I love fall...

It's fall! But there are no colorful leaves here in Delhi :( But I did have some pumpkin pie!!

Oh my! These posts keep on getting further and further apart! Hmm... let's see if I can somehow summarize the past few months :)

August: Tina and I moved outside of Delhi to Gurgaon. It's a developing City in the state of Haryana, just south of Delhi. It's another world out here! Shopping malls and businesses everywhere, but the old village life is still hanging on with random sections of tents and huts right next to these gigantic buildings. Strange sight for sure.

We tried to make it to Delhi a couple of times a week so we could still teach our students. I miss them so much! Tina ended up leaving the end of August to live with her mother and help run our girls home in Hemachel (that mountain village I lived in during the month of May). She's incredible, because she has also started ministry with the Nepal church near her home and is having the older girls from the family help lead Sunday school.

September: After Tina left, I went to stay with Clark and Jen at their home in Nepal. They are trying to start the same system they have here in Delhi up in Kathmandu. I was able to see their new office and one of the children's homes they are supporting there. This home takes in street children who are addicted to drugs and are left to beg on the streets. They try to rehabilitate them and if possible get them back to their homes and in school. Hopefully they will soon be able to start the family care system there as well.

Let's see... that's brings us to October! My summarizing wasn't too bad :) When I returned to Delhi (Gurgaon now), my new roommate Charlotte arrived from North Carolina. She has been so wonderful. We got to work on the curriculums and also preparing our guestflat for the teams we have this fall. The first week of October we had an AMAZING team from New Orleans come. Charlotte and I were completely blown away by their hearts to serve in ANY way they could. They were a huge encouragement to our children and a few other ministries we support. Also, since Charlotte and them are all from the south, I was surrounded by the phrase "Y'all". Sooo funny. (one of the pictures is of them, Charlotte is the one in the sunglasses... AKA Sharon Stone;)

This next week we will be working hard on our curriculum as well as preparing for a medical team we have coming next week. I'm really excited about that. They will be doing a huge medical camp in one of the slums we work in (where our first refuge center is). We will also have them a few other places in Delhi. This is going to be so great for the people, especially since they have been affected by this crazy economy stuff. After that we have one more team coming to do some work with the children as well as a conference for the pastors' wives. AND SOON AFTER THAT... I'm coming home! :)

Oh gosh, it almost feels unreal that I have been living here for so long. But even more unreal that in just a short time I'll be back at home. Please continue to keep India in your prayers. As some of you know from my emails, there is much persecution going on right now. Many Christians are losing their homes, villages, and their lives. The government is finally taking an active role to bring aid to these people as well as to the victims of the flood in Bihar. But I know God is doing something incredible here, and I am daily humbled to be a part of it. Oh, and of course remember the children in your prayers as well. Their areas in the slums have recently been receiving threats linked to foreign involvement type issues. The staff is doing well to keep them safe and continue in their daily activities.

Oh, so the first pic is of the Louisiana team. The second is of two beautiful girls I got to hang out with while the team ministered to widows. And the last one is of Tina (my Nepali roommate) and I at the new slum school.

Random Note: I am allergic to Mangoes. I love Mangoes. But apparently my lips do not feel the same way :(

Randomer Note: It's festival season and I woke up today with a carnival in my front yard.

Our New Refuge Center!

Helloooooo Everyone! So I am sitting in one of the only coffee shops that has internet in Delhi! I am a bit wired on caffeine... perfect time to update my blog ;)

So there are about 5 months left until I come home in the first week of December. Now's the time to really focus on the projects I need to get done before then.

One of the major projects we have going on is building our new Restart Center. We are so excited as this is going to be built in a key area where many children are in need. The picture is of the land we purchased along with Jen (who I work with... she's so cute!) and the pastor and his wife who we partner with through our education programs and now the new restart center.

As I've explained before in my blog, the restart center is where we first take in abused and/or abandoned children. This is where they receive all the care they need before we place them into a loving family. A child would stay at this center a maximum of 6 months. The sooner we get them into a family environment the better!

We have given enough money to start the construction but we have a long way to go. If you would like more information about this project or any other questions about what I am helping with please email me! jmarabito@gmail.com

So just a random side note: I am at the Coffee Bean right now. For a minute it was as if I was in America. I laughed as I looked around at the countless women in their beautiful suits and saris and the men with their turbans. I am in India. I love it!

Oh, and in case you were wondering what I did on the 4th of July... I met some Americans who are working through the same org. They invited me over for a barbeque (they bought it at the airport in Turkey). It was very exciting. No beef, not allowed! (although I have a secret supplier... ha!). Ummm... yeah, a very fun day!

Ok, the caffein is flowing through my veins. I need to harvest this energy into other work I should get done!!

Thank you over and over for all your prayers and emails. Please feel free to email me ANY time. I love to hear all your stories :)

I love and miss you!

Peace, Janna

An Update... Finally!

So I have 2 months to catch up on! I've been so busy travelling these past couple of months...

In May I left for about 2 weeks to Northern India to visit one of our families. This family takes care of six girls who were rescued from being sold into prostitution. I had an a really good time getting to know these girls. I was told each of their stories, and was so amazed by how much their lives have been changed. They are each receiving a good education and are being taken care of by a loving mother. Most importantly they are being taught the love of Christ! The first picture is of all the girls.

While I was there, Tina (my new roommate from Nepal!) and I spent our days with a pastor and his wife while the girls were in school. We were able to travel (by foot...) all over the mountains visiting homes and doing prayer walks. I could add they were much more like "prayer hikes". One of the pictures is of the team we went out with. I enjoyed it so much and was so blessed by all the people I was able to meet. While hiking all over the place we made many connections where there are more children in need. I will expand on this much more in my next blog entry :)

At the end of May I travelled back up to Nepal to stay with Clark and Jennifer and their kids for one week. We sat together and brainstormed the rest of my time here in India. I love working with this couple and I believe so much in the things they are doing. After Nepal Jennifer came to stay with me in Delhi for a week. We are trying to get our new restart center built. We purchased land in one of the slums I am working in. So exciting!!

Tina came to live with me soon after. She has been such a blessing. She just graduated from the Bible College here in Delhi and will be working with me as part of her after school experience.

Finally, (summarizing all this is hard!) I spent a week of June in Turkey at Europe/Asia "conference". I realized I need to start being careful with my word choice on here :) "Workers" from all over Europe and Asia working through the same org as me gathered here. It was so encouraging to meet all these different people. We had meetings every day to discuss everything happening in our areas and what we want to see happen in the future. We also had a guest speaker in the evenings. I think it was a good time to step out of what I was doing in Delhi and, along with rest, receive a new perspective on God's will for my life. Plus it was pretty cool that I got to go to Turkey! I swam in the Mediterranean Sea!

Currently we are working hard to figure out ways to bring in more children and to start building our restart center. I am still visiting all of our children's homes and classes start up again this week since they've been on a holiday the past month.

Smile Smile

I just got home from spending a few days in the slums of west Delhi. I stayed with the family that runs the refuge center with the six new children from Manipur. I love going there and spending time with all the kids. They are so full of life!
Anyway, I hold an English Speaking and Pronunciation class there for the Burmese refugees. We have class on Thursdays and Fridays. I gave them each an english journal which they write journal entry assignments I give to them. This was the first week I was able to take them home and read what each of them wrote so I could make corrections. Every Friday each student has to read aloud one entry to practice speaking. The following is an entry of one of my students that really touched me... I'm typing it as is, without grammar corrections. He titled it "Smile, Smile"...

I love my parents. One day, I'm very feeling and my heart broken when my father die. I prayed for the smile but I can't get it. One day I was on a train, deep in my own concerns, and as I glanced up a young woman flashed me most radiant smile. I naturally responded with a big grin and my whole day changed from grey to dazzling. I was so moved by the effect of her smile that I bestowed brilliant smiles on everyone I met, and what a defference a smile makes. i think, God used her smile for me. So i can smile now. Even if you feel a bit low just try smiling at someone. Thank you... smile... smile... smile...

These people have been beaten and tortured and run out of their own homes. Almost every journal entry reflects their past. Sometimes it can be overwhelming to read them all, but the hope that they have put in Jesus is what makes the difference. I feel so honored and humbled to be able to be a part of their lives. Please pray for this group of students and what God has for their future.

Burmese Refugee Children

Today was my first day teaching English to the Burmese refugee children. They are so wonderful. Their country (Burma) has been very unstable for years. These driven were driven out along with their families around 4 years ago. Their parents do not know the Indian language Hindi and therefore are unable to get work. They end up in slum areas where they are barely able to feed their familes yet alone send their children to schools. We have started an education program for these children. The new children in the refugee center will also be a part of this program until they can read and write english well enough to be put into a private school.

I worked with the older children today beginning with the alphabet and the sounds they make. They were so responsive and caught on quickly. During break time they are provided with a healthy meal and a safe environment to play. They begin and end their school days with a devotional. This is very new to them and they do not really understand it all, but they are drawn to this love and care they are reveiving. Although only one person there can speak their native language, they are all excited to be able to learn.

Please continue to pray for this program and the other programs we have throughout the various slums.

The weather is getting hotter every day... but I am finding ways to keep cool!

God continually blesses me each day I am here. I am always encouraged by the emails and prayers from back home.

I'll update more later!!

The first picture is of some of the children we have taken from the streets and have put into family care. I spent the other morning with them. They are doing very well in school and in their new family, but a few are struggling emotionally wanting to find their parents and wondering why they left them. Please keep them in your prayers as well.

The second picture is of all the new Burmese students.

Restart Center

I guess it's time for another update! Things are going so well. My new roommate has been such a blessing to have. Grace is an amazing person. It is nice to have each other.

The new children arrived at the restart center a little over a week ago. We went to one of their sunday services to meet them. They are so precious! They have quite the challenge ahead of them adjusting to a new life and learning two new languages. In order to be admitted to a good school they must first learn Hindi and then they will have to learn English as well. They are from North East India so they speak a completely different language. But they are learning quick and can already say, "my name is..." - so cute! Their first night in Delhi their faces showed the trama of their lives. Many of their parents had been killed by militants or aids and other diseases. Some still had one parent who had gave them away because they were unable to care for their child. But in just a few days we were able to see bright smiles and hear laughter as they enjoyed their new brothers and sisters and people who loved and cared for them.

I will begin going out to west Delhi to stay with them overnight. I am so excited to get to know them more and help them adjust to their new surroundings.

Please continue to keep all these children in prayer!

In the other slums the children have been completing their exams the past few weeks. This is tremendous pressure for any child in India as the outcome of these tests has much to do with their future in this country. So many children throughout India are committing suicide on a daily basis because of the pressure. So please keep these exams in your prayers as well.

As soon as exam time is over we will be holding a VBS for the children.

The pictures I've included are from the sunday spent with the new refuge center children.

The link I am including is an article that came out in the newspapers here. It discusses child labor. I will hopefully start posting more of these articles on a regular basis.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2588183.cms

Sorry it has been so long since I have updated this! So much has been happening!

Vinita and I were working on a documentary on the educational programs in the slums to bring more awareness and support from the states. I will be sure to let you know when it is complete. We are hoping by the end of March.

My dear Vinita left for home yesterday night... she is in route back to Louisiana :(

It is hard not having her here, but I am excited to see what's next. This will help me to learn the language and culture even more by having to get around on my own.

I have a new roommate moving in tomorrow. She is not working through the same organization, but she is a wonderful blessing and an answer to prayer.

They will begin the building on the new restart center very soon! This is such a praise as it will provide so much for abused and abandoned children from the street, sweat shops, and prostitution.

The other restart center in the east part of the city has taken in 6 new children. They will arrive in one week. I am excited to begin working with them. Please pray for their transition from their emotionally and physically abusive environment to this place of care and love.

I am also working with a pastor here to start a program for developmentally disabled children who are abused. Pray for all the resources, volunteers, and wisdom needed to get this started.

I am having a wonderful time as well with the children in the educational programs. Our "craft times" are always eventful and full of laughter.

The first picture shown is of the kids in the eastern slums of the city. We had them each decorate their name and a picture of their favorite thing and then we linked them together to hang in the classroom. Many of the children drew pictures of grapes and mangos!

The second picture is of a girl who lives in the ragpicker's slum and is a student at the school there.

Faith, Hope, and Love in the midst of death

I met this little boy my first week in Delhi. We were walking through the slums to get to know the area. There were children everywhere! Most of their parents were out trying to make money leaving the kids to fend for themselves during the day. There is no school nearby. Even if there was, no family could afford the fees. The streets were muddy and full of pot holes. Most of the families shared a small square room as their home and had sheets draped down as their front door.
This particular day the pastor wanted us to see their future school building that is under construction. As we approached the front of the building we were introduced to the workers. One of the men was so determined to finish his digging he briefly looked up, shook his head to the side and greeted us with, "Jaya masihaa" which means victory to the Messiah. As we passed the men the pastor pointed to a small boy sitting on the front steps and told us he was the son of the man who was digging. Something was different about his eyes. I soon realized he was blind. He had been blind since birth. He sat there trying to eat what appeared to be a cracker not paying attention to anything else around him.
As we continued to the front door I kept looking back at him. I thought to myself that this boy is going to be such a huge testimony. Both of his parents are believers and are investing their time to help build this school. I thought maybe one day they won't have to live in the slums. I said a quick prayer in my head for God to watch over this precious little boy.

He passed away yesterday morning. I was told he became sick with fever. With no medical attention it was too much for his little body to handle. We don't know the exact sickness that caused his death.

Before coming to India I was told all the facts and statistics. I was told these people live in extreme poverty. Children die on the streets everyday. I knew what to expect. But somehow everything I knew suddendly became real to me this morning. I felt so helpless at that moment. The pastor was on his way to be with the family when he told us the news. What was he going to tell them? What words could possibly bring comfort to this mother and father?
The only words that came to my mind were from a hymn, "What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus".
Honestly, I wanted to run home. I wanted to go back to the states and pretend this wasn't real.
I had just finished giving the morning devotion to the teachers when I received the news. I had shared how when we obey God we are showing we love Him and He promises to always be with us. I love God and I want to obey him. That's why I'm here. And I will continue to stay here to help show these people the love of God that overcomes death and destruction.

The Rickshaw

So this is just a video of our drive to the slums I thought you would enjoy!

Teaching English

The strikes in the slums last week only lasted a day... praise GOD! So we were able to get in there last Wednesday and again today.

We are helping revise their curriculum which has become a challenging task, but with Vinita as a wonderful translator and God's wisdom we are excited to take on the challenge!

Last week we observed the different classrooms, but today we were able to teach. We did a craft, an english lesson (thank you Shaney!) and we ended with a song. So much fun! They also receive a snack each day along with vitamins a few times a week.

Please keep these children in your prayers! These programs are giving them a very rare opportunity; not only a chance for a brighter future here on this earth, but a chance to know Christ and to live for Him.

Also, we are holding a training day at the end of the month for all teachers to come and learn how to use the new curriculum. So please keep that in your prayers as well.

As for the rest of our time here we have been visiting the foster homes which take in abused and abandoned children from the streets. These Christian families are doing an amazing job helping these children to recover from past trauma and ease them back into society through education, family outings, and church.

In just these few weeks God has shown me so much of what it means to be a servant and I am excited to learn even more in the coming months!

In the picture is Vinita showing the kids how to do the craft.

In the second one I am playing musical chairs with the kids at a different slum location.

Pictures!

I just wanted to post a few more pictures!

Things are going well, but we are anxious to get working with the kids!

There were strikes in the slums today so we were not able to make it in to where the schools are located. We will try again on Wednesday. Please pray that these children are protected in the midst of these strikes.

Welcome to Delhi!

I am finally in Delhi! We flew in on Monday and have been spending the last few days getting situated. I met my new roommate, Vinita, and she is wonderful. She is from the US as well and she speaks Hindi which will be a huge help for me! Jennifer has been getting us familiar with the area around us and with the people we will be working with.
Yesterday we were able to visit the slum schools me and vinita will be helping in. The organization I am working with, Hope Alliance, supports these schools through a local Pastor and his family. Seeing these children in their surroundings was an indescribable sight. At one of the schools the classes were held in two rooms about 8' x 8' with about 50 children in each sitting on the floor. The teachers are volunteers and are usually from the slum area themselves.
Another slum school nearby was located in the ragpicker community. These people collect trash and bring it back to this area where they search through it in hopes of something they can get money with; usually about 10-30 rupees a day (about 50 cents). The "school" was set directly in the middle of this area. The children gather on a mat outside while the teacher uses a small chalkboard. They are provided with a snack each day which may be the only meal for most of them.
It's hard to believe that there are people that live this way when we have grown up with a roof over our head, food in our stomaches, and people that love us.
After this week I will be in more of a routine and will actually be able to work with these children. Everyday I thank God for bringing me here and I am so blessed by all my family and friends who are praying for me.

Oh! and the pics are from the slums!

I made it!!

I can't believe I am finally here... well sort of here :) I flew into Khatmandu, Nepal on January 13th and I will fly into Delhi on the 21st. I came here first to await the arrival of the family I will be working for.
This country has some similarities to India, but a lot of differences as well. There aren't as many people flooding the streets as in India and the people have a different look to them. I've been staying with another girl my age who is here for a few months doing website design work for Project Rescue. She is very nice and we have been able to keep each other company!
The poverty is indescribable. Imagine a poverty stricken area in America... some ghetto in the city where the buildings aren't kept up and there are many homeless. Take that image and picture it 100 times worse. Now span that image across an entire country. That's what it's like here and in most 3rd world countries.
It's been very cold and they have no heat in their homes and their electricity shuts off twice a day for 3 hours. But I've managed to keep warm for the most part!
The food has been very good... well I've only been to restaurants that serve American food...but it's delicious :)
There is too much to describe in one post. I will do my best to keep this site updated with blogs and pictures.
Until next time... enjoy the nice warm greeting of American heated homes!