Tuesday, June 03, 2014

What We Did On Our Summer Vacation.

Dear Friends,

May in India brings many things the Tamil words "akkni natchathiram" literally translated means "flaming star". It also brings summer vacation and of course the much awaited mango season. 

In the Samson household, it brings dirty hand prints and foot prints on walls and floors toys scattered through out house and yard, the sound of small children laughing, fighting and playing. For the past eight years it is our tradition to have all the children from Hope for the Children that can’t or don’t feel safe going home to come and stay with us for the month of May. This May we had a total of six children from 6 to 15 years old with us. They have spent the summer playing, laughing and relaxing. Here are a few highlights: 








A trip to the local mall for some fun at the arcade "Fun City". It was lots of fun, playing games going on some rides and stopping for lunch and ice cream at KFC. 


          




They also spent time in the pool cooling off and having fun. We finished the summer with a trip to the local amusement park. 














Work has continued on at the church. Thanks to all that prayed for the past problems we were able to move forward and have the bottom half of the church completed.




In recent months there have been many changes happening all around us in India in the past months over 750 orphanages have been shut down, the vast majority being Christian orphanages. The children in these orphanages are being packed up and sent to newly opened government run homes. The state government continues to bring new regulations and demands that orphanages are expected to meet. Making it more and more impossible for orphanages to stay open. This is being done in the name of children's safety which is of course most important but the underling reason is to stop the spread of Christianity amongst children. 

 At the same time India has just finished federal elections. Over a period of a month India voted, it was quite amazing to be in the middle of the worlds biggest democracy as they went through the election process. In the end India elected a new Prime Minister desperate for change the BJP party and Narendra Modi are the new ruling party and Prime Minster of India. The BJP are know as Hindu fundamentalists and have a record of being hard on minorities like Christians and Muslims.   They are also known to block “western influences”.

With all of these changes "Hope for the Children" will be moving in a new direction. We will be moving towards residential care, supporting children in their homes with their parents and extended families. We feel under these circumstances that this is the best and safest route for the children and our family. This allows us to still continue to support  and make a difference in the lives of children with out the threat or influence of the Indian government. Please keep our family in your prayers we are unsure what impact these changes in government will have on us and our work. 

Reading our last blog I gave a few prayer requests: 1, That the work would continue on in the new church. Praise God it has and we have finished the bottom floor!

2 Hannah was finishing her first year of college pray as she wrote her final exams. You may have seen my Facebook announcement she finished with all A's!

So two amazing answers to prayer.

Looking ahead, Asha and I (Dawn) will be traveling home this summer from June 24th to Sep 12 I am looking for opportunities to speak, hold scarf parties and to raise funds for our work. If you are interested in having me speak or would like to host a party please let me know.

Please keep our family in your prayers and India moves forward under new leadership. Also pray that the last of the funds needed to complete the church project will come in. 

In Him,

Prasad and Dawn



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