This is an email I received from Rajendran, director of Aroma Ministries. The Rhema Project is working through AM in a small village in southern India where previously 35 to 40 girl babies were killed each year. We have hired Malar to lead our prenatal and infant care program. She is an amazing women of God. Pastor Phillip is leading the effort on our community transformation efforts. He worked for World Vision for 15 years prior to becoming a pastor in a nearby village. He is from the same social caste as this village so he understands their thinking and is well accepted. We are blessed to have a man with such talent.

Malar (smiling) with Pregnant and Newborn Mothers in Village. Most Hindu women stop smiling in their early teens. Not sure if it is when hope finally fades away from their youth or reality of life as an India women sets in.

Email from Raj. Today I had a meeting with the pregnent and newly delivered mothers meet in Kethuvarpatti. 4 women did deliver the babies in last few weeks. Out of this 2 are male babies and 2 are female. The parents of Aanandhi (means happiness – we named this baby today), tried to kill this baby as this baby weigh less than 2 kgs. When malar came to know the “early” delivery she rushed to the scene and spoke to the mother. This baby was born on 10-10-10. After the continious counselling, the baby is still alive. Today I spoke to the parents and they said they will not kill.

Newborn Baby Aanandhi with Raj.

There was another female baby Marieswari, since it was the first child they let live. The mother is 17 years old.

Baby Girl Marieswari. Her life was celebrated with a name and a small financial gift of 500 rupees ($10 USD).

We had a meeting with the other 9 pregnent women, 2 went to another village (totally 11), some of them never went to do the medical check up. Now they have agreed to go the government hospital with Malar, once in a month. On Monday Malar and Philip are meeting the doctor, since most of the women are animic, and weak, it would be good to provide some vitamin tablets and tonic. I asked them to get a prescription, so that we can bring some from the USA.

We are also starting the milk project from Tuesday 18th of October. TRP is funding the purchase of milk for both the pregnant mothers and the newborn babies so that mother and child will be stronger and healthier).

Philip and malar is short listing the poor people list and they will come up with few recommedation by next week. When I come there I will bring those to you.

I am attching the new born babies photos.

There is one women in the village, who is pregnent she already have 3 girls, now they say if the fourth one is girl, they will kill. Now malar is spending more time with this women, we are trying to convince them, if they don’t agree we may have to take this baby for foster care as they are adament to kill if the baby is girl. her name is Meenachi. Kindly uphold her in your prayer. Her husband has heart problem they are living in poverty.

*****

I truly enjoy spending time in rural India. Time seems to slow down and you can see, feel and hear the impact you are having in the lives of the girl child. But my primary role is back in America, sharing the stories of not only sorrow but the glimmer of hope seen most times in the eyes and smiles of people like Malar.

Our role in the west is to share out of our abundance – to provide a small amount of resources to provide hope and opportunity. If we do, people like Raj, Malar and Phillip will do the rest. Only then will the lives of 35 to 40 girl babies in this village be given the chance to live each year. Do it here in Kethuvarpatti and it can be replicated in thousands of villages throughout southern India and the lives of 1.5 million girl babies will no longer be lost each year. Will you join me?