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Project India supported by Compassion 4 Kids International, Inc.
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►Who
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On February 6, 2010, Joseph Burke, CEO or Compassion 4 Kids International, Inc. arrive at the airport in Vijayawada, India. Communication was off, so no one met him at the airport. This is the first time Joe landed in a foreign country without someone waiting for him. A new experience as he keeps looking for anyone while walking the long distance from the baggage pick-up to the sidewalk outside of the terminal. It was at least a couple hundred feet. Joe pulls out his cell phone that had Kiran's number in it but it didn't work. Later he found out that he had not put in the 3 digit prefix number. As in tried to find an office, about 10 taxi drivers hurriedly came up to him asking for him to use their taxi. Joe noticed one of the taxi drivers indicating something behind him, so turned around and there was an airport official that could talk English. After looking in the information book he had made up, he found the 3 digits that were missing and called. Kiran's father answered the phone but was hard to understand so he gave the phone to the airport official. After a couple of minutes Joe was asked if he could take a taxi there and so he asked how much the drivers would charge and it had to be air conditioned. Only one came up with that and it cost 1,500 rupee, about $34 for a 2 hour ride. So off he went. Joe now shares his story of what happened.
When I got out of the car, they put 3 fresh flower wreaths around my neck. Than the peddles came as I thought back to when I was showered with rice when I got married. The peddles kept coming.
This is the most different greeting I had ever received anywhere I
have ever gone. I do not know how many people greeted me but The hotel had a very small elevator with a scissor door so after the first use, we just used the stairs. The hotel begins on the 3rd floor. The hotel room was almost wall to wall (2) twin beds with a TV, and 3 chairs for putting the suitcases on. The bathroom did have a flushing toilet but they brought me a bucket of hot water for taking a bath every morning.
We traveled a little of the area to see the topography which is mostly flat with small hills. They live on the outskirts of Narasaraopet and was a 8 block walk to the closet stores.
If I decided to go for a walk, I had 4 or 5 with me. Some of the
houses were pretty nice and then there were grass thatched wa I believe I read that 60% of the population is unemployed. So most of the people are poor and the a good percentage of them are very poor.  Later in the week, Kiran found and brought in 16 children that either did not have any parents (4), with the others having one parent that they did not see as the parent worked 12 to 14 hour days. There is one 14 year old girl in the upper back left side. None of them go to school because those they live with do not have the income to pay for their school books and clothing. They try to find little jobs to help anyone or beg for money and food. The children are between the ages of 8 and 14. One of the children did not know how old he was and the other children just said "He is 10."
After we had a long chat with the
After the meal they relaxed and I heard them humming the song I had taught them. When I return to India, I will see if any of those same children remember that song.
Now is where you come in. These children, as you have read, do not have living parents that oversee them. They do not get the love and care as your children receive from you. Talk it over with your family and provide the children here, with the support that will allow us to send to Kiran and give them a home where they come home to from school, not work, and have the loving care, like your children or grandchildren receive. It is only $30.00 per month to provide shelter, clothing, food, medical care and education. That is less than the cost to take your whole family out to dinner at a nice restaurant. Or maybe you could give up a special coffee or soft drink at a fast food or 7-Eleven. Maybe you could support even two children per month or send gift support periodically to help us with the building of a home for them. It will cost about $4,000 for a 1,000 square foot house with furnishings. Many of you will make that possible. The Maranatha Foundation needs your support now and you can get more information and our support form by writing us at: indiaquestions@compassion-4-kids-int.org OR projects@compassion-4-kids-int.org OR supportthekids@compassion-4-kids-int.org OR compassion4kids@compassion-4-kids-int.org
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When we get to Narasaraopet, Kiran, his father (Gollapalli), and Amar
meet us along the road. At first they wanted me to get into their car but
with my 3 bags, we would not all fit so we follow them in the taxi to their
house.
the time flew by and 9 pm came and they asked if I needed to get to the
hotel. 
While
I was with Kiran, we talked about setting up a foundation, the new income
and expense ledgers to keep, hard copy ledgers, board members,
responsibilities and on and on. 
children I asked if they would like to learn a song in English. They
were enthused to do that. I first taught them the words to a song that
goes "Allelue, Allelue, Alleluia, Praise Ye the Lord." After they could
sing that on their own, then I taught them the body involvement of
squatting and standing as it was their turn to sing. They had a ball
with that and I got my cardiac exercise for the week, or maybe it was
for the month. 
Then
after our sing time Kiran had his mother and the other helpers bring in
the food. It consisted of rice and a sauce that had at least 4
vegetables, maybe some meat, and curry powder. When their dish emptied a
little, the mother brought more rice and more sauce until they were
full. They do this for kids at least once a month.
That
night we went to a church way out in the "sticks." Yes they have the
sticks there also. We were supposed to be there at 7 pm but we were not
able to get there until 8:45 and no one was at the church except for one
person. The word went out and about 30 people came. But the children
Kiran expected were not there. So two days later, he got the pastor of
the church to find a vehicle and bring the kids they could find and
bring them to the house. 