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Short Synopsis of My Experiences Traveling With
Welcome to the Christadelphian Faith Home, the lodging of Brother Andrew and Sister Subha. This young couple, along with their family, has transformed their home into a hostel for children. Currently thirteen adopted children reside with them in addition to their own baby, Nissi, and some other family members. For many of the children here, their guardian is either too ill or too poor to provide any stable care from them. Several have lost mothers or fathers to serious illnesses, such as HIV.
In my own experience, there were days when I felt like nothing was accomplished, and I questioned what I was really doing there. The heat and humidity was exhausting, the food took an adjustment period with guaranteed sickness along the way, the ants and the flies and the mosquitoes everywhere! Not to mention the different standards of hygiene and lack of many western conveniences. And one may wonder if it is worth all the effort. Yet by simply interacting with the children and bringing a smile to their faces, I knew that a difference was made in someone’s life. Even the presence of a visitor from the other side of the world communicates the love of Christ: the very fact that someone would take the initiative to come all that way to play with them and teach them demonstrates God’s work in all our lives. In India, childhood is, for some, a luxury that they cannot afford. Yet in one small area, in no small way, brothers and sisters are working to preserve and nurture this precious time for a number of God's children. While Kadiam presents many challenges to Westerners, for anyone interested in mission work in India, Faith Home is one place where efforts in Christ's name will thrive. (Volunteers to teach at the school in Kadiam and at the home are greatly needed and very much appreciated, to help with English classes, playing with the children and teaching Sunday School.
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Across
the ocean, cradled in the heart of South India, one finds the complex
and vibrant state of Andhra Pradesh. Seven hours east of the state
capital, Hyderabad, accessible by train, rests a large village renowned
for its luscious vegetation and breathtaking flower nurseries. Kadiam,
a melting pot of Hinduism and Christianity, remains fertile soil
for the work of Jesus. Home to over 100 Christadelphians, the week
fills with praise and worship. One family's contributions to their
community here, clearly exemplify the Bible truth of love in action.
Before
coming here, the children resided in poor villages, slum areas or
destitute tribal regions. Some labored at construction sites, and
one little girl even went about her slum selling dried fish to contribute
her family’s income. Malnutrition and open sores affected
their small bodies, and their behavior and manners left much to
be desired. At Faith Home, and through Agape in Action child sponsorship,
all the children receive spiritual and physical nourishment, better
clothes, and access to clean water for washing and drinking. The
morning opens with a daily Bible reading and the evening closes
with family prayer. The main ambition that generates the work here
is to raise the children as loving Christians, who will in turn
grow to serve others in a Christ-like manner.
Sometimes
we think of missionary work as a great preaching expedition where
strong individuals get out on the streets and declare the gospel,
and this daunting task deters us from volunteering in the mission
field. And while this admirable effort holds an essential place
in service for Christ, there exists another fundamental dimension
to witnessing: community outreach. In fact, especially in India,
a lot of the mission work is pure fellowship: individuals connecting
with their fellow believers through listening, sharing, nursing,
teaching, playing, communicating, assisting. Anyone of any age and
with any particular skill or talent can find something to do in
one of the above categories. 
