|
|
HOMES OF HOPE INDIA - U.S.
|
|
|
|
|
ORPHANAGES
Where LOVE is the Answer
SCHOOLS
Where EXCELLENCE is the Goal
|
|
|
|
|
Dear Friends of Homes of Hope
| |
So often I bring you stories of young children we have
rescued from the streets, of the horrific lives they once led, and how they are
now safe and attending school. With this
newsletter, here are the stories of three of our older girls and how they are
so beautifully and with such determination shaping their lives. For this is the objective at Homes of Hope: the
moral, physical and educational development of resilient, independent Indian
women.
|
|
 |
|
|
Rajeswari
| |
Rajeswari came to Home of Hope with much sadness in her heart. She unfortunately witnessed her own mother's tragic death, as she was run over by a train, and soon after, felt the loss of her father, who committed suicide.
The loss of both her parents at a young age forced Rajeswari to begging on the streets. Police eventually found her and brought the lonely child to the sisters at Home of Hope. She was only seven years old. With the sisters, Rajeswari discovered her true talents. She is very good at dancing and
sports. Over the years she has competed in many events and has won several medals for her talents.
Rajeswari graduated from Junior college and now is working in a large Salesian school in New Delhi. Despite her broken childhood, Rajeswari is a very affectionate, confident, and loving young woman. She has the desire to succeed and continues to strive for a better and brighter future.
|
Bhavani
| |
Bhavani came to Home of Hope at the tender age of three. She knew very little about her family, having no memory of her father and losing her mother to an illness. Despite the loss of both parents at such a young age, Bhavani strives to do well in her studies.
Since her time with the sisters at Home of Hope, Bhavani has worked hard to maintain good grades so that she would have the opportunity to attend Junior college. We are happy to announce that she has now completed her Bachelors degree and has just moved to Delhi to work as an accountant, with Rajeswari, in that Salesian school.
|
Pinky
|
 We are proud to announce that one of our very own girls has
completed her first year of nursing school and soon will become Home of
Hope's "First Nurse."
Pinky has lived at Home of Hope since she was four years old. She came
from a very poor family; her aunt abandoned her
in a market place. This is the plight of many young girls in India;
they are simply not wanted. The police found Pinky and brought her to the Salesian sisters.
Despite her troubled past as a young child, Pinky always did well in her studies and has been very
ambitious throughout her years at our center. She is a hardworking young lady and possesses many leadership qualities that have taken her far in life. She is a great help to the sisters; she watches
the younger girls while the sisters are away. She genuinely cares for the girls and sees them as her very own sisters.
Pinky's education has been generously sponsored by Joe Rooney of New Jersey for the past four years.
|
Sister Mercy
|
On a sad note, I must report the death on October 7 of our beloved Sister Mercy Ittoop. Sister Mercy, 58, was the provincial economer, or treasurer, and many of you encountered her warm presence in Bangalore or in the various houses. She was a cheerful, lovely woman, always ready to pitch in -- as you can see her below, in apron, ready to offload books we had shipped through our Used Books, New Lives initiative. She will be profoundly missed. Sister Mercy was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer less than two months ago, and chose not to undergo chemotherapy because of the severity of the disease. She died peacefully with her sister nuns around her. God rest her soul and may she look down upon us as we continue the work for which she had such enthusiasm and devotion.
Sr. Mercy
|
|
|
Tracy and I will be traveling to India November 6-23. If there is anything you want us to take over, please send it along.
Many thanks to you all for your continuing support,
|
|
Paul Wilkes
Homes of Hope India - U.S. Coordinator
paulwilkes@ec.rr.com
1413 Hawthorne Road
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 815-0695
|
|
|
|
|
|
