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| Dear Friends |
June 2004
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| We have been very concerned about the deep effects this long drought is having on the more interior villages where people are generally more forgotten and neglected. These villages are sometimes quite remote and are often accessible only by walking long distances. The villages themselves have almost no facilities. The extreme heat is adding to the distress of the already impoverished villagers. Temperatures are already hovering close to 100°F.
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| We have been getting reports that some families are on the borderline of starvation. Politely called malnutrition! The utter lack of rain in an agricultural area means endless miles of dead parched fields and so, no work. When this goes on for months we know that also means a severe scarcity of food. Many families may cook one small meal of plain rice each day which may then be extended to one more cold meal. Vegetables are virtually non-existent. No work does truly mean no immediate food. We have done a survey in depth over 16 villages to find out what is happening due to the drought and we have already identified about 150 families living a hand to mouth existence very close to starvation. At times our investigations have been quite distressing, especially when very old or handicapped people are involved, or where families with children are really suffering. We know of children going from door to door begging for a little rice to satisfy their hunger. At home there is often nothing at all inside their huts. When they can sell cooking pots they will be sold. That is all that is left and somehow they must get food. |
| So our first survey brought together these 150 men, women and some children at our main offices in Kallupatti and to each group from all those villages enough money was given merely to procure the most basic foodstuffs, rice and lentils and may be some spices. It amounts to Rs.33 a day (or £0.40 or $0.70 or Euros 0.60 per day). That will more than likely be the only money they will have. But it is just enough to keep starvation away. At least that. No luxuries, little more than plain boiled rice.
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| As they were all gathered there together I kept on thinking that here was Christ in that crowd, in each one, and that we were providing Him with the merest basics of life. This is a stunning thought, but it is really true. “Whatever you do to the least of these, you do that to Me.” And for me at that time, there He was. And how often it has been our very great joy to give this kind of help. |
| And we do it in so many ways. What a joy this is, to put into His hands the wherewithal to survive. And He can never be outdone in generosity.
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| A little young mother came into my office carrying her four months old baby boy, a lovely child. She comes from a village now impoverished by the long drought. It is sad to see the thousands of dead coconut trees all round this village which means at least two generations of steady income completely gone. This baby is their first-born son, always very precious in Indian villages. But he has a serious, life-threatening heart defect. The cost of heart surgery is way beyond the dreams of such villagers. So, with delight on our part, we have referred the family to one of the best hospitals in Madurai, 60 kms. away, with instructions that all bills must come to us. This is the second baby we have recently referred for heart surgery. The cost comes to around Rs.100,000 (£1,250 or $:2,200). To save the life of the child and give joy to the parents, this is worth it. And once again, in this bright-eyed child, I was aware of Jesus. |
| This is the time of the year when we admit new children to our Children’s Villages. We now have three Children’s Villages and have organized another one specifically for AIDS affected children. We also have two hostels for teenage girls and one for teenage boys who are too old to admit to Children’s Villages. We now also have two small hostels for working girls. Once children enter their teens we place them in good residential schools in various towns and children doing professional studies will be staying in their own colleges. The total number of children now in our direct care comes to about 850. As children move out we can replace them with new children in dire need of a refuge. And now in this growing epidemic of AIDS we are finding more and more children who are AIDS orphans or soon to be because both parents are either already dead due to the HIV virus or very ill and unable to care for their children. These parents want to make sure of their future. In many cases they are left with aged grandparents who cannot even support themselves and certainly not these extra children. So all suffer greatly and are reduced to real penury.
This year in one month the demand for refuge and care is truly alarming. We have accepted 88 cases so far and we know there are others who will
come. Two years ago we had half-a-dozen. Last March the count for such children now with us was 62. I am expecting the total with us will be around 150. As I look at all the case histories and meet the children, I begin to realize that we are sitting on a time bomb. The consequences of all this AIDS epidemic is going to be quite a huge problem and the most affected will be the children, who are going to be left orphans and homeless.
It has not been easy this year trying to cope with so many admissions. It will certainly mean having to build more little houses to accommodate them or increasing the numbers in each house to eight boys and girls. Someone must accept these children, especially if they are also HIV positive. Already we have 16 such little ones who are HIV+, some are babies.
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| A typical example of other children we admit is that of a man whose wife is no more, and who has three children, all girls. He had reached the state where he wanted to commit suicide. The poverty in his village was about as bad as it could be and with no work in this long drought he did not know what to do, how to care for three children. The 12 year old girl cooked a miserable meal, did the bit of housework and went to school leaving a three year old and a two year old with the father, who could not therefore go to work. In addition to all this there was a very old, crippled lady in the hut who could not move. It is no wonder the man was reduced to complete despair. We have only to put ourselves in his place to realize how degrading such poverty can be. We have admitted the two babies. The older girl is needed to cook, care for the old lady and, at last, let the father look for work if at all available. |
| A typical case history of one of our AIDS affected children is that of A.P. an eleven year old girl. She is HIV positive but at present healthy though we know her prognosis is poor. Without special drugs children rarely live into their teens. She was admitted along with her younger brother who is HIV negative because both parents were HIV positive. Shortly after admission the mother died of AIDS. At that time A.P. had a bad attack of chicken pox which for such children can be fatal, so we could not let the child go for the last rites. Very recently the father realizing he was going into the terminal phase of AIDS which is always really traumatic, committed suicide. In India in suicides the corpse is disposed of immediately. As a result of this, poor A.P. went into depression and needed a lot of counselling support and love.
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| We know that we will have to cope with many such cases in the near future. With 16 children who are HIV positive themselves and 146 whose parents are or were in the terminal stages of AIDS we will need to give more love and support than ever. This is going to be a very trying time for our staff. Among all these who are poor these are truly the poorest. But here again the message constantly rings in my mind: “Whatever you do to the least of these little ones you do to ME”.
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| If you are able to make a donation, cheques etc should be made out to Reaching the Unreached and sent to the following:
David Cassidy, 11 Ovington Avenue, Boscombe East, Bournemouth, BH7 6SA
(Phone and Fax) 01202 427511
Editor:
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| On our January visit, which you read about in the last newsletter, you were introduced to two of the most recent projects which we visited. However, we visited several in our short stay and each time we were acutely aware that without the love, caring and generosity of so many of you in the U.K., it would be hard for many of these projects to function. It is this which makes you all such an integral part of RTU and we never tire of stating that. Our grateful thanks for all you do. |
| Make your ‘WILL POWER’ work for the poor
One of the ways in which you can ensure the future funding of RTU is through a legacy which will help the poorest of the poor change their lives for the better. It will bring food to the hungry, water to the thirsty, shelter to the homeless and care for the abandoned. All you need to do is speak to your Financial Advisor / Solicitor quoting our charity name and number:
Reaching the Unreached
Charity Number: 1091295
Registered in England and Wales; Company number: 4217700
Registered Office: 59 Knowle Wood Road, Dorridge, Solihull, B93 8JP.
Deciding who should benefit from your Will is something that takes time and consideration, but it is a chance to remember those whose lives are a constant battle against poverty.
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| Remember, standing orders and gift aid forms can be obtained by return on request. |
| Christmas gifts from RTU
With the next newsletter in September we will send a small ‘catalogue’ of household products made by the handloom section at RTU, Kallupatti. This is to let you know in advance so you can think about buying useful things for the home as well as your Christmas gifts for others in this way. Over the years visitors to RTU have been bringing back a wonderful range of things made as part of the employment programme. We have now decided to place a big order and bring it in by sea so that all RTU supporters can buy something easily. The range includes towels, bathroom accessories, slippers, aprons, tablecloths and bedspreads. Everything is natural cotton, made by hand in RTU by local women and is very good quality at reasonable prices.
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| Cordially yours, |
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| Brother James
Kimpton |
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