News from BethaNia • sPriNG/sUmmer 2013bethaniakids.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Seeds... · News from BethaNia • sPriNG/sUmmer 2013 Special Edition: Featuring the Girls of

News from BethaNia • sPriNG/sUmmer 2013

Special Edition: Featuring the Girls of Nagercoil

A Heart of GraceProfiles in CourageMinistry Snapshot

Fun Facts

Profiles in Courage

2 bethaniakids.org/sponsor-a-child 800.993.5179

Esther Thanka Rani Yobbu(meaning: Star) Birth Date: 08/13/2001Admission Date: 09/2007Education: 6th GradeHealth: GoodReligion: ChristianLanguage: TamilFamily Background: Esther is from Madurai, a large city in southern

India. Her father and mother are both blind. Esther has one brother. Due to poverty, she joined our Bethania Kids Girls Home in Nagercoil.Prayer Requests: Please pray that although Esther’s parents are blind, they can rest in the knowledge that their daughter has come to faith in Christ and rejoice in the hope of seeing the Lord in glory one day, face-to-face.

Raja Rajeshwari Subburaj(meaning: Queen of kings)Birth Date: 9/13/2001Admission Date: 06/2009Education: 6th GradeHealth: GoodReligion: HinduLanguage: TamilFamily Background: Raja’s father committed suicide, unable to

bear the pressure from his two wives. After his passing, Raja’s mother began to work as a laborer in a brick factory. Unable to meet the needs of her children, her mother placed Raja at our Bethania Kids Girls Home.Prayer Requests: Please pray that the Lord would grant Raja, her brother, and mother the grace to persevere through tragedy and come to a saving faith and everlasting hope in Christ.

Freeda Jasmine Francis(meaning: One who is peaceful)Birth Date: 03/24/2000Admission Date: 06/2009Education: 7th GradeHealth: Poor (She suffers frequently with cough and cold)Religion: ChristianLanguage: TamilFamily Background: Freeda’s

father died from cancer when she was in the 3rd grade. Her mother is a day laborer and unable to financially support her family. Since her mother was unable to properly care for her, Freeda was taken to the Bethania Kids Girls Home.Prayer Requests: While we thank Him for her salvation, please pray the Lord would relieve Freeda from her frequent suffering with cough and cold, as well as provide for the financial needs of her mother.

Many stories about orphaned children in India have a tragic beginning, all too often paired with a similar ending. Our Bethania Kids Girls Home in Nagercoil was recently blessed by a remarkable event that challenges the typical narrative.

The Grace Home, as it’s known in Nagercoil, has seen many former residents become self-supportive and successful women. However, of the hundreds of past residents, none has ever repaid the favor in such a manner as this.

Packyia is a special young woman. She grew up in a poor village in southern India. Her mother died from a poisonous snake bite during pregnancy, leaving adolescent Packyia and her sister at the mercy of their alcoholic father. Packyia had no electricity in her home, forcing her to study under the street lights. She was deeply sad given her difficult early years and needed much time to heal.

Upon learning of their plight, Miss Grace Subbiah, founder of the Bethania Kids Girls Home took Packyia and her sister into Bethania’s care. Despite her adverse situation, Packyia had progressed to Tenth Standard in school, akin to senior year in high school. Though she was from a Hindu background, Packyia became a believer in Christ Jesus, was baptized, joined a church congregation, and lived a prayerful life.

A Heart of GraceBY SELVI MONIKA RAJ AND JOHN MEGALE

Packyia

3

Bethania Kids Board of DirectorsRavi Srinivasan, PresidentMark Garrison, Vice PresidentGene Hennig, ChairmanPaul Haecker, TreasurerGar Sydnor, SecretaryTodd HeidelbergerJeanette SchmidtKate Teece, Associate Board Member

Bethania Kids US StaffKathy Henry, [email protected] Megale, Director of [email protected]

Contact UsP.O. Box 2140Winchester, VA 22604

Local: 540.450.2729Toll Free: 800.993.5179

www.bethaniakids.org

Facebookfacebook.com/BethaniaKids

Twitter@BethaniaKids

We Welcome John Megale

In December, we welcomed John Megale as our new Director of Development. John was born and raised

in Winchester, Virginia. He holds degrees from the University of Virginia and Clemson University and joined us after serving as Vice President of a regional business. John desires to see the children in India learn about the love of Christ through our ministry.

By God’s grace, Packyia completed Eleventh and Twelfth Standard, the equivalent of community college, while living in the Bethania Kids Girls Home. She continued her education, taking a loan for tuition and pursuing her B.Sc at a nursing college. Packyia passed her exams and left Bethania’s care with a college degree. She soon found employment in the neighboring state of Kerala and even earned enough wages to support her younger sister, who was also in nursing college by this time.

One Monday morning many years later, in early October 2012, the women who run the Bethania Kids Girls Home received quite a surprise. Now a grown woman, yet with the same air of gentle determination, Packyia appeared unannounced. She wanted to share all that had happened in her life and work in the past years.

To show her gratitude to Bethania Kids, Packyia wrote a check for 400,000 rupees, which is $8,000 or approximately two years of wages for the average Indian. In addition, she bought dresses for the women on staff and, with her husband (as she was now married) prepared a banquet that evening in honor of the children and the staff. She had been greatly blessed by Bethania and desired to return the favor.

As the children become adults, they have been equipped during their time at Bethania Kids to change their world through Jesus’ love. Packyia’s actions are a fulfilment of this vision and serve to inspire all Bethania Kids to be like Seeds on the Wind, impacting India with a heart of grace.

Bethania Kids Ministry Snapshot


Bethania Kids Homes

Angel Boys Home Narendrapuram, Andhra Pradesh Children: 61 Bethel Boys Home Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu Children: 35 Shalom Girls Home Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu Children: 35 Bethania Boys and Girls Home Kannivadi, Tamil Nadu Children: 55 Nagercoil Girls Home Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu Children: 103

Bethania Kids Care Centers

Mabels Care Center Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu Children: 55 Joshua Care Center Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu Children: 30 Nathanael Care Center Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu Children: 55 Deborah Care Center Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu Children: 40 Mahaniam Care Center Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu Children: 35 Orissa Care Center 1 Orissa Children: 50 Orissa Care Center 2 Orissa Children: 50

Bethania After School Centers (ASC)

Joshua ASC Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu Children: 30 Nathaneal ASC Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu Children: 54 Mabels ASC Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu Children: 55 Deborah ASC Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu Children: 41 CSI ASC Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu Children: 54 Mannavanoor ASC Mannavanoor, Tamil Nadu Children: 40

Women Empowerment Programs (WEP)

Poombarai WEP Poombarai, Tamil Nadu Women: 15 Bethania WEP Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu Women: 40

Special Schools

Bethania Special School Poombarai, Tamil Nadu Children: 20

Total

21 Ministries 3 Indian States 953 Children

85 Staff

The inspiration for Bethania Kids was to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with the people of India. Although our roots in India date to the late 1950s, Bethania Kids was formally founded in 1987 and has grown from serving 12 children in one home to serving approximately 1,000 children per year in 21 facilities throughout southern India.

The following is a list of our ministries, their location, and the number of children served.

Andhra Pradesh

India

Tamil Nadu

Rajahmundry

Kannivadi

Kodaikanal

Nagercoil

Profiles in CourageProfiles in Courage

5

Orissa

Vasuhi Santhappan(meaning: Wife of an ancient Tamil poet) Birth Date: 09/15/1999Admission date: 06/2010Education: 8th GradeHealth: GoodReligion: ChristianLanguage: Tamil Family Background: Vasuhi is

from a village called Aralvaimozhli. Her father died when she was only six years old and her mother is a day laborer in a tobacco factory. Due to poverty, Vasuhi was brought to the Bethania Kids Girls Home.Prayer Requests: Please pray that God may bless Vasuhi’s studies and heal her heart from the death of her father. Please pray that her mother may get a better employment opportunity and improve the financial standing of her family.

Beulah Perinba Durai(meaning: Married)Birth date: 11/05/2001 Admission date: 06/2011Education: 6th GradeHealth: ☑Good ☑☑Religion: ChristianLanguage: TamilFamily Background: Beulah’s family is from Bombay. Her

mother was sick for two years and died in 2010 from kidney failure, leaving her father unable to look after her and her sister. Beulah is with the Bethania Kids Girls Home and her sister is at a hostel run by a school. Prayer Requests: Please pray that although Beulah has experienced a difficult childhood, that her faith in the Lord would be strengthened, that her father and sister would be blessed, and that she would succeed in her studies.

Jeeva Jothi Balamurugan (meaning: Light of life) Birth Date: 04/09/1998 Admission date: 06/04/2012Education: 9th Grade Health: ☑Good Religion: Christian Language: TamilFamily background: Jeeva is from a remote Hindu village near Madurai. Girls are not

sent to high school in the village. Jeeva’s parents are very poor. Her father does menial jobs and her mother is very ill. Their family came to know of Jesus recently, when Naga came forward to get baptized and confirmed at church. Her sister, Naga, is also in our Bethania Kids Girls Home.Prayer Requests: We are so grateful that Jeeva has such a strong faith in the Lord and that it has impacted her family. Her request is to please pray for her whole village to know about Jesus!


These charts and graphs paint a picture of the daily life of our girls in Nagercoil. These are more than facts and figures; they’re a pictorial representation of a delicately unique assembly of girls.

While many people sponsor individual children, it’s important to understand the community in which they live. The following charts share their age range, the family situation from which they came, the foods they enjoy eating, their favorite subjects in school, their favorite hobbies outside of school, and ultimately their career goals.

Each girl is a precious soul created by the Lord with unique gifts and talents. While some of them may share similar tastes, each young lady is like a snowflake: God never makes two the same and each is beautiful in their own way.

“ The righteous ones said, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or need-ing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King answered, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

— Matthew 25:37-40

Fun Facts about Our Girls in Nagercoil

Ages

Family Situation

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

16 - 20 Years Old11 - 15 Years Old6 - 10 Years Old

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Separated Parents

Semi Orphan (one parent)

Full Orphan (no parents)

Blind Parents

AuditorBank ManagerDoctorEngineerCivil Service OfficerLawyerJudgeNursePastorPilotPolice OfficerTailorTeacher

BiriyaniChappathiDhosaiChickenIdly and SambarMaggiNoodlesParottaPooriPuttuSoojiRich Dishes

DrawingEatingPlayingReadingSingingSpeakingWatching TVWriting

AccountingBotanyCommerceEnglishMathScienceSocial StudiesTamil

15.7%22.5%

61.8%

23.5%

4.4%20.6%

51.5%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60


0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Separated Parents



Blind Parents





15.7%22.5%

61.8%

23.5%

4.4%20.6%

51.5%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60


0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Separated Parents



Blind Parents





15.7%22.5%

61.8%

23.5%

4.4%20.6%

51.5%

Number of Children

Number of Children

21.8% Math

7

Career Goal Favorite Food

Favorite Subject Favorite Hobby

0

10

20

30

40

50

60


0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Separated Parents



Blind Parents





15.7%22.5%

61.8%

23.5%

4.4%20.6%

51.5%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60


0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Separated Parents



Blind Parents





15.7%22.5%

61.8%

23.5%

4.4%20.6%

51.5%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60


0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Separated Parents



Blind Parents





15.7%22.5%

61.8%

23.5%

4.4%20.6%

51.5%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60


0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Separated Parents



Blind Parents





15.7%22.5%

61.8%

23.5%

4.4%20.6%

51.5%

1.1% Auditor 2.2% Bank Manager 24.7% Doctor 5.6% Engineer 18.0% Civil Service Officer 4.5% Lawyer 1.1% Judge 10.1% Nurse 5.6% Pastor 1.1% Pilot 1.1% Police Officer 1.1% Tailor 23.6% Teacher

5.7% Biriyani 2.3% Chappathi 9.2% Dhosai 4.6% Idly and Sambar 2.3% Maggi 37.9% Parotta 21.8% Poori 5.7% Puttu 2.3% Sooji 8.0% Rice Dishes

2.3% Accounting 4.6% Botany 4.6% Commerce 13.8% English 21.8% Math 19.5% Science 10.3% Social Studies 23.0% Tamil

21.3% Drawing 1.1% Eating 19.1% Playing 48.3% Reading 2.2% Singing 1.1% Speaking 2.2% Watching TV 4.5% Writing

23.6% Teacher 24.7%

Doctor

18.0% Civil Service Officer

21.8% Math19.5%

Science

23.0% Tamil

10.3% Social Studies

13.8% English

21.3% Drawing

19.1% Playing

48.3% Reading

10.1% Nurse

37.9% Parotta

21.8% Poori

9.2% Dhosai

8.0% Rice Dishes


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Bethania Kids is a Christian mission bringing wholeness and hope to poor, abandoned and disabled children in India, equipping them to share God’s love.

We channel 100% of every penny donated into direct ministry for children.

Bethania Kids Administrative OfficesPO Box 2140 • Winchester, VA 22604-1340Phone (800) 993-5179

www.bethaniakids.org

First-Class

Presorted

U.s. Postage

Paid

Permit # 229

ann arbor, mi

address serViCe reQUested

Sponsor A Child

The following levels of support provide the necessities in India. As a sponsor, you’ll receive pictures and updates annually about a child and their community.

$20/month — Food, clothing, shelter, education, and medical care for a child in a daycare center

$50/month —Food, clothing, shelter, education, and medical care for a child in a full-time residence

$60/month — Vocational school for a child, akin to an associate’s degree in the United States

$100/month —College education for a child, akin to a bachelor’s degree in the United States

Would you prayerfully consider sponsoring a child?

bethaniakids.org/sponsor

In Honor of:Austin, Evan, & Dylan AguileraDavid & Sandy AndersonGreg & Andrea AndersonEdith Armbrecht’s 5 ChildrenEdith Armbrecht’s 17 GrandchildrenGretchen & Christopher ArmstrongSusan & Andrew ArmstrongRev & Mrs Charles BeyerRobert & Angie BeyerDr & Mrs Stephen BeyerElaine & Thor BoazJim BraatenJeff & Eva BurnsRichard & Denise BurnsKristin CanterburyMichael & BJ ConnorDorothy & Bill D’ArcyBob & Joyce DamschroderLauren DapeloMarc DiNolaEd & Charlotte DootzJames & Paul DufresneTaylor, Haley, Christian, & Noah EckelMr & Mrs David EhmanAnne Del Campo & Paul EschenburgKermit & Barbara FinstadDarlene FranzRob FreemanBill & LuAnn FreibergJim & Janet FreibergRichard & Sandy FreibergBrittany, Brandy, & Jeremy FryeMel FroliCarol Gallo & CowboyGale, Ricardo, & Gordan GosselinkLori & Kirk Grable (Anniversary)Bob Granner (Birthday)David GrannerJim & Millie GruetznerCarol HaeckerAaron & Kim Hagstad

Bill HagstadBill & Mary Beth HagstadDavid & Angelica HagstadHarry HagstadMandy HagstadMike & Phyllis HagstadJohn & Mickey HardenMadeleine, Olivia, & Millicent HawksGeorge HeldtGlo HennigPolly HennigNathaniel Hess (Birthday)Mr & Mrs Jim HighlandThe Hodges FamilyTony & Amy IannoneViolet JayneIsabelle Maya JenkinsPriya Rose JenkinsKevin & Stacey JenningsKatherine JohannesBarbara JohnsonSarah JonesSusan & Wendy JonesJanea KellyThe Kirwin FamilyMurali KovurFred & Louise KreyeLarry & Martha KriegDennis & Marsha KruseDorothy Marschke’s (5) Brothers &

SistersMarc & Jan McMorrisPeter & Barbara MeierAlan & Ruth MengeBarbara MillerKevin & Laura MorgesterJennifer PackMichael & Seanelle PackDaniel & Linda PilzJan & Anne PitzerJonathan & Bethany RamseCheryl & Mark RobsonDeborah Roe

David & Robin SikorskiM. Frances SmithEmily, Katie, & Henry SoekenBecky (Zorn) StilwellGar & Michelle SydnorBruce & Cindy TaggartAlexia, Nicole, & Nathan TouchstoneTom & Carolyn TysonThe Vance FamilyDonald & Marilyn VothJon & Niki WardnerSam & Lynda WattersRoy & June WeanerReinhard & Bert WittkePastor Jerry & Pam YarnellDr Herbert & Dorothy ZornPaul ZornSteve ZornIn Memory of:Don AndersonDana BartonAnna BeyerRev Dr Robert CarltonEsther DamkoehlerMary Louise EfflandEdith FordGeorge GranzowBob HennigFred HollichRajeshree JayachandranJoshua JeffreysArt KleindienstHank MastCharles McCourtJeevan PaulHarold PollertNathan RawhouserE. James Roth IIHal RothTerry SierpMalinda SteltenpohlBob Storer Betty Swavely-Granner

through April 1, 2013

Documents

News from BethaNia • sPriNG/sUmmer 2013bethaniakids.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Seeds... · News from BethaNia • sPriNG/sUmmer 2013 Special Edition: Featuring the Girls of