Spring is here!

Our temperature has been lower than in Alabama and Georgia.  We cannot complain even with low mornings in the 50's and afternoons in the 70's.   There has been a strong breeze with blue skies but not  even a single cloud.   Everyone loves this time of the year in Florida before the hot summer and the hurricane season arrives.

I was able to transition from the protective boot to a supportive shoe for my foot that was injured 9 weeks ago.  It still does not feel quite right but I will be cautious for a while long and not use it unnecessarily.  It needs some time to stretch and return to normal, but I think it will be okay.

Ron and I celebrated our 68th wedding anniversary last Saturday.    Leigh Ann went with us to a seafood restaurant in Tarpon Springs, a seaside town about 10 miles north of Dunedin.   It was a beautiful day and we walked a few blocks after lunch to enjoy a special ice cream treat.  I told Ron we have to hang in 2 more years to reach the 70th.   Sounds like a good goal for a milestone year.

Two of our girls in a safe house in Nepal were baptized a couple of weeks ago.  As soon as I get more information about them, I will post their pictures.   We are pleased that the 320 + girls in our care in Nepal, Laos, Thailand and the Philippines are being taught the Bible and many of them are accepting Christ as their savior.    They come from backgrounds of Hindu, Buddhist, Catholic and "ghost religions" that are traditional in rural Laos.   I think the backward worship of some tribals is a family tradition without it being a taught religion.  You can imagine having known only these teaching in your youth and how hard it might be to accept the Bible as God's true word.    We are proud of each heart that turns from a pagan upbringing to belief in the Word of God.

Ron changed doctors because the Neurologist we have been seeing is in St. Pete.   It is getting to be more traffic and a longer drive than we want for the future.    The new doctor is like an old-fashioned family doctor.   He knows a lot about Parkinson's Disease and spends time with a patient explaining and answering questions.   I wonder if he actually has Parkinson's Disease himself.   He is old and slow but as long as he is in practice, we will see how well Ron can work with him for medical care.

Ronald and Gigi are leaving the U.S. next week to return to their orphanage in the Philippines.  The school term changed and the children have summer vacation earlier this year.   The same group of Christians from Greenville,  TX are traveling to conduct a VBS for them the last of May.   Ronald and Gigi will be busy with activities for the children but when they return to school again, they will come back to the U.S. to give progress reports to their supporters and to our SAS supporters and sponsors also.   This two-month trip they are winding down was planned for Ronald's surgery and time of rest.  At an orphanage, the work is 24/7 and there are no breaks so they really needed some R & R.   They still kept in touch with their workers every day handling problems. in addition to preparing the newsletter and planning a schedule of activities for the children's summer vacation.    

We hope everyone has a good spring and summer and stays in good health.   We are always thankful for our good days and pray for the well-being of our family members, friends and co-workers in Christ's kingdom.  

May God bless you and be with you in coming days.

From Rejection to Redemption:

The Unbreakable Story of Ganga Praja - Nepal 

Ganga Praja’s life began with rejection even before she was born.  

While she was still in her mother’s womb, her mother married another man. Ganga’s biological father had refused to marry her mother and had already abandoned them. When the new husband discovered that the child in her womb was not his, he became deeply unhappy. The couple even decided to end the pregnancy through abortion, but it was already too late.

After Ganga was born, the situation became even more heartbreaking. Both her mother and the man she married reportedly tried to bury the newborn baby alive. What stopped them that day, no one knows. But somehow, the tiny life of Ganga was spared.

Even though she survived, she grew up in a home without love. The man who raised her never accepted her as his daughter and never showed her any affection or care.

When Ganga was only four years old, a tragic accident happened because of her mother’s carelessness. She was badly burned. The burns affected several parts of her small body—her ear, stomach, head, and hand. Even today, the scars remain as silent witnesses of the pain she endured as a child.

Life became even more difficult when Ganga turned eight years old. The man who raised her sold her to a wealthy family to work as a house servant. Instead of receiving kindness, she was treated harshly. She was forced to do heavy work far beyond what a child should do. She even had to wash the undergarments of the house owner.

If she made even the smallest mistake, she was punished severely. Sometimes she was forced to sleep outside the house at night. For a young child, those days were filled with fear, exhaustion, and loneliness.

After enduring this suffering for about a year, Ganga gathered the courage to escape. She ran away and returned to her own home, hoping perhaps to find comfort or protection. But sadly, she still did not receive love or mercy from her family.

Instead, she was sent to care for the family’s livestock. When she asked for food because she was hungry, her mother responded cruelly. On one occasion, her mother even put tobacco into her mouth instead of giving her food.

Feeling completely rejected and unwanted, Ganga ran away once again.

During this difficult time, she met a man named Mahindra Chaudhary who showed her some kindness. He allowed her to stay in his home, gave her food, and helped her attend school. For the first time in her life, Ganga experienced a small glimpse of care.

However, Mahindra’s wife treated her harshly. Despite the difficulties, Ganga continued her studies and managed to complete Grade 5. One day, when she accidentally broke a glass, she was beaten badly. The daily mistreatment became unbearable. Eventually, she called her brother and returned home again.

She then stayed with her brother and his family, but even there the environment was not peaceful or supportive.

Later, she went to Kathmandu with a relative who promised to care for her. Unfortunately, that promise was not kept. Instead of helping her, the relative placed her as a servant in another house.

At first, the family treated her kindly, but over time the situation changed. She was forced to work very hard, given little food, and often abused. One day, the house owner even tried to behave inappropriately toward her. Terrified and determined to protect herself, Ganga ran away once again. 

This time she stayed with a friend of her mother for some time. During that period, she came across an awareness program organized by the SAS team. That moment would become a turning point in her life.

Through this program, Ganga came to stay at the BIG Safe House in Narayangarh. For the first time in her life, she began to experience safety, care, and hope.

With the help of the SAS team and the love of her sponsor, Ganga’s life slowly began to change. She received proper food, clothing, and education. As she started eating regularly and living in a healthy environment, her body also began to recover and become stronger.

Ganga received tailoring training under the guidance of Mira Khati, with direction from Lokendra and Ranjit. She learned diligently and worked very hard to build a better future.

During this time, Ganga also made an important spiritual decision. She was baptized for the remission of her sins and became a faithful believer. She never missed Sunday worship and continued to grow in her faith.  

After completing her training, she was provided with sewing machines so she could begin her own small business. This opportunity changed her life. Sister Carole Booker encouraged her greatly and even visited her shop in her village to support her.   

A few years later, Ganga got married and was blessed with a daughter. However, life again brought some difficulties. Her business faced financial struggles, and she went through a very hard period.

In that difficult time, she reached out to Sister Pat for help. Seeing her sincerity and determination, Brother Ron and Sister Pat decided to support her again. They helped her with new fabrics and resources to restart and expand her business

With perseverance and renewed support, Ganga’s business began to grow successfully. She eventually opened her own shop in the local market called Bandara Bazar.

Today, Ganga Praja is doing very well. She runs her own business and provides for her family. Her daughter now studies in a boarding school, and Ganga is able to give her child the opportunities she never had.  

Looking back on her life, Ganga is deeply thankful. She expresses her heartfelt gratitude to the SAS team, Sister Pat, Brother Ron, and especially her sponsor who supported her during her darkest days.

From a child who was rejected, abused, and forgotten, Ganga Praja has become a woman of strength, faith, and hope. Her story is a powerful reminder that even the most broken beginnings can be transformed when compassion, support, and faith come together.

                      By: Sagar Khati, Director of SAS safe houses in Nepal