Apr 11
19
To Save the Life of a Child
In previous posts I mentioned my great concern for the children of India. Millions of children in that country are at risk of starvation, disease, malnutrition and abuse. Their circumstances are truly dire. But, during my travels I have discovered that there is something else going on that I feel is even worse: In some places in India, if a newborn child is a girl she is at great risk of being murdered, just because she didn’t turn out to be a boy.
This is really difficult for me to think about and I just want to DO something about it. But being more than 7000 miles away from the villages where this is happening means I can’t just show up and threaten those who would commit this crime with “calling the cops on them” (some of these villagers are remote enough they may never even have seen a cop).
So, ever since I found out about it I have been praying for India’s infant daughters. After about 2 years of praying, God revealed to me a couple in Chennai that has a ministry dedicated to putting an end to their murders. Russal and Kumari Raj had already rescued 9 baby girls since they began their work in 2006 (it turns out it’s not easy to rescue the girls because of superstition, etc. Sometimes even money doesn’t talk). After some correspondence with them I felt that they were kindred spirits in valuing the lives of these precious children, and my wife, Sharon, and I made plans to visit them. We had a wonderful 6-day visit with them in early 2010 during which Russal told us how God showed them that they should begin their ministry. When our visit was over we came away assured that Russal and Kumari absolutely cherished their little girls, and we could see these children were truly thriving in such a loving environment.
The Female Infant Refuge, as Russal and Kumari call their home, currently cares for 10 little girls (they rescued one more just after we returned home). It is a non-profit organization registered as the Destitutes Charitable Trust. By its very nature, this ministry can be very expensive. The cost to feed, clothe, shelter and educate all these girls is very high. Not to mention medical costs. Sometimes, before they are able to get to a girl to rescue her, she may have already been physically abused and need to be taken to a doctor or hospital. There is also the expense of complying with all the government regulations associated with the Trust.
The Female Infant Refuge gets by almost entirely on charitable donations. So, of course, they never know from month to month how much they will receive. But Russal and Kumari are strong believers. They believe since God told them to begin this ministry, He also will see that they are provided for.
I believe that’s where fellow Christians come in. If we expect to please God we need to learn to live by Biblical principles. In Jeremiah 22:15-17 God is speaking, “…Did not your father have food and drink? He did what was right and just, so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is this not what it means to know me?” declares the Lord (NIV).
So I ask you to please pray for this ministry. Please pray for the children they are caring for. Please pray for all the other baby girls that need to be rescued, and for those who will still die because they cannot be rescued. And please pray and consider making a donation to the Female Infant Refuge. There are literally thousands of little girls in India who will die if someone is not there to stand up for them and rescue them. You can join me in being a part of that rescue effort. You can go to the Female Infant Refuge web site at www.girlbabyhome.com to read more about their ministry and see lots of pictures of the baby girls they have rescued. While there you can also make an online donation which will be greatly appreciated.
If you are not a Christian I am reaching out to you also. I know that you do not have to be a Christian to have a kind heart and have great concern for the needy. Please also go to their web site and let your heart be moved. Then decide whether, or not, to be a help to them.
Thank you for your generous heart.
Mike
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