Copy

PL785

28th April 2019

Record breaking temperatures have reminded us that we are now entering into the toughest season of the year. Summer is hot, dusty, dry and relentless with daily temperatures soaring as high as 52°C (that's 125°F for all you Americans out there). While we do have a few air conditioners around the place, the majority of staff and children have to make do with fans. It is a tough couple of months as we wait for the monsoon rains.

Vishal enjoying a freezing cold popsicle on a hot day.
In the midst of the heat our wheat harvest has begun. This year for the second time we are doing the entire harvest ourselves; previously we would hire a combine harvester. Our new wheat cutter and some hired laborers from the local village ensure the work is done much more efficiently than the big combine.
Kallu and Anish oversee all of the cutting of the wheat.
Ladies hired from our local village collect the wheat and tie the stalks in bundles with strings called 'junas' that are made from the wheat itself.
This field represents about 30% of our farm. Can you spot the tractor?
Grandma Kalawati preparing the 'junas' in the shade of a big mango tree...
...at over 70 years old her fingers are still nimble enough to get the work done.
In the scorching heat the laborers tirelessly tie bundles of wheat before carrying them off to the dairy where they are thrashed to remove the grain, chop up the straw and deposit the chopped straw into our storage room where it will be used for the coming year to feed our cattle. Make no mistake about it, this is hard work.
Wheat bundles are fed into the thrashing machine that spits grain out one side and chopped straw out the other (and straight into the storage shed).
Silvester, an old farm boy, looks after all the thrashing.
Inside the storage shed is a dusty, itchy, oven.
Scarves only keep out some of the dust, and do nothing for the heat!
Amir helps keep everyone's hydration levels up whenever this type of work is going on. He is an essential part of our team!
Netha is our Labor Contractor. He lives in a village some 30km away.

We had an incredible response to our Mission University campaign as we seek to put 10 of our kids through various university degrees across the country. People from all over the world have stepped up to raise funds on behalf of the kids. Our campaign received almost $7000 in donations and a further $3000 has been pledged.

MISSION : UNIVERSITY
John spent the week filling in college applications with the kids and forms have now gone out to six separate institutes with more planned in the next few weeks. As most people know, the waiting to hear from prospective universities can be stressful so we would appreciate your prayers for our children.
Sonia has applied to study Social Work at Amity University, Lucknow.
Kamal is considering a few different colleges for his Bachelor of Physical Education.
Basanti chops onions as she thinks about her future Nursing degree.
Reeva is considering either Nursing or an English degree.
Corinna helps prepare chilies like a future Mechanical Engineer.
Being an Editor is Jessica's dream, a world away from helping Priscilla cook lunch.
Sonia's application required a video that Uncle John helped her put together. She only had one minute to say who she is, what subjects she enjoys, any hobbies she has and why she's chosen social work as a major. Here is what she came up with. Great job, Sonia. Who could resist this...?

There are so many people who invest in the lives of our children, friends and family from across the ocean support, encourage, pray and uplift us on a daily basis. Closer to home we have volunteers and staff members who serve our children tirelessly and with little reward outside of the satisfaction that comes from service.

This week we want to make special mention to two of our staff member who will be leaving us soon. Anish and Katie have served for a combined 17 years here on the mission; in July they will be moving with their 4 daughters to new employment. Katie has helped in a variety of ways over the years, originally a teacher in our school she now helps look after our Nursery Hostel, manage our sponsorship program and oversee much of our kids at-home education/tuition. Anish, as you have already seen above, helps manage our fields and farm, keep our Senior Boys Hostel boys in line and helps out with other odd jobs around the place. As they head off into their new beginning we ask for your prayers for them.

Anish and Katie, family photo.
Little Naomi just may be the most photogenic child on the farm, and THAT is saying something.
Katie organizing new text books for each child.
Anish and Parwat return home from the fields.

While there is still a gap in our workforce, two new staff members have joined recently to help fill the deficit. Benny and Lucy's son Amos has joined Clifton in the office where he will help with accounting, banking and general administration. Old farm boy Jack Johnson has also joined us with his son Jared. Jack's main role will be to work as Hostel Warden for our Senior Boys, but he will also run our sponsorship program and help out with our Sunday services. Jack and Clifton have been friends for almost 25 years and both are excited to be working together.

Jack and Amos in the office.
Jack will be taking over the Big Boys Hostel from Sunny, who is now free to concentrate on his main work in the workshop and maintenance team with Rick. Sunny helped to get Jack's accommodation ready by installing a new bathroom and kitchen fittings in the Warden's Accommodation.
Amos taking a short break with Aunty Violet.
Jack and his son Jared.

New beginnings are also in sight for some of our current staff: Esther and Peggy took a tour of their new homes being constructed as a part of the Staff Accommodation building. With walls now up they can finally understand the layout of the building; excitement builds at the thought of moving in.

Rick, now back on his feet, took Peggy and Esther on a tour of their future homes.
Rick explaining the concept of in-build wardrobes.
This hallway will connect the three ground floor homes.
The Staff Accommodation building.

Last week we mentioned the mulberry jam that Priscilla and the Junior Girls were making. A total of of 12kg of yummy, sweet jam was made up and is already being eagerly devoured by our children for their school morning tea. Next up will be mango jam, but that is still more than a month away.

Priscilla looks on as Raymond enjoys his mulberry jam sandwich and banana.
Shivam was happy with his morning tea.
Baby Nessa was also enjoying the jam.

And so we end yet another week here on the mission. We will leave you with a few photos of the Easter Sunday service and Egg Hunt that we had with our children. Easter is the perfect reminder of the new begining that each of us can have through the saving grace of our Lord. We thank you all for your incredible support and generosity to the Mission University campaign and pray you have an awesome week ahead.

Blessing on you,
Rick, Clifton, Eugene & Priscilla

The Junior Boys shared a special song in the Easter Sunday service.
Sheetal in search of eggs.
Manish was super excited that she could read her egg! It said "Jesus Is Risen".
This was Ruhani's first Easter Egg hunt.
Wrong hole Raymond!
Cynthia found the 'lucky black egg'.
Our older children helped Priscilla and Clifton on Easter Sunday morning to make these beautiful eggs; each one a work of art.
Raj... just make sure you only pick up the coloured eggs!
Aaron having an eggcellent snack once the hunt was over!
Priscilla and Clifton with their Sunday School Egg Hunters.
For Those Who Pray:
  • Pray for the college applications, both for our children's nerves and for the positive receipt of their applications by the universities.
  • Pray for Katie and Anish as they make decisions and applications for future employment. Pray for their children as they adjust into their new lives away from so many familiar faces here on the farm.
  • Please pray for Jack and Amos as they settle into their new roles here on the mission.
CONNECT WITH US:
HELP SPREAD THE WORD:
SHARE ON FACEBOOK
TWEET IT OUT
FORWARD TO A FRIEND
Copyright © 2019 The Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission
 
The Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission is a registered non-profit and society in Uttarakhand, India that undertakes the care of around 75 orphan and destitute children. The Mission works to be as self-supporting as possible through income generated internally by it's farm, workshop projects and school. For more information see our website.



unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences 

 
Our mailing address is:

The G.S.A.M
Strong Farm
PO Banbasa
Dist. Champawat
Uttarakhand, INDIA, 262310

Our email address is:
office@indianorphanage.com