Advent – bringing hope at Thanal House: A home for destitute women

“Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can.” John Wesley

Many Indians live and sleep on the streets of Trivandrum or in the countryside nearby. Often, they have severe psychiatric problems and are at risk, particularly the women. These individuals may have been deliberately abandoned by their families, or they may have simply wandered off and been unable to find their way home. About 30 of these vulnerable people are given refuge in Thanal House – Hope House, a fitting name for a place that brings hope and normality to many who had no hope and no hope of normal lives. HHI provided the land for Thanal House, and supports some of the running costs.

Salini, who now oversees the work at Thanal House, has sent us two stories. Yes, these stories are sad, but they also fill us with gratitude because the love and grace of God has touched the lives of those who are inspired to always go the extra mile to serve Him and their fellow human beings.

RUKHMANI

Rukhmani lived in Bangalore and she was married with 2 sons. She spoke 4 languages, Kannada, Telugu, Tamizh and Hindi.

In 2016, when Shanil was driving, Rukhmani was spotted walking down the street in very dirty clothes. A crowd gathered and, after they were told about Thanal and saw the Thanal logo on the vehicle, they helped Rukhmani into the vehicle.

Rukhmani’s mental disorder was severe. She plucked her own hair, and, when in the yard, she would bite a stone in her mouth. When asked about her husband, she would become terribly violent.

Last September, Rukhmani opened the dining area door one morning, ran out, opened the main grille, jumped over the wall and ran off. A missing person case was lodged with the police who searched the local area, without success. Every day from morning until night Shanil showed her photo and searched the bus stop, auto rickshaw stand, junction and shops.

Rukhmani’s photo was also on the local news channel. After an expensive advert in a local newspaper, information was received that Rukhmani had been seen in front of a tea shop near the Kochuveli railway station, some 30 km away. After 2 more weeks of searching, a photo of Rukhamani’s face was seen in a newspaper. To the delight of everyone, she was safe in a Mother Teresa Orphanage.

However, since her return to Thanal, Rukhmani has twice absconded and, at the moment, she is still missing.

KAMALA

Kamala’s hometown was Maharashtra and she had a husband and 6 children. Kamala’s husband did not like her at all and one day when Kamala and her husband were traveling on the Kerala Express train, she fell asleep. On waking she realised she was alone – her husband had deliberately abandoned her.

Kamala wandered around the railway station and was eventually taken to the Trivandrum police. They took her to Thanal House knowing that Salini would welcome her.

Kamala lived at Thanal House for 4 years. She received medication for her mental illness and, when necessary, epilepsy. Since her last severe epileptic episode, she had been unable to get out of bed. As well as medication, she was given liquid food and protein powder. Wounds covered many parts of her body, and this was made worse by the fact that she would tear off her diaper and the sores on her body would be torn off too.

As her condition deteriorated she continued to be cared for by the Christian staff at Thanal House, even when they themselves were sick with Covid. Kamala died on 18 November this year and, in her final years, knew the boundless love freely given through Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

Salini and her team at Thanal certainly pull out all the stops and consistently do their level best to help the sick and vulnerable women for whom they care. On-site security is now an issue which is under review because of Rukhmani absconding. We hope to send a Christmas gift this year to support the efforts of those at Thanal, and in particular to improve the residents’ safety and security.

Prayer

Please pray with everyone at Thanal for Rukhmani to be safe, wherever she is, and for her to be found soon. And please pray for Salini, Shanil and Valsala as they look after all these needy women, for wisdom, strength and energy, and for their need for food and all the other essentials to be supplied.