I want to share a joyful story that happened during our November 2015 trip.
During the 2008 riots in Kandhaml (state of Orissa), my hometown Muklinga was also a victim. This village is surrounded by mountains and connected with 5 other villages, where everybody lived with and helped each other.
As we enjoy (or endure!) the cold winter months here in the USA, we write to share with you some things that have been happening in a much warmer place across the globe. GPMO continues to serve in rural Orissa, India, where our main focus is to support the orphanage at Nanda, and the 140 children and staff who reside there. We also support many pastors at small “tribal” churches, a community of aging lepers and their families, and medical and educational initiatives in remote tribal communities.
There are some great things happening in the little corner of Orissa that GPMO serves, and we want to share them with you in this mid-year report.
In the last update, we mentioned the great need for ongoing, basic health care for the children and staff at Nanda. Here in the United States, we have ready access to medical care that is scarce or too expensive in rural India. We take for granted that our children will be vaccinated or that many diseases have largely been eradicated here. This is not true in India. Malaria is a constant danger, but can be cured if detected early and treated with the proper medication. The children live with chronic infections and other ailments that may not be life-threatening, but do sap their strength and health. Regular check-ups are essential to help detect major medical issues before they threaten the long-term health of the children.
