There are many good ministries doing good things. Some of those ministries can do those good things because they’re very large. But what if you’re a small ministry trying to do huge things to help the poor?
Over the years, Christian Life Missions has been able to come alongside small ministries, many of which we write about.
Now we need to raise $160,000 to build a Metro Hope for Kids orphanage for 24 girls in Nagaland, an area in Northern India. Metro Hope for Kids was founded seven years ago by a very special person in my life, my sister-in-law Rosella Ridings. Rosella’s beloved husband died in 2008. Most widows of retirement age slow down and withdraw from life—but not Rosella. With very few resources, she is helping these wonderful girls. They need $160,000 to build a much-needed building. So far, only $11,000 has come in, so we’re hosting a fundraiser on Friday, May 25, at Charisma Center in Lake Mary, Florida. But that small event won’t raise enough unless we find others to come alongside us.
I decided to share the need in hopes that we could present a wonderful gift on behalf of CLM partners at the fundraiser. The need for an Indian orphanage a few years ago touched hearts, and people responded. Now can we do it again?
I invited Rosella to share her incredible story below. If you feel led, will you give generously, as Joy and I are doing? If you give quickly, we can present it on May 25.
Read Rosella’s story and her faith to follow God’s calling
Just four years ago, God spoke to me and said, “You can do something for the girls in Nagaland.” I responded, “Yes, God, I can do something.” At that time, I didn’t even know where Nagaland was, but God did and He knew there were 24 young girls in an orphanage who needed help. She was found after wandering in a train station for three days. Someone called the orphanage and found her a home!
Or take Meribeni’s story. She was 3 years old when her parents were both buried alive by a mob. She has been living at Wondang-Ki orphanage for 16 years. In June 2017, Meribeni graduated from college with honors, magna cum laude. What an amazing feat for an orphan![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row padding_bottom=”40″][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]The world of an orphan is miserable. Like any normal child, they also have wants, needs, preferences, expectations, dreams, ambitions and longings. The difference is that, in most cases, they end up as domestic helpers, dropouts or worse. They are traumatized by the death of their parents and grow up with resentment. They need a home, loving care, an education and encouragement to fulfill their dreams.
That’s where Wondang-Ki Orphanage in Dimapur, Nagaland, India, comes in! Mr. N. Thungdemo Kikon, the founder, offers a home for these girls and babies! I have partnered with Mr. Kikon through Metro Hope For Kids, which I founded in May 2011 and is a 501(c)(3) charity recognized by the IRS. It has been most amazing what we, the Hope For Kids Team, has been able to accomplish. We have assisted with monthly expenses such as food and rent as well as paid all the education fees for the girls for the past three years.
Now is the time for us to step up and do more! We must help build a clean, adequate home for these girls. The present orphanage is an old, rented building in need of much repair. It is very crowded with the 24 girls, 4-10 babies, Mr. Kikon, family and helpers. This past summer has been the worst yet with extreme flooding, resulting in no running water or bathrooms for over three months. I don’t think I’m the only one who will say, “I can do something.”
The projected new home for the girls will house 50 little girls and babies and will be adequate to take care of these beautiful children. The total estimated cost is approximately $160,000.
Together it will be amazing what we can accomplish! Yes, we can do something! We can build a home for these homeless children!
—Rosella Ridings
We appreciate your trust. We have checked out this orphanage and Rosella Ridings has visited it in Nagaland, India. You can watch the video they prepared, and it shows how neat it is and how sweet the girls are. Metro Hope for Kids has worked with them several years. We are attaching correspondence which shows how they have given an account in the past, and also how they have estimated the cost for this new building.
Because of the fluctuation in the exchange rate, the cost is now $152,000 but it varies daily. We had been told it would cost $160,000. We are providing this documentation to add credibility that we have done our due diligence. You can click here to download and evaluate for yourself, but this orphanage is run with integrity.
If more comes in than we need to raise (and we don’t know how much will come in) we are creating a “Widows and Orphans Fund” at Christian Life Missions to be able to support other orphanages or widows as the need is presented to us. So 100% of your donation will go to this with nothing taken out for overhead or fund-raising.
