One story illustrates this point. We were walking up the rugged and beautiful mountain path from Dolphins Nose and noticed a smiling woman standing at a road-side shop. To our delight we were informed that this was a Bethania child. We were told that twenty-four year old Selvi, deaf from birth, spent many years as a teenager at our Bethania Kids Daycare Center for disabled children in Kodaikanal, learning pre-vocational skills in business and sign language to sharpen her communications skills. Selvi beams when she ‘tells’ non-verbally, but very effectively, about her lasting friendships with Bethania Kids caregivers. She is so thankful to God that she has received so many blessings from His loving hand. Selvi now has a life filled with hope. Despite her disability, she has a small business, an income, close proximity to parents and connections with people who care about her. Think about it! She sits all by herself each day, selling little tidbits to tourists, hour after hour, year after year. But she is so happy because she simply has hope and a purpose every day.

As you’d expect, all of our special memories are centered on the children—smiling faces, enthusiasm for life, and love for each other. Jesus said, “Let the children come unto me.” We saw this in action in India. These were children who were experiencing the love of Jesus.