"made with love" gifts"

As many of you know my sister’s and I have a business called 
“made with love” by the landowgals.

If you aren’t already familiar with it, we sew and knit many different items and then sell them to raise money for the India Ministry (among other things).

Feel free to click below to check out our blog and get more info on it…

"made with love" blog 

Before we left we worked hard selling our things at different places,

 and because of your overwhelming support, 
over $800 was profited for us to take to India to spend.

Here is how we spent the money…

 Additional plates for the lunch bunch kid’s were purchased 
so they wouldn’t have to eat in shifts…

We bought new special outfits for all the orphans...

OH HAPPY DAY!!!!

Click below to view the children parading around in their new clothes...

marching in the light of God 

We rented auto rickshaws to transport all the travelers and orphans 
for a special outing to the beach…

this was a picture from when we were waiting for a train to move out of the way

We were able to purchase dinner for all the orphans, 
plus Novahu and his extended family 
(57 in all)...

 

Along with “Mail Dude” 
we bought text books and writing materials 
for the students in the night school…

The money needed to buy a generator to supply power to the orphanage when the electricity goes out was given to Novahu to purchase at a later date.

We also purchased a lot of candy prior to the trip for Sophia to hand out during “Sophie’s Sweet Treats”, but she will tell you more about that in a later post.

I just wanted to say “thank you” 
on behalf of my sisters and myself 
for your amazing generosity through the years,

 we would not have been able to do any of this if it weren’t for your support in our 
“made with love” business .

Two other things I’d like to share with you...

  One, is that I totally stepped out of my box and went for a motorcycle ride with Novahu…

Thanks Mr. Schwitz for preparing me for that! :)

The other thing is that I learned how to make Indian Tea with Manjula and Rajinee.

As you must know, I am posting this from home now.

It’s been fun thinking back to the wonderful experience we had in India!

I can’t wait to go back!!!!!!!

Security Guard in training ~ Jo

Back to school with Big Bob...

I'm choosing to focus my post on some of the specifics having to do with the daily classes that are conducted  at the Marshall Public School in India...

As you read in an earlier post by Jenny about our flight issues in Mumbai, it wasn't due to language barriers but rather cultural characteristics that caused us such anxiety...English is clearly the secondary language throughout India and spoken very clearly in the bigger cities.  With that being said, this is why it is such a bonus that English is being taught along with the other subjects at Marshall Public School.

After arriving by foot, bike, auto rickshaw (the one pictured below had 16 kids in it) and the MPS van, the children line up for morning assembly.

They have announcements, sing the national anthem, recite the school pledge, and on the particular  day that we were there they handed out awards for academic excellence. 

The children go to school 6 days a week from 8:30 to 4:00.  

There classroom sizes are not even close to what would be considered acceptable in the U.S., not to mention the amount of children crammed into each one.

But Novahu said that Indian people are accustomed to being in tight quarters like the auto rickshaw they arrived in or their small living spaces; it is their culture, their way of life.

We saw a huge difference in the communication skills of the children from the last time we were in India two years ago.  All due to the education that is being provided through Joyful Journeys Ministry.  For that you should all be proud of what your support is doing!

For those of you that know us, you are aware that we have chosen the path to homeschool our own daughters, but we can truly see that this is the best and possibly the only opportunity for these children to have a better life.  

On that same note, the night school for adults which is also sponsored by JJM has given many people a second chance at an education and hope for a better future.

We were all moved by the testimonies given by a couple of the night school students and how grateful they were to be given this opportunity.  In my opinion, this would certainly be an area worth expanding not only for the good of each individual who attends, but the good of their community.

Thank you for your support, it is really making a difference in the world!

BB