The roof of the tall concrete building was completely overfilled with people. We were having Christmas in Kolkatta, and the top of Loch's house was filled with families we had invited over for our celebration. To many this description gives them a typical Christmas picture, but on further inspection, it's easy to see that something more than a party happened that night. The families and children that were there were not living in other houses full of food, running water, and Christmas decorations; these people were living on the streets. Our goal for the night was to provide some sort of relief for these wonderful people who suffered such hard daily lives. We not only wanted to provide physical relief for them, but we also wanted them to have fun for just one night. To forget all the worries and concerns that come with living on the streets. To experience or get a glimpse of God's peace and joy. Not only were we able to do this with our words, but we were able to physically show them how God provides. With extra money that one of our team members had fundraised, we were not only able to purchase a meal and a blanket for each person that came to the event, but each child also got a present. The look on some of the children's and parents' faces explained it all. Their faces were filled with relief. Their hearts had been moved because of the light that they had experienced.
Hearts across the world were also moved because of what happened that night. A picture of a little girl holding her gifts and blanket with a little bit of the story behind it circulated over social media. People saw the immediate impact of their generous gifts and felt led to give even more. Money started flowing to our team. We had so much that we hardly knew what to do with it! After a lot of praying and talking about what we should do with it, we decided that it would be best used to buy Loch supplies so that her ministry could be expanded. Our heart behind the donations was not to just give gifts to people to make them happy. We didn't want to be a charity. We wanted to use the money in a way that would equip Lodge to help impact others around her eternally. With the extra money that we raised, we were able to buy Lodge and the seven kids that lived at her house a television, a DVD player, and some movies. This was in hopes of giving Loch and her kids something fun to do. To give them some sort of rest and fun in the midst of their hard and hectic lives. She's also hoping to use it as a ministry tool someday as well.
Another ministry tool we were able to purchase was a hot water heater for the street kids. Every day Loch takes in children and gives them showers and a safe place to play and learn. Thanks to many people's generous donations, those kids are now having hot showers. The final gift we were able to buy with the extra money was a bike. This bike is an amazing resource for Loch and her ministry. Tapos, a staff member who works with Loch in her ministry, goes to the streets almost every day. While he's out, he talks with the families that live on the streets, checks up on any of their needs, and does minimal medical care. Now with this bike he'll be able to carry more supplies and get to places twice as fast. By simply giving Tapos a bike, we didn't just give him a gift. We equipped him to reach more people and impact more lives. These gifts and this impact wasn't by our own strength. We couldn't have done all of these things without others being willing to give, without God impacting their hearts. If you have been a part of this process or give to any other cause, thank you. This generosity truly has made an incredible impact on this world which can't be measured.
Hearts across the world were also moved because of what happened that night. A picture of a little girl holding her gifts and blanket with a little bit of the story behind it circulated over social media. People saw the immediate impact of their generous gifts and felt led to give even more. Money started flowing to our team. We had so much that we hardly knew what to do with it! After a lot of praying and talking about what we should do with it, we decided that it would be best used to buy Loch supplies so that her ministry could be expanded. Our heart behind the donations was not to just give gifts to people to make them happy. We didn't want to be a charity. We wanted to use the money in a way that would equip Lodge to help impact others around her eternally. With the extra money that we raised, we were able to buy Lodge and the seven kids that lived at her house a television, a DVD player, and some movies. This was in hopes of giving Loch and her kids something fun to do. To give them some sort of rest and fun in the midst of their hard and hectic lives. She's also hoping to use it as a ministry tool someday as well.
Another ministry tool we were able to purchase was a hot water heater for the street kids. Every day Loch takes in children and gives them showers and a safe place to play and learn. Thanks to many people's generous donations, those kids are now having hot showers. The final gift we were able to buy with the extra money was a bike. This bike is an amazing resource for Loch and her ministry. Tapos, a staff member who works with Loch in her ministry, goes to the streets almost every day. While he's out, he talks with the families that live on the streets, checks up on any of their needs, and does minimal medical care. Now with this bike he'll be able to carry more supplies and get to places twice as fast. By simply giving Tapos a bike, we didn't just give him a gift. We equipped him to reach more people and impact more lives. These gifts and this impact wasn't by our own strength. We couldn't have done all of these things without others being willing to give, without God impacting their hearts. If you have been a part of this process or give to any other cause, thank you. This generosity truly has made an incredible impact on this world which can't be measured.