While volunteering at a Christian Leadership conference in Austin, Texas I learned of an unknown, unsupported Christian orphanage in India. A beautiful woman named Shanthi started the orphanage and inspires to be like Mother Teresa. Her plight to raise money or even keep a rental property has proved near impossible because Shanthi is a recent widow.
The Indian culture shuns and discriminates widows and “widowhood" in many cases creates a state of social death. This makes raising money to provide food and keeping a shelter very difficult.
Shanthi's children have been kicked out by numerous landlords who discriminate because of widow and orphan status. Recently, a local man showed pity on the orphans and donated a piece of raw land for a future orphanage to be built.
These kids need a safe and consistent place to call home. They have the land but no structure. They also have immediate needs including paying for current rent, paying for education for some of the young women and to feed the 30+ children.
For my birthday, I want to bless this orphanage with as much as we can so that we can build them a home and provide for them.
