October Newsletter

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Child of Mine Alumni The following is the testimony of Dechen Chuskit,one of the grads we support at Dar Ul Fazl. I was admitted in the home, Dar-Ul-Fazl in the year of 1998 month of August. I came from a remote place in Ladakh. Coming to this home brought a big difference in my life. I was provided with everything, food, clothing and many other things which are very hard for me to count. I got good education, was sent to very good school where the rich children usually study. The Staff in this Home were like our parents as they looked after me when I was six years old. As I grew bigger and bigger I started to understand the word of God. I got to hear from our staff about how God has blessed us. I used to give thanks to God sometimes but mostly I would take this for granted. I never took God seriously in my life. There would be times when I would pray and read his word but it was useless because I read it for the sake of reading it. We were told that it is good to read the Bible and I read it without actually trying to see what God wants to teach me through his word. It was in the month of December 2010 that I really understand what being born again mean, we had a youth retreat and there I gave my life to God. My life was not at all easy after being born again. I was tempted every day by the devil and many times I fell into temptation, but because of Jesus I am able to stand up again by repenting of my sins. Now I am who I am only because of JESUS CHRIST. I came to know that he loves me very much and he has a plan for my life. In the beginning I did not understand why my mother kept me in the home, but it was for my own good. This home was the home that gave me everything and because of that I am really thankful to Dar-Ul-Fazl Home. Most of all it is because of my sponsors that I am able to be like this. I am grateful to my sponsors for supporting me for my education, food, clothing and everything. I praise God that he took care of my life till now and is willing to take care of me while I live on this earth. DECHEN CHUSKIT DAR-UL-FAZL CHILDREN HOME CLASS-XII

October 2011 Construction Team A team of 17 people will head to Shanti Niketan the middle of October to work on the facilities there. Here is a glimpse of what they will be working on from team leader, James Peters. There are a lot of projects we could be involved in this year at Shanti Niketan if we had the funds and the time. We will be taking down and replacing the roof on the guest house and possibly the staff housing that was damaged by the cyclone. There are also a number of walls that need repairs. They need some new classroom space built. That could be a fairly extensive project. The authorities are putting pressure on them to do this. They need a proper road built down to the schoolhouse from the playing field area. There are numerous other miscellaneous projects that always need doing as well, anything from painting to various repairs and upgrades. And dare we dream of the day we raise enough money to build a new boys dorm, kitchen and dining room, etc. So if any of you feel God tapping you on the shoulder, we can put your donations to very good use as we attempt to improve the living, eating and training facilites for these precious children. Remember, these are some of the future leaders of God’s Church in India that we are priveleged to help in whatever way God allows us to. Please pray for safety and God’s blessing for the construction team this year again. Thanks for all your prayers and financial support. James Peters

www.childofmine.ca

October Newsletter Three Amazing Years! Thank you Jesus! Thank you for bringing two children’s homes and two hundred children into our lives and hearts. We launched Child of Mine in September 2008, listening to God’s call on us to reach out and make a difference in these children’s lives. Little did I know what a profound difference God would make Child of Mine have on my life as well. It has been three years of joy, pain, rejoicing, crying out, frustration, elation, clarity, confusion, inspiration, perspiration and revelation. Three years of working with beautiful people both in Canada and in India; connecting and joining with partners with a heart to do whatever it takes to ensure hope and a future for the children of Shanti Niketan and Dar Ul Fazl. Three years of seeing your heart and your hand in all of this. I am so grateful. Thank you Jesus that you know the plans you have for us. All of us. You are so faithful, even when I feel quite faithless as I consider the daunting task of growing Child of Mine to meet the increasing needs of the homes as they bring in more children and as they send these same

precious charges out into the world to pursue their education, interests and passions. Thank you for all of the partners of Child of Mine, for those who choose to give so generously to help us keep this vision alive, this vision of “raising the future leaders of India’s church”. We are seeing the great results of our Child of Mine partnership. The children are healthier than ever, with better nutrition and education; with the knowledge that they are part of the church, the body of Christ, equipped with the tools of truth to impact the nations. Their futures are bright. Thank you Jesus for the staff of both homes who work tirelessly and continuously to be the best that they can be in raising these children. Thank you for the scores of volunteers from Canada who have traveled to India to build housing, playing fields, washrooms, libraries, roads. We could not be where we are without you. And thank you for being our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; in whose mighty name we do this. To you and to your name be the glory. Brad Gay, Director of Child of Mine www.childofmine.ca

2011 Trekking/Service Team Update by Ariana Heppner On July 8th, a team of nine Westsiders took off from YVR (Vancouver) headed for an adventure in India! We went to serve for one week at Dar Ul Fazl Children’s Home (DUF) in Manali, followed by a trek in the Himalayas of Ladakh.

them were born, is famous for adventure sports. There is huge potential for future careers with guide companies if they have the right skills. This year, our camp’s theme was “GROW Your Faith”. Last year the team from Westside and Willow Park focused on TRUST. They taught the kids rock climbing and rappelling, and took them white water rafting. This year we were excited to see how their faith had grown over the past year and pushed them to continue to grow throughout their lives. We undertook many of the same activities, encouraging them to do more and go further than they had last year.

(A team practicing their team cheer during Games Day. In front are Dolkar and Jeet) Leading up to this trip I struggled to believe that our visit to DUF would be anything more than a momentary distraction for the kids and staff. How could we actually matter? We’d show up for a few days, play some games and then leave. They’d forget us immediately, I thought.

The love at this home is palpable. The kids, from age four to 18, truly treat one another as if they are flesh and blood brothers and sisters. These kids are pulled from the depths of poverty and homelessness and given a chance at a life full of love, experiences and opportunities they other wise never could have hoped for. They are well cared for physically, emotionally, and educationally. They are also taught the love of Jesus and the truth of the gospel every day and it is lived out in front of them by their teachers, wardens, brothers and sisters. God is at work in Northern Indian and these kids are going to be a hugh part of spreading the gospel throughout that region.

(The team plus two boys from DUF at the top of Tar La on Day three of our trek. Back row L-R: Vikram Kumar (DUF), Caleb Tenzin (DUF), James Tweedy, Evan Powroznik, David Robinson, Jonas Flueckiger. Front row L-R: Michelle Contant, Ariana Heppner, Natasha Szauter, Cheryl Butler and Kimberly Stevenson) Our trip, as with most missions trips, rarely went exactly as planned, and travel issues arose on an almost daily basis. We had a flight get cancelled, after we had already taxied down the runway. So, we flew to another city and took a “four hour bus ride” (it was 10 hours) to our destination. We crammed 14 people in a 12 seater van for 16 hours one day. We spent five hours climbing just one mountain pass in that van, thanks to a mudslide and Indian-style traffic jams. In Delhi, we squished five people into one auto-rickshaw intended for two passengers. All of these experiences made for amazing and often hilarious stories. Most importantly though, these were opportunities to trust God in new ways that we couldn’t have even imagined before. Everything was truly out of our control and we had to rely on Him in the most basic of situations. We set out with the mandate to run a week long day camp for the 75 children who live at DUF, focusing on outdoor education. The area around Manali where they live, as well as the region of Ladakh where many of

(Kamli & Anjali getting ready for rappelling) We gave some of the younger kids a first chance to try these things out. Team leader Michelle Contant, who was on her third visit to DUF, commented often on how much they all had changed in the past year and how many of them were able to rappel that had been afraid to do it last year. During indoor time (guess what? It rains in India!), we focused on the parable of the mustard seed as well as expressing your faith through worship, the arts and creativity. The kids were pumped to learn awesome hip-hop dance moves from team member Kim Stevenson, a professional dancer and dance instructor in Vancouver. That was a highlight for all of them and for the team too, as she taught us a dance, which we performed (poorly) at our big farewell party.

(Natasha with Dolkar, Reena, Anmo, Tsomo and Ankita) What I wasn’t prepared for was the way that we were welcomed and accepted as family as soon as we entered the gates of DUF. From the tiniest children right to every last staff member, they were so excited that we had come all the way from Vancouver to hang out with them. They seemed deeply blessed and encouraged by our mere presence. They loved when we talked about the former team members that we know and they sent back many cards and letters for them. They don’t forget anyone and they pray for their Canadian family daily.

(Team leader Michelle helping Dechen rappel) Thank you for partnering with Child of Mine. Your prayers and your dollars are making a difference in the lives of these kids, a big difference.