OPERATION COMPASSION
Although we have been supplying help for indigent widowed sisters in
India for about twenty years the increase in the number of conversions
and congregations in recent years has brought a surge in the number of
those who need our assistance; it is extremely difficult for an American
to realize their poverty. However, we continue to require, except
in extreme cases, that a widow who is baptized wait from 18 to 24 months
before she receives help. Our first reason for this is that we do
not want them to be baptized for the sake of material things (loaves and
fishes, John 6:26). Another reason is that the government has a
law, and rightly so, against people being enticed to change their
religion.
The effort we have dubbed “Operation Compassion” was started one year
ago and during 2009 forty-five widows received goats at a cost of
$9,300.00, seven received cows ($2,673.91), and three chose to operate
small (petty) shops ($500.13). The brothers, Peter Wilson and Murgesan,
who buy and deliver the goats and cows must travel all over the state.
To do this they take the small diesel truck that we bought in 2005; the
year following the Tsunami. The cost for diesel, lodging, food,
etc., for them came to $521.57. Thus the initial outlay for the primary
cost to help these 55 sisters and their 50 children was $12,995.61.
The Indian government provides a widow a pension of $4 a month; after
she receives goats (or a cow) from us we provide her another $10.87 a
month, plus $2.17 for each child until she can develop her flock.
This support, which is sent to the ladies monthly by money order from
Dindigul continues for 18 to 24 months, is extremely crucial.
Although small it amounts to as much or more than she can earn working
in the field when she can get such. If the sister receives a cow
our help lasts for three to six months. This shorter time for
assistance for those who receive cows is due to the fact that the sister
can quickly begin to sell milk.
On average there were 56 widows who received this assistance at an
average cost of $757 per month or a total of $9,855 for the year.
Thus the total amount spent on widows in 2009 was ($12,996 plus $9,855)
$22,851. There was a total of $28,855.61 raised to provide help
for the widows and their children. This means we have $6,004.61
with which to help widows in the New Year.
OPERATION COMPASSION 2010
The name of the sister above is Raja-Mal, she has no children, her
husband died of AIDS and left her with HIV. The thatched hut behind her
is not a house for her goats, but is her home. The building in the
picture is a community hall. .
“Operation Compassion” has proved itself to be a wonderful blessing due
to the fact that 171 churches and individuals across America got
involved. Obviously a blessing to those who received the goats or
cows, but an even greater blessing for those who gave; especially the
young people for they will remember it always and hopefully be more
involved in building up the kingdom of our God all their lives.
While I was in India I reviewed about 102 new applications from widows
asking for help. This I did with the assistance of the two Tamil
gospel preachers who make the purchases of goats and cows, Peter
and Murgesan. From those we selected 84 that are truly needy;
among these widowed sisters there are 77 fatherless children (James
1:27).
Their cumulative needs are 339 goats ($13,560), 16 cows ($6,240) plus
requests for other kinds of help, like electrical connection, small
capital to sell vegetables and medical needs. Due to inflation and
the greater demand for goat meat (Hindus don’t eat cows) the price of a
goat has gone up to $40 a head. Cows are running $390 each.
I hope that you will want to get your young people involved. At
your request Laura will send all a copy of our new widows’ poster for
the classroom; please let us know. If you get your class involved
let the young people present their gift to the church for the members to
see what the youth are doing, and Christ will be glorified in the church
(Eph. 3:21). Some will remember the young widow Sapna in Shillong
and her five children. There are two other needy families in the same
area, one a young widow with four children. The other family of
six lost both parents in 2009. We are providing 50 kg (110 lbs) of rice
each month and other needed items as they are helped to help themselves.
Thanks to those who gave for this need.