In India, we were surrounded by children looking to see what we were all about, wanting to tell us about themselves, waiting to see what we had for them and excited to have our company.   Our children in India are well taken care of by an incredibly dedicated couple and the staff that surround them.  We cannot describe in words how committed, and determined the staff are to provide the best care possible to 26 very needy children.  With your support and their hard work, the fruits of their labour is very evident in the children.  Three more of our older children have joined vocational training courses which will enable them to have jobs/careers and become self-sufficient.  One is doing computer science, another electrician’s training and the third secretarial training.  All of the other children have successfully moved on to the next grade.  Our youngest child had just began school in the English medium.  When this child was dropped off at six months of age, no one expected her to live.

As we arrived in Sri Lanka, we made our track up the mountains to Central Sri Lanka to visit the children of the 8 families that we support.  At first glance you are taken aback by the breath taking scenery but the rain showed us a very different side to life in this region.  The drive up and down the mountains on narrow and windy roads was treacherous and where the van could not go, we had to hike to and from the very small homes.  Some of the homes were leaking water from the ceiling while in other homes we saw the water soak up the mud walls.  No electricity in some homes and in rain like that no livelihood either.  What to us seemed unbearable and hopeless!

The children in this region need to make an incredible journey just to get to and from school, studying under lamp light, fathers unsure of where their next meal was coming from, and mothers trying to nurse fevers and asthmatic conditions.  These are but a few of the problems.   We were overwhelmed by what we saw and heard.  So what is the money that we send doing you ask?  For our children who are sponsored it means they don’t have to walk the miles on end to school, for our children it means books, uniforms, stationary,  school fees and maybe some extra lessons and yes, for our children most times food each day.  Education is their way out and our sponsors are providing that for their children.  These families all said one thing to us and that was Thank you.  Thank you for making a difference that you cannot even understand in the lives of their children.  These children get to dream and hope because with their education they can strive to come out of the cycle of poverty that they are in.  Thank you because these fathers who are Pastors can focus on their ministry and not worry as much about their circumstances.  You helped lighten their load and for that they are ever so grateful.

Part of our goal was to see how we could create self-employment opportunities, what skills were need, what would work in the Central part of Sri Lanka,  who would be the right candidates from among the families we already assisted and the members of their congregations as a starting point..  What it costs to live there and what life entails.  We are happy to report that we have found some good projects and people to partner them with and we will continue to strive to help these families become self-reliant and in turn bless someone else in need.

As the war in Sri Lanka is over and rebuilding of lives, communities, towns and cities is taking place earnestly, we wanted to be apart of it.  We will be teaming up with Assemblies of God Ministries in Sri Lanka in helping build homes in a city called Wanni in Northern Sri Lanka.  This will be one of our goals at our fundraising event this fall.

Do continue to uphold these children, families and their communities in your prayers.  If you would like to support any RoHI projects, please contact us.  Thank you again for your support.

The image of her is ingrained in my mind.  She must have been around 9 years old.  She was on her knees in front of me as I walked along the streets of Kampala.  Her legs were so thin I was surprised they could hold her body weight.  As I came closer she lifted her torso higher and stretched out her right hand towards the sky.  Her eyes were closed.  Her lips were chapped from the sun.  Her face looked gaunt… hungry.  Her hand was cupped ready to receive money, food, anything.   People walked past without a glance in her direction.  Finally, a coin was dropped in her hand.  Immediately, I saw (what I assume to be her mother) snatch the coin from her hand.  I realized that this young girl was not begging on the street with her own free will.  She was being forced.  She was a source of income for her family.  This was her way of life.   It broke me to think of how she was missing her childhood.  No school, no friends to play with.  She had to work.  I thought of myself at her age… at school, running outside with my friends, dreaming of my future.  Then I thought of her mother.   How could a mother do this to her child?  How could she force her daughter to beg?  Why didn’t she just get a job herself?  I don’t think any mother would want this life for their child.  This was the only way for their survival.

“Children are at risk of pedaling on the streets.  Young girls are at risk of being manipulated by men if they do not have hygiene products.”  Zion, the school administrator at New Creation School in Kampala told me this past February.  “Being manipulated” means that young girls are at risk of prostitution.   I can’t imagine selling my body for a bar of soap.   If a child looks “dirty” or “unkept” they become a target for predators.

31% of Ugandans live on less than $1 per day.  Children often become a source of income for the family.  Pan-handling or selling goods on the streets are a way of survival for families in Kampala.  I witnessed many children “laboring” for their families.

Last October donors of RoHI raised funds for hygiene products for children from New Creation School.  Many of the children from the school are Sudanese refugees or from the northern region of Uganda, specifically Gulu.  Kampala has become a place of refuge for those affected by war.  From 1986 to 2005, the Lord’s Resistance Army terrorized Northern Uganda. Many Ugandans fled the northern region to Kampala in desperation for safety.

Unfortunately, for many children Kampala can be a challenging place to survive. Children can become targets for sexual exploitation and labor. I was greatly encouraged by Zion’s deep concern for the students and their well-being. It was her idea to provide supplies for the students in order to protect them from predators and temptations. By providing various hygiene products, blankets and a daily feeding program, students are “equipped” and will not need to look elsewhere for money to purchase these products or for food. Families have some ease in knowing their children are being cared for.  I was also pleased to hear that the students are encouraged to become strong in their self worth and identity in Christ through the school curriculum and counseling programs.

Thanks to the donors of RoHI we were able to distribute the following to the children at New Creation School:

• 85 Blankets
• 360 Tubes of Toothpaste
• 156 Bars of Bathing Soap
• 171 Containers of Vaseline
• 24 Packages of Hygiene Pads
• 100 Toothbrushes
• 150 Pairs of Girls Underwear
• 100 Pairs of Boys Underwear
• 15 Half Slips for older girls

While for many of us here in Canada these items seem meager.  To many children and families in Uganda these items are indispensable.  By providing these items we are keeping children in school and not on the streets.

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Thank you for you generous support!

*ROHI has also built a water catchment for children at a school in Uganda.  The students had to walk up to 4km to collect water.  Can you imagine having to walk that far for a glass of water?

As we sit to write another newsletter, reflecting on all that has happened over the past year, we cannot but think about our children in India and Sri Lanka, wondering what they must be doing right now? We could probably answer this question. But what about the children still sitting on a dirty street corner, standing at a hospital bed, beside an ailing parent or the child who looks out his window watching another child walk to school in his crisp white uniform, bag on his back and books in hand, longing to be able to go to school too! Yes, the burden is heavy but the task is not impossible. We can and have made a difference, one child at a time.

In the past year, at our Home in India, we had one child who suffered from illness and therefore missed a whole year of school. We also had several children leave us and we’ve had a few new children as well. June marks the beginning of a new school year for our children and for the first time in RoHI’s history, we will have a child attend University. Not to mention that our youngest child is on her way to Pre-school. The rest of the our children will keep plugging away in the next grade.

In Sri Lanka, our children live in the central part of Sri Lanka and are therefore not effected by the troubles in the North. They too are studying hard and doing well.

Our children are the fortunate ones. They have sponsors who have given them a leg up in life and there are many more children awaiting the same kind of help. It is our goal in the coming year to help many more children in Sri Lanka, India and around the world.

Please continue to uphold the children, their caregivers and families in your prayers, spread the word to your family and friends about the good work that is happening and bring them on board. We at Rock of Hope International cannot do this without you.

With warm regards,
Joshua and Vivienne Samuel

I am Pastor Lourduswami, writing with thankfulness on behalf of Hebron Young Children’s Hostel to Pastor Peter, members of the “Church on the Rock”, committee members, sponsors and all others who are helping us. May the Heavenly Father bless and make you, your families and congregation prosper because of our trust in Jesus Christ and the help you are giving the young children at the Hebron Hostel.

The congregation, the children and I are praying for you without ceasing. Here, there are 25 children in good health. The children wake up at 5AM, small children wake up at 5.30 AM and study. Morning prayers at 6.30 AM.-7.30 AM, after a bath and breakfast they go to school. The big children return at 7.30 PM after tuition classes. The other children return at 4.30 PM. These children have snacks, play, spend some time with other activities and after completion of prayers at 7.30 PM, have dinner at 8.30PM. They go to bed at 9.10 PM after thank you prayer and wishing good night.

The two month old baby we received in February 2007 is in good health.

It is cold and there will be plenty of rain till February. The half yearly exams will be held from December 10th to the 20th. December 22nd to January 1st – holidays. Children are studying well.

Those who work here, the congregation, the children and my wife and I are praying for all of you. Because of your help these children are in good health. Every child thinks of you all and thank God. These children wish to study well and enter Teacher training School, Bible College, Nursing School or Engineering College. We lovingly request you to uphold them in prayer so that they will be blessed by God and your help.

Once again we would like to thank our sponsors for their continued dedication and commitment to the children of Rock of Hope International.

In the past year, we were able to find sponsors for each of the six children in Sri Lanka and for several of our children in India. The number of children in India has also increased from 16 to 25. One of these children was brought to the home when she was seven months old by her grandmother on the passing of her mother and the remarriage of the father. Another girl, fifteen, was brought to the home by her grandmother in fear that her stepmother would poison her as she had attempted to do so in the past. These are just a couple of the stories and there are many more. However, there is good news. These 25 are the fortunate ones. In fact, one of the young boys in his letter to his sponsor notes that although he had never had biological parents to care for him, he has not missed them because of the love and care given to him. This reminds us of Psalm 27, verse 10 “Although my father and my mother have forsaken me, yet the Lord will take me up (adopt me as His Child)” (Amplified version). Although abandoned by his biological family as an infant, this young boy has been shown the unconditional love of Jesus Christ by Pastor and Mrs. Lourduswami and the staff of Hebron Children’s Home.

We have also had a couple of our older girls learn the trade of sewing and another has just graduated from a post-secondary theological course and has started another post-secondary program in theology. She is our first child to remain at the Home and attend Post-Secondary School.

We look to sponsor the remaining children in India and to add more children both in India and Sri Lanka over the next months and years.

Please continue to uphold the children in your prayers, spread the word to your family and friends about the good work that is happening and bring them on board.
Yours in Christ,
Joshua and Vivienne Samuel

First of all let me thank the sponsors for their continuous sacrificial giving to help these needy children. Especially I wish to thank Pastor Peter for making this a reality, also Joshua and Vivienne for co-coordinating this aid program.

As I look back a year ago and review the progress of these children, I thank God for the tremendous improvement in the living standards and conditions of these children and their families. Specifically, I can see a vast improvement in their health and in their education. They are physically more fit and mentally alert to live a normal day to day life without being worried about the financial strain.

We had 2 special programs for the children and they proved themselves in showing their talents in song, music and dance. And also, they had a special Bible class to learn more about God’s word and His teaching.

Also a special program has been arranged on the 15th of December. It’s a Christmas musical evening conducted by the children. We are expecting more than 200 people to attend this concert.

I once again thank the sponsors for their generosity and may God bless all of them as they continue to help these needy children in the coming year too. And also, I pray that God will raise up more sponsors to help more children in Sri Lanka as we keep identifying more needy ones who really lead very miserable lives. But what amazes me is the smile and the zeal they show for their God in spite of…..!

We are doing all what we can which is somewhat limited. This gives me cause to praise God who has put a great burden in your hearts to care for these kids. I pray that God will bless you a hundred fold in the coming year.

Yours in His Service,
Dilan Lamb