Day 4 January 22nd 2023

Sunday may be a day of rest, but not in India where it is business as usual.  We started by visiting some people who we support regularly – it is amazing what just £5 or £10 a month will do in India.

Vijay Kumar was watching a gospel service on TV when we arrived. He used to be well off, but four years ago he climbed a tree to find forage for his goats, fell down and broke his back leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. He spent all his money on doctors to no avail, leaving him penniless. We help him with the cost of an autorickshaw to take him to the district hospital each month. We also gave him ten chickens and a coop during lockdown: he now has 15 hens, and his wife collects and sells the eggs which supplements their meagre government pension of only £16 a month.

Vijay Kumar watching the Gospel Service

After a couple of similar visits we went to see the ladies at Thanal House. Most of these have psychiatric problems, but they join in with doing the chores happily. Three more have joined recently – Salini is trying to limit numbers, but these were brought to her and she felt that she couldn’t say no, so they have joined the happy family. And they have found Rukhami, who wandered off eighteen months ago – someone recognised her about five miles away, and Salini and Shanil were able to find her, very bedraggled and unkempt but none the worse for wear, and bring her home. And we also met Christo, Salini’s new-born son. A very enjoyable afternoon.

Tomorrow we are off to Tamil Nadu for the annual pilgrimage to Asha Kiran Ashram – always a great visit.

Rukhami brought safely ‘home’ to Thanal House.

Christo, Salini’s new-born son