Please give thanks and praise to the Lord for the very generous gift which the members of a church in the United States – Sunshine Advent Christian Church at Deer Island, Maine – sent to Yesuway Jeevan Mission, Chennai to assist one of their ministry partners – Pastor Kirubakaran – to purchase most of the items which government authorities had mandated that his New Life Hostel at Thuthikulam, near the Kolli Hills, must have if it was to be allowed to continue to remain open to be the home for the 20 orphan or underprivileged boys who live there. The boys are well cared for, they get a good education and most importantly are in an environment which constantly points them to the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour.
The funds were raised by Sunshine AC Church members at a recent Vacation Bible School which featured the hostel. The VBS was organised by their VBS Director, Sarah Heanssler using material for the week’s activities specially produced by Trena Efird at ACGC’s World Outreach office at Charlotte. The funds raised at the VBS were added to by funds raised by the members of its weekly Bible Study and prayer group.
The gift enabled the following items to be purchased – two YJM staff members travelled to Thuthikulam to assist Pastor Kirubakaran to purchase and transport the goods – literally a truckload – to the hostel.
- School bags for all the boys
- Belts for all the boys
- 2 volley balls
- 2 cricket bats
- 2 balls
- 4 bicycles
- 2 carrom boards (a very popular game played by young and old in India)
- 2 electric cookers – 1 cook top, 1 rice cooker
- Many cooking and storage utensils
- A large storage cupboard
- A clothes iron
- Pillows and sleeping mats for all the boys
- 2 folding beds for staff members
- Blankets for all the boys
- Desk for the office
- Floor mops
Pastor Kirubakaran and his team of helpers and the boys were of course delighted and very grateful for these wonderful gifts. Before the YJM staff members left the boys kneeled and thanked the Lord for these wonderful gifts from His people in the United States. They also sent a letter of appreciation, in the Tamil language, to Sunshine Advent Christian Church. (See picture below)
