SMALL THINGS, DONE IN GREAT LOVE, BRING JOY AND PEACE    

What Franciscan Family Apostolate meant for the mission of South East Region of Andhra Pradesh is difficult to verbalize. As I just recall how the miracles of love transferred the life of  Arika Gangamma who resides at Chintamanagudu, Gopalapuram. She belongs to Savara Tribal tribe and lost her husband all of a sudden with four kids last aged 4 months.  

All I experienced in my first visits was that she was an incapable illiterate woman who never moved from her mountain where she resides. Now I understand that she became a women leader of her village; she manages bank business; she sends her children to school. She is aware of many of her rights and how and where to go about and get her needs to met. She raises animals and manages  field work in association with the villagers.  

How and when this transformation took place I really do not know. It was decided by the Franciscan Family Apostolate in collaboration with the Canossian sisters to assist a family for three years and help the family to reach the goal of self reliance. The Apostolate provided $ 75 per quarter for three years and an asset to work with to earn better livelihoods. We are asked to guide and motivate the family, above all to follow them with their speed to capture their heart to free them from the clutches of ignorance and superstitions which are their guiding forces. Being animists they believe in the supernatural powers and in the spirits of the dead. Persevering under the love of the Canossian sisters, mingled with the generous heart of her sponsor from the Apostolate, Gangamma found meaning in life and illumined her mind that if she cooperate with the scheme she too can become someone in the society.   

Vasantha and her brother Santhosh were first enrolled in the Montfort Brothers Tribal welfare residential school.  Santhosh, who is a victim of sickilcell anemia, had to leave his education there after a year, being often need to be hospitalized due to his ill health. Both of Gangamma's sons are victims of sickle cell anemia which is hereditary but her girls are healthy and ambitious. Now three of Gangamma's children are going to the village school and her 2nd daughter is doing her studies in Montfort residential school.  

Because of the generous heart of her sponsor, in collaborations with the partial assistance from Tribal housing government scheme, Gangamma succeeded to built a decent house of her own. A portion of her house she floored in beautiful tiles; she made a small little garden on the roof of her concrete house. It is to be wondered, among the many houses sanctioned to build, only her house is completed.  I visited the family in an unexpected moment and found house is kept clean and tidy.  

Following a family with specific vision to free them from the clutches of misery and lead them to self reliance, unknowingly, we imparted them ambition to grow and stand on their feet. Now all Gangamma's children are going to school. She learned to write her name and set her nature and knows to manage her family. Isn't it great?

All things are becoming possible because of the joint effort of the Franciscan Family Apostolate in holding hands with the Canossian sisters in collaboration with generous heart of the sponsors. It is vividly clear that money alone cannot change a poor person but without money we can never assist a family to reach the goal of such transformation. Gangamma was sponsored by 2008 Jan to 2010 December by Debra Rohr. How, with the Apostolate daringly giving a helping hand to the down trodden families who are exploited by various ways, families come forward in the society in more human way is to be marveled.  

In every age O Lord, You have been our refuge. Ps 90

We have sponsored more families in the first five months of 2012 than in all of 2011! Our goal for 2012 to use the web to reach out to new sponsors and keep in touch with our current community is working. Please continue to share news of the FFA with  your friends and family.  

Website:

Check each month for the news, photographs, and the latest on FFA projects and families in need. Please consider sending a link to your friends and family online.

Facebook:

If you are on Facebook, you can find our page simply by searching for Franciscan Family Apostolate. Remember to 'like' the page and make it one of your favorites so we can keep you updated on the latest FFA news.

Seeds of Love:

Consider sending a Seeds of Love gift in any denomination for a birthday, wedding, anniversary, or special event. Recipients receive a beautiful card detailing how the gift will be used. This program generates donations and awareness of the FFA.

Word of Mouth:

This is probably the most effective and least expensive way of expanding our sponsor base. Please continue to share with family and friends about your connection to the FFA. Each person around you is another potential sponsor and another opportunity to help a needy family escape poverty.

Remember, the Franciscan Family Apostolate is a very special organization because of the direct personal link between sponsor and family. Each family receiving assistance writes their sponsor, with the help of an interpreter, every quarter with news on how they are doing. If you wish, you can write back so news flows both ways. And, if you have questions about your family, did you know that you can e-mail Sr. Daphne directly about your family?

We hope that in 2012 you will help us spread the word about the FFA so that we can continue to serve the needs of the world's poor.