Introducing the Village of Attapaka {the location of the orphanage}
I cried over an email last week.
I cry easily. Nearly every emotion from delight to despair can induce dripping from my eyes. This can be a bit awkward at times, especially when my tears are unreasonable (like when I mist up over a country song). Were my tears from last week justifiable? I’ll let you decide.
I cried because an email showed me the faces of the children who will live in and be protected by the home you and I are building. And they aren’t just any faces. They are faces I know and they live in a place I know, the village of Attapaka, India.
The 58 children who currently live in the Attapaka Orphanage
You might be surprised to learn that these children already live in an orphanage.
I’ve been to this orphanage twice and it’s one of my favorite places in India because it is so wonderfully unique. It is home to exuberance and cantankerousness, hope and remembrance, childishness and sageness, agility and stiffness, smooth skin and wrinkled skin. It is a place where the youthful are reigned in, the aged are held up, and comfort and care is given to all.
Elderly man in Attapaka, India
Young boy at Attapaka orphanage
Now, if you posses just a fraction of Sherlock Holmes deductive abilities you’ve probably already discerned the truth about this facility, it doubles as an orphanage and a home for the elderly.
Residents of the Attapaka facility, young and old.
After a recent inspection of this facility, local authorities notified GFT that they can no longer house both the children and the elderly in the same building and gave them 6 months to relocate one of these groups. If they are not able to comply, the authorities will put the children or the elderly back on the street. Building a new orphanage here will allow GFT to relocate the children and keep both the children and the elderly safe.
The building site for the orphanage in Attapaka, India
Here are a few things I love about this building site:
- This location was chosen by Brother Jacob and his leadership team after much prayer and discussion.
- Building an orphanage at this location will allow us to provide safety for both the children and the elderly. (How’s that for a double blessing?)
- There are currently 58 children at this location. The new building will house 100 so there will be room to grow!
- The village of Attapaka is just 2 kilometers outside of Badrachalem, which is the capital city of this tribal area of India. Being this close to the capitol will give the children ready access to medical care and several universities.
- I know these children so now this project is a whole lot more personal.
Since the beginning of this project I have labored to build an orphanage for unknown children in an unknown place. Now I know who I’m fighting for and can point out on a map exactly where this orphanage will be built.
Elderly woman in Attapaka, India
Young lady at Attapaka orphanage
Seeing the faces of these children made me realize how big and important this project really is. And I can’t believe I get to be a part of it. I feel overwhelmingly blessed. That’s why I cried.
This building project needs to be completed by the end of June, 2013. That’s a reality that terrifies me. The current financial need for this project is $33,500. Can the word expedited apply to fundraising?
