nearby her home with a Christian Hospital compound, and some of the villagers attend a fellowship there. She went to a DVBS as a young girl.

As a wedding gift Sylvia and I gave a photo album of their wedding and reception, and also a picture frame with a wedding picture. On the frame is a Scripture verse from 1 Corinthians 13. Dr. Suresh marked the verse in the NEW Bible we gave him since he had given his other Bible away. He said, “I love” Shashi. (Vasantha in tan shirt with Shashi next to him)

On the way back to Prakash I asked Suresh, “What is meaning of love in Marathi?” There is only one meaning and it more like a friendship type of love. It is very difficult to explain “unconditional love” when they only have one concept of what it means. That is why it is so important that we show Christ’s love to them so they can begin to understand “God’s unconditional love.”

The chief of the village said he had heard news 14 years ago about a doctor who was helping a little boy in another Pardhi village. News travels fast—both good and bad. He was pleased that someone would help a non-family individual.

I thanked him for allowing me to come. He said, “You respect our traditions and don’t take anything from us—you only give.” He added, “You are the sugar in the milk!”

At the request of the village chief we are beginning to translate the Gospel of John into the Pardhi language. Since they do not have an alphabet or written language we will use the Marathi alphabet with tonal differences to write out the book. This will also allow us to key it into the computer so we can publish the completed project. Vasantha has willing taken the task of writing the translation. Shashi will read and he will write. His handwriting is beautiful. Then we will input the manuscript into the computer at Prakash Institute enabling us to make copies.

There is a potential distribution to 400 villagers, including the surrounding villages population. Because they requested this and are doing the work, we do not have to worry about the non-conversion law of India. Some of the villagers have already requested a New Testament in Marathi so they can TRY to read what is written. We distributed several during our last visit.

God Bless the person who invented Skype. It made all the difference in the world. I was even able to Skype with Sylvia from Vasantha’s village on this last visit. I wonder what they were really thinking when they saw her and talked with her??? Looking forward to being home soon, but this has been an extraordinary trip, even with the heat.

At the beginning of this year when Sylvia and I were in India, we visited Vijaywanti and her husband Somsingh. (She is Vasantha’s sister) They were the recipients of three Christmas goats and we wanted to visit with them. Because of the status of this union the couple had gone against custom and therefore had been ostracized from the village. Dr. Suresh felt that their need was immense, so carefully orchestrated circumstances so as not to offend any tribal customs or mores, yet give some much needed help. (Their goats now have had twins.)

This example of love and forgiveness so affected the chief of the village that he devised a scheme whereby the entire village pitched in and bought the needed sacrificial animals and held the necessary absolution feast for 250 villagers. This fulfilled the requirements so the young couple could be restored to the village. When asked, “Why?” The chief said, “You are teaching us a better way and we need to learn to forgive and restore.” A new home was even built for the little family.

On May 25, Vijaywanti gave birth to a baby BOY without the aid of doctor or hospital. The villagers do not trust doctors, as they believe doctors just take their limited money. Since they are a schedule-caste-people their entire medical bill would be free, but they still do not trust the system. (Sound familiar???) She gave birth with the help of a mid-wife from another village, reminiscent of the USA 150 years ago.

When the baby boy was born, the mother did not have any milk due to her extreme malnutrition. She has since taken some village herbal medicine and is now able to feed her son. Mother and baby are now doing fine. If the baby had been a girl, further sacrificing would have been traditionally required.

The naming of the baby will take place in a couple of weeks with a ceremony. They have asked us to name the baby. I asked if a Christian name, which would be any name that is not tribal, would be a problem for the little guy later in life. We have decided to name him after our grandson Connor. It means, “one who has great knowledge.” Our selected name will be a second name or nickname since he will have problems at school registration with an American name.

A few years ago, the thought of school for these children was not even on the radar. One person took the time to invest in one little boy and now 14 years later we are seeing God work in miraculous ways. Your investment in Prakash makes things like this happen.