Pastor Ratnam writes –

Eight years ago we set up an orphanage in Vellatur, which is seven hours from Hyderabad by train. At the orphanage we help children abandoned by their parents or who have lost one or both of their parents. An ultimate goal for the Good Samaritan Orphanage is to gather 500 helpless and unwanted children. The orphans come from slums, leper colonies, poor families and tribal villages. They come from the streets, often rejected by their families and society and left to beg for the very necessities of life. In India about 40% of the population suffers because of starvation. They come to us for shelter, clothing, food, education, and the Gospel message. Our main goal is to help and educate poor and needy children.

Christopher Evans Writes –

The goal is to take in homeless children, give them a good education and send them on their way in life with a loving family behind them

I have recently returned from the Mission for the Rural People Orphanage, Vellatur, India, established by Pastor Ratnam. His mission is to welcome and house 500 children to his orphanage in rural Guntur district. The orphanage is situated in the poor rural south of India where the average daily salary is just over £1.00 per day. It is no exaggeration to say that it is like stepping back into medieval times when you first arrive at Vellatur - sandy roads, bicycles and carts, conservative values.

            However as soon as I stepped into the orphanage I knew I had arrived at a special place. Ratnam and his wife started 8 years ago - taking 3 homeless children off the streets into their newly formed family home. Today they have 60 children and it is a great testament to Ratnam and his wife when I say that they have created a 'family'. By that I mean a family with love. I don't have children yet but I can't imagine it is easy being the head of a family. Imagine what it is like to have 60 children!

The atmosphere of love and warmth in the orphanage is overwhelmingly apparent. I anticipated an 'Oliver Twist' environment but the reality couldn’t be further from the truth.

            I spent 3 great weeks at the orphanage getting involved in all sorts of projects from taking my daily English class to playing cricket with the children. The orphanage is a place where you can work every hour of the day or simply chill and relax. Ratnam and his wonderful wife Suneetha will be sure to welcome any guest with fine hospitality and even finer food! They will welcome anybody from any country, nationality or religion. It really is a humanitarian environment of love and care.

            The children are aged between 2 and 19. A large majority of them lost their parents to the AIDS epidemic and others were thrown out unwanted and unloved. Ratnam’s goal is to take them in, give them a good education and send them on their way in life with a loving family behind them. It is my aim to help Ratnam in any way I can. I am looking for UK volunteers to visit the orphanage to help. If you are interested in going to Vellatur for the experience of a life time please get into contact for more information.

To contact the orphanage e-mail: missionfortheruralpeopleindia@gmail.com

To contact Chris Evans please send an e-mail message to the Bulletin at p.limbrick@virgin.net

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