Earlier this week I received an email from the director of one of our field partners working in South India near Madurai. I have removed the name of the village to protect the privacy and safety of the families.

Have we eradicated the practice of female infanticide and the discrimination of the girl child in this village? Nope. But programs that have been implemented by our dedicated staff has temporarily stopped the practice that had been taking 35 to 40 girl babies each year from this one village. We must continue to push hard to address the issues that cause a culture not to value the life of their daughters. I thought you would enjoy reading part 1 of the report. Over the next few weeks we will post other parts that are also inspiring to read.

The Rhema Project first quarter report (Jan – March 2011)
Report Period: January 2011 – March 2011


Introduction: By God’s grace and with the support of The Rhema Project we were able to do minister in …varpatti village and different parts of Tamilnadu effectively during the first quarter of this New Year 2011. During this period we could save 9 children from ruthless killing and bring impact in the lives of 19 families directly and many in the villages. The USA team visit and their commitment to serve the community have touched the staffs and village people. Foster parents came forward to care the saved babies from death. The most amazing thing has happened in this village is no baby is killed in the adopted village of …varpatti during this period.

New babies in …varpatti village

Total number of children born in …varpatti: 10 (Female: 6 and Male: 4)

Baby Name : Mariswari
Parents Name: Jeyachandran and Karpooravalli

Mariswari is the first Child to the parents; hence they did not kill the baby. Initially people were hesitant to get the milk as we were recording everyday with their signature. Karpooravalli was bold and encouraged other to come forward to get the milk. She said to them that they have come to help us not to harm us. This has paved way for the other women to come forward. She is a help to many women in the village. She is influencing the village positively.

Baby Name: Anandhi
Parents Name: Anand and Mariammal

They have a male child. Anandhi was second baby to this family. The parents are daily labourers. Very rarely they get work. Thus they live in utter poverty. When Anandhi was born she was very weak and they thought the baby won’t survive. The village people told the parents to kill the baby. But we counselled them, given hope in God and provided them baby products and milk powder to strengthen the baby. Through the continue visit of our staffs and prayer they let the baby live.

Baby Name Shivani
Parents Name: Sivaraman and Muthuselvi.

Shivani is the first child to the parents. They have tractor, through which they are able to make some money. Since this was their first child they did not kill. The parents are very much thankful for the service we are offer. They said a curse is being removed from our village by our service in the village. They are very happy for our ministry in the village, after associating with our staffs, their life style is changed. They also asked us to pray for them. They are eagerly listening to the gospel.

Baby Name: Suba lakhmi
Parents Name: Muthuvel and Meenachi

This baby is fourth female child to the parents. The parents are agricultural labourers. They rarely get work. Since the baby was fourth, they were about to kill the baby. By the timely intervention of our staffs they could prevent this. Still the old ladies are persisting them to kill the baby. They said don’t have any means to help this baby to grow as they are very poor. Meenachi said, if she can get a sewing machine and tailoring training or a small petty shop in her village would help her. Kindly uphold them in your prayer.

5. Baby Name: Bharathi
Parents Name: Selvam and Vennila

This in their first child and therefore they did not kill the baby. Since they are very poor, muthupandi went to the neighbouring state Karnataka to work. He comes to the village once in a while. They are so happy for the Project and they said, This has changed the village. They also asked our staffs to pray for the baby and name her. The baby was named Bharathi, a revolutionary poet in Tamilnadu. They are so interested in knowing Jesus.

Baby Name: No Name
Parents Name: Pandi and Pitchaiammal

This is the fifth child to the parents. They have one female child already. Except the first baby all the other 3 female children were killed. During the delivery lot of blood was lost, so the husband thought his wife would die, so he left the hospital, leaving her behind. On hearing this, our staff rushed to hospital and arranged blood for her and took care of her. So, she recovered and delivered a female baby. Everyone was upset because she was a girl. So they decided to kill this baby also. After lot of counselling by our staffs, they agreed not to kill. Pandi goes for cutting woods. They asked our staff, if we give them some help for the baby to grow would be highly helpful. They want their children to study that in their biggest desire.

Most days will stare before dawn and daytime highs will be over 100 degrees for Dina and Olivia but they wouldn’t want it any other way!

During the month of July, who are both premed students at Hillsdale College will be serving a medical internship with Bethel AFC and their HIV/Aids outreach clinic in Danishpet, India.

Each morning they will travel to Bethel’s HIV/AID’s clinic to work with women and children impacted by AIDs. Afternoons will be spent at Bethel’s hospital working with outpatient care.

Late afternoons and evenings will be back on campus which is home to over 175 orphaned and abandoned girls. Since education and vocational training are two of the critical keys to bring value to females, Olivia and Dina will encourage and mentor these girls to seize their educational opportunities.

We know the impact will be profound for both the girls of Bethel as well as these two young co-eds from Hillsdale College.

Two of her older sisters had already been killed. Her parents were upset she was not born a boy. They made plans to kill her. No one will notice. No one will care. It (infanticide/feticide) happens thousands of times each day in India. It has been practiced for thousands of years and It is still happening in 2011.

But wait. A man name Rajendran tells a group of pastors he has been mentoring and training that It is not God’s plan and the church must do something about. A women pastor (Esther) listens carefully and quietly resolves that she will do something about It “God willing!” Another pastor hears the same message and boldly states he will teach his church members to become foster parents, to love, care and provide for these unwanted girl babies because It can not win any longer! His congregation listens to his plea and agrees they must do this even though they are poor and have a difficult time caring for their own children.

Then. Just a few weeks later a girl baby is born to a poor Hindu family in Esther’s village. She hears that It is going to win. Not today, Esther rushes to the family and pleads with them to allow her to find a home for their unwanted daughter. They begrudgingly agree – at least they will not need to bother with helping It take the life of their third daughter.

Esther calls Rajendran. Rajendran gets the word out that It has not won today with this girl baby. A family from the second pastor’s church steps forward and shares they will take her, money is scarce but love is not.

Girl baby is named “Esther Rajathi” which means Queen Esther. A great name honoring a hero that listened to God’s word and took action so that It could not have one more girl baby made in His image.

The Rhema Project is so privileged to play a small supporting role in this story. I pray we can do more from having It win so often in India but we need your help. In fact, in my opinion, It can go straight to hell and never come back.

It – YOU CAN NOT HAVE HER!!!