NEW DELHI: (The Hindu Newspaper, Saturday, January 29, 2011)

Miss Universe to support the cause of the girl child

On her maiden visit to the country, Miss Universe, 2010 Ximena Navarrette (Jimene Navarrete) of Mexico intends to create awareness about need to celebrate the birth of a girl child.

“It is a privilege for me to have been given an opportunity to speak about the girl child. Through my celebrity status, I want to convince people to give the girl child a full-fledged proper education and help her in taking up a career of her choice. A girl child can do a lot of wonderful things and make a difference in every profession.

India is a county filled with paradoxes. This seems to be simply one more. Could a beauty queen from Mexico give voice to millions of unwanted girl babies in India? We hope so. We wish her well.

Like Phillip, Malar is a pastor in a nearby village. Her father was the person that first introduced us to the village leaders where Rhema was born. Last summer she joined our team and begin to visit with the village women each day. She got to know them. Their families. She learned their hopes and dreams for a better tomorrow. Very quickly she earned their trust. Malar helped launch the daily milk program for all pregnant village women. She scheduled the transportation and accompanied the women to the medical clinic for prenatal care exams. She encourages them to go to the hospital for the delivery of their babies.

Malar Shares Treats with School Children.

She became their friend.

Malar has shared her faith and her belief that all life is a gift from God. Today, when a girl baby is born in the village her new life is celebrated with a small baby gift. Her family continues to receive daily milk for the next 6 months. Malar has convinced most families to keep ALL newborn babies. For those that still believe the hardship to raise a girl baby is too much she finds, trains and equips other families to become foster parents.

We realize we still have much to do to bring value and opportunity to the girl child in this remote village.

However, I know this: Without Malar and Philip the journey would be longer and much, much more difficult.

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. (James 1:27 NTL)

Two years ago Phillip decided to start a church in his home town and resigned his position with World Relief. This meant leaving a good and reliable income that provide for his family to a calling that gave him no income or security. But Phillip knew he needed to reach his family, friends and neighbor and share his faith with them. He learned about an organization called Life Mission India that was helping teach and equip men and women to how to start and lead churches. He was accepted into their training program.

Last spring I was talking with Raj of Aroma Ministries and founder of Life Mission India if he knew of someone that could help us oversee or initiatives in Rhema’s village. He shared that he knew of a man in a nearby village that had recently completed the first module of training and knew he had worked at World Vision.

Unlike America most India pastors are bi-vocational. Many work another job during the day so that they can share their faith during the evenings and on the weekends.

So, we hired him to help lead and oversee our efforts in Rhema’s village. Each morning, Phillip jumps on his motorcycle and travels the 10 kilometers to this village. Twelve months ago before Phillip arrive the lives of 35 and 50 baby girls were lost each year. Today that number is almost zero!

Phillip has lead the way with our water projects, our school and kitchen renovations, our prenatal and newborn care initiatives, taking our village census and leading the discussion on how we will use agricultural development to not only stabilize this village financially but so that the village can own the cultural change that values the lives of females.

It is no coincidence that Phillip is from the same caste as most families from Rhema’s village. Phillip understands how they think and they respect him immensely. Our job is not done yet but Phillip is clicking off metrics at a speed that is amazing to watch.

Pastor Phillip’s home church continues to grow and thrive. Hopefully, in part because he is able to live out the gospel each day not only in his home town but a small village just 10 kilometers down a dusty road.

I believe there are people just like Phillip all over South India and they are the key to how we are going to bring value, hope and opportunity to the girl child and end the practice of female infanticide.

Friends, it is going to happen and I am asking you to be a part of it! Link to “How Can I Help” and be a part of something worthy of your time and effort.

Her mother died when she was very young. Her father was an alcoholic. His new wife did not want to raise a girl and beat Narmadha. At 5 she was abandoned far from her home and left to fend for herself.

A pastor heard about her story, rescued her and found an orphanage to give her temporary care. Better than trying to survive on the street but not ideal. Her hair was kept short which is typical for young girls living in orphanages until they start school.

Last week she was matched with a foster family where she is not only loved but has the chance to attend an English medium school. Friends from the states are helping sponsor her care and education.

She is a quiet and shy young girl. Today, she now has hope for a better tomorrow and is beginning to smile!