Field Report – Impact of Vegetable Garden

I must admit there are days where it seems that we are not doing enough to help change a culture that accepts the killing of 2 to 3.5 million girl babies each year as “normal.”

Then I receive a field report from Rajendran – one of our key partners and a good friend. He and his dedicated staff are on the front line each day. They hear the stories. They witness the subtle changes that has caused this village to stop killing their daughters.

In February (2011) we installed a drip irrigation test garden on the school property. We wanted to see if we could introduce a new way of farming. To grow a few vegetables during a time a year (no rain) where no one was farming.

Most days the school children would only get a small portion of low quality rice and just enough curry to cover its bad taste. They would then choke down a cup of “salty” water.

Here are their stories of a new found hope. A vision for a better tomorrow.

Testimony by the cook Pandiammal:
I am working in the school for past 20 years. I have never cooked food for the children with this much vegetables. Many years back, correspondent (Late) Subburayar used to provide one free meal in a year to the villagers. Only on that day I have seen vegetables in the food. But now we are cooking the meal with lot of vegetables. Children are eagerly eating the meal. Previously everyone in the village used to scold us for providing substandard food, now they have stopped scolding us.

Assistant cook Pappa:
The government is giving only 32 cents every day to buy spices, wood and vegetables. It is not possible to cook good meal with this amount. Therefore we were forced to cook substandard food for the children even though we don’t want to do. Now because of your service to the school we are able to provide good food to the children.

Maripandi – student (class V)
Before I never used to eat rice more because the food won’t be tasty, and there will not be vegetables in the curry. Now because of the garden, plenty of vegetables are there in our meal. So the meal is tasty and I am eating fully, therefore when I am not hungry anymore. I have good strength to play games after school.

Azhakarsami – student (Class IV)
Previously we used drink dirty water from the open tank and eat unhealthy food, so I used to be sick often. Sometimes there will not be any water, and then we used to go to the neighboring village to wash our plates and drink water. Now because of you we have clean water and good food. Thank you.

Navetha –Student (Class III)
I am eating the noon meal so much now because they are putting lot of vegetables in our meal. My mother is asking me to bring some vegetables from the garden, as it has so much.

Ramar – head master, Kethuvarpatti school:
Previously whenever we had function in the school, since we don’t have electricity in our school, we used take from neighbor’s motor room. They used to scold us for this. Now through your project, we have electricity in our school. You have lightened our life. The kitchen building, garden and bore has immensely helped our children. Thank you so much for what you do.

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.

Last week we were visiting baby Rhema’s home village in South India. It had been over two years since we were able to celebrate her birth and life with a name and a few rupees. Shortly after her birth her parents moved north for more job opportunities. Every time we would visit the village we would ask about her welfare and was told she was doing fine.

So, as I was sharing the story with my stateside friends Mike and Deb Piedt and Judy Eck they asked to see where it all started. As we started to walk down the side street the crowd of children began to grow. We stopped in front of Rhema’s grandparent’s home and I shared how we were sitting in this spot.

Then it happened! Two year old Rhema and her mother stepped out of the house and approached us. Rhema’s mom was in a nice saree not typically worn by village women. Rhema looked healthy had bangles on each ankle but was a little taken back by all of the commotion. We learned they had returned to the village for a short visit.

Just moments before we had been in a discussion with one of the older village women as she defiantly defended the practice of killing her granddaughters was the best and only choice worth considering. We walked away disheartened on how far we still needed to go to help change an attitude deeply ingrained in the culture.

It always amazes me how a small dose of hope inspires your spirit to press on. Seeing baby Rhema that morning did that for us. It is our prayer and purpose to provide the same to village families all over South India so that the killing of girl babies will be no more.

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.