The Lydia Home Kids

Finally we are back, to tell you about the wonderful kids of Lydia Home in Imphal. We met them the first night we were in Imphal, when we were led into a room of 50 kids, seated in rows, girls on one side and boys on the other. We were escorted to the front of the room, for the seats of honor. The kids began to sing a few songs, and the it was overwhelming...the beauty of the 50 kids singing their hearts out was indescribable. By the third song, we were both teary-eyed! Alison sometimes complains about Trevor singing too loud...but she could not even hear him because of the volume of the kids' music! It was awesome! The kids are from 5-15 years old...and soooooo beautiful. They are all full of smiles, so grateful for Lydia Home, and pray every night in the group session for their sponsors back in the states. Watching the 50 kids pray was also amazing...it was truly calling out to God. Khumi (or another of the workers at the home) would say the prayer requests and praises for the night, and then tell the kids to pray...and then some of the kids would get on their knees, and 50 voices would rise together to call out to God in their own language. It was so humbling and amazing and inspiring to see the child-like faith of these kids.

Each night while in Imphal, we went to Lydia Home between 6-8pm for their group time, which was singing, prayer, and then Trevor and Alison telling about their trip, a portion at a time. The kids were a great audience...we didn't have to do much to make them laugh (ROAR with laughter). A few of our silly antics, and the room would erupt! Sometimes there was a slight language barrier, and we would tell a joke, and the kids didn't get it, and there would be silence. At that time, Khumi's laugh would be our saving grace! The last night, we told about how we met and got married...a little foreign to the Indian cultural ways!

A note about the kids: about 500 kids were orphaned in Manipur as a result of tribal clashes a few years ago. Khumi wanted to take some into her home, and so got referrals from local pastors, etc. about various kids. From the 300 applications she received, she had to choose 50 kids, and these 50 came a lived with her and her parents in their house for about three months until Lydia Home was built. Now the facility has 2 big bedrooms, (the girls and boys room), a meeting room, kitchen, and office, with room to expand on a second floor. Khumi is amazed at how well the kids have improved in their demeanor, health, emotions, etc. in the last few years of their being in the home. And that was evident when we visited!!! The kids love to have fun and laugh, but also to praise the Lord and learn!

It was a joy meeting the 4 boys we sponsor...we won't even try to write their names here, since we still can't say them correctly! A set of brothers, 14 and 13, and then a 9 and 12 year old boy. The are all GREAT...musical, funny, studious, and happy. It was great to connect with them during our stay, and renewed our desire to keep supporting them and praying for them over the years. Our first four sons!

One night, we had the opportunity to pass out Christmas stockings that had just arrived from a church in America. Each stocking had a kid's name on it, and we were given the task of reading their names (which we butchered) and giving them their stocking. It was great fun to see the joy on the kids' faces to receive their stockings and open them. So grateful and EXCITED! The church that sent them did a great job at stuffing the stockings, with stuff the kids could use and fun toys. The next day we saw the kids, they were all wearing their stocking caps and gloves (even though it was pretty warm) and playing with their favorite toy or hugging their favorite stuffed animal.

Another night, the kids performed a talent show for us. That was full of laughter as well, with many funny acts, including the littlest kids cross-dressing (boys like girls, and girls like boys); skits; songs; a kung-fu display; solos; Scripture recitation, etc. A great time was had by all!

Saturday, the kids were kept back from school (yes, there is school on Saturday!) and 4 doctors came in and gave medical check-ups. We kept the kids busy (or should we say, they kept us busy) playing volleyball, soccer, football, and UNO. Fun, fun!

We could go on and on about them...they are amazing kids who have and are overcoming tremendous odds by God's grace. If you are interested in becoming a part of this ministry, they are trying to build a school in the next year, and would love any type of help :) Let us know and we could hook you up...

On a different note, we have spent the last few days in Calcutta (Friday-today). It is truly a crazy city...people everywhere...doing all sorts of things...including taking a bath on the sidewalk, to cooking dinner, to begging for money, to spitting beetle-nut, to sleeping. A zillion yellow cabs and rickshaws everywhere. We are staying at the Baptist Mission Society's guesthouse, which is nice. But in the morning, we are awoken by 2 things: the call to prayer at a mosque next door, and the 1000s of crows in the trees on the Baptist compound. There is so much trash in Calcutta, it keeps the crow population well fed and prosperous! On Saturday morning, we volunteered at Mother's Theresa's Home for handicapped children ('Daya Dan'). Besides the fact that there was NO direction for the 15 volunteers (we were left to figure out what to do by following around the sisters and other helpers there who weren't all that talkative), we had an OK time. We helped undress, bathe, dress, play with, feed and put back to bed about 25 kids, ages 3-8(?). They are well taken care of given the circumstances, but not even comparable to what services they would receive in America if in a normal family. Besides that, we have been hanging low, trying to see some things in town, but there isn't much... Sunday we went to church next door, at Circular Road Baptist Church, and we could have been anywhere in America, 20 years ago (except that the congregation was all Indian.) The service was very 'western' and traditional, with hymns, and a normal order of service. We ate Dominoes pizza Sunday night, which was actually better than Dominoes in America!

Tomorrow, we are off by plane to Bangladesh, excited to see our friends from the U.S. that are there! We'll be there for about 9 days.

Thanks for all the great emails lately from many of you...keep the updates coming :)

Love,

Trevor and Alison