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We also saw the clinic...which my sister actually had a need for! Her belly button pierce needed a little tending to! We had lots of laughs over that one. But hey...it worked! My belly button wouldn't look so cute pierced! We also got to see the adult literacy program in session. It's so awesome that they are being given the opportunity to enrich their lives in this important way.

Later in the day, when the older kids were out of school and at their Anurag program, we went to visit them. They also gave us a"show" with singing and dancing in beautiful outfits. They are great little performers and we were so honored!

To wrap it up...it was such a privilege to see first hand this operation in Delhi. I'm so thankful to God for making it happen and for taking such good care of Kimberly and I while we traveled. God has shown Himself as "provider" in this organization! I hope He continues to allow me to be a part of it...in whatever way I can! - Jen Liang

The primary reason for my trip to India was to visit Anurag Society. Prem Gideon has become a good friend of mine over the last several years, as I’ve been trying to help raise money to fund their operations. It was so fun to spend time in Delhi with her and her husband. My sister, Kimberly, and I were so thankful to have them as hosts in such a new and different environment! We had lots of great food, conversation and laughs!! And of course it was a great pleasure to visit Anurag. What an amazing place! I think the thing that really struck me was how clean, organized and peaceful it was there. Also, the children seemed so happy and content...they knew they were in a loving and safe place.

While we were at Anurag we saw many busy people! We toured the Sewing and Tailoring Unit where the girls are hard at work measuring, cutting, embroidering, designing and weaving. They took our measurements and made us each a couple Indian style shirts with embroidery on them!

We also saw so many incredibly beautiful small children from the preschool to the primary school. The primary school children gave us a little "show" with singing and dancing in flower costumes. They were so cute!!!

all over India, although most live in Chennai. It was near 100 degrees and humid that day and I was grateful for the swamp coolers in the main conference room. During the meeting, the Board reviewed a steady stream of reports from every corner of Anurag.

Like any organization, Anurag faces daily challenges in different forms. I was impressed by the caliber of the Board Members and pleased to know these challenges are being met by these experienced and compassionate friends of Anurag.

As Treasurer, my focus is on Anurag’s finances. Anurag-US is made up of nearly 250 individuals, families and institutional donors, who together provided over $77,000 of financial support directly to Anurag in India. Thanks to low overhead and outside administrative support, we were able to make sure that 100% of your donations went directly to India. Today, these numbers account for less than half of the annual needs in India. There are other financial supporters of Anurag in India, including both local and foreign sources. But after all the support has been added up, 300 of the 1,000+ kids remain without sponsors. Anurag needs more people to sponsor children.

As Anurag’s programs expand, this financial gap widens. My prayer for 2009 is that together we will find a way to bridge the gap. Will you help? Do you know other people who would want to be a donor like you? Pray and ask God to guide you. I know He will. Then, let us hear from you.

This was not my first trip to ANURAG. I had seen its impact and work many times before. I always knew that in a harsh community where poverty and abuse are a way of life, ANURAG stood in sharp contrast to the environment around it, offering a confident, strong message of hope. But this trip allowed me to take an intimate look into that hope for a few of the individuals at ANURAG.

Spending a whole month in India allowed my family and I time to sit back and experience everyday life at ANURAG. We spent many of our days in Delhi at the program just visiting with

friends, helping where we could, and observing the daily grind. Again and again, the overwhelming evidence of hope in each individual made such an impact on me.

It seems like every single person at ANURAG has their own unique story of hope, from the smallest student to the cleaning lady. One woman was eager to tell my husband and me about how ANURAG had dramatically changed her life. She said “When I came to ANURAG I didn’t even know how to write my name. I had to use my thumb print as my signature. It was so humiliating.” When she began to be tutored at ANURAG, the first thing she learned was how to write her name. As she told us her story my husband translated her words for me. But I didn’t need a translator to understand the hope in her sparkling eyes.

One afternoon we saw a small, mischievous boy dressed in a school uniform and caring a back pack. He poked his head around the corner and smiled coyly at us as he said “Good morning, Ma’am!” in English.

Prem told me that the woman sweeping the floor in the next room was his mother. She had been caught in a desperate situation at home and came to ANURAG asking for help. After years of marriage to an alcoholic husband her family was left neglected and impoverished. She knew the only way for her three boys to escape the cycle of poverty was through education. She desperately wanted to send her boys to a good school but had no hope of doing it. She was quickly offered a job cleaning at ANURAG because it was the only opening available. The woman jumped at the chance. She wholeheartedly threw herself into the work and was soon promoted as the top cleaning lady. She was able to start earning money to better her situation at home and her boys were enrolled in ANURAG’s Covenant Primary School. Now she no longer needs to rely on her husband for provisions but is able to take care of them herself. ANURAG gave her independence and a future for her sons that would not have been possible otherwise.

The little boy suddenly came back to correct his greeting, “I mean good afternoon!” he giggled and letting out a squeal ran down the steps back to the street. I wondered how many other untold stories of hope were waiting to be uncovered at ANURAG. I thought of how carefree and happy the little boy looked as he joined his friends out on the street. He probably is oblivious to it all…how countless the stories must be.

What a blessing for Jeanine and myself to be able to return to Anurag Society for a visit! It was such a joy to spend time telling Bible stories, doing crafts, and playing games with the students. And we really value the time we spent getting to know the teachers and staff! It’s always amazing how many different operations and activities are going on at Anurag – God is truly at work in Anurag!

After hearing more stories about some of the students, it’s obvious that Anurag is instrumental in giving the kids a safe, healthy, loving environment. Not only does the general sponsorship after-school program provide tutoring in English and math, but it gives the kids a safe place to go when their parents are working. Many of them might otherwise get into trouble or go home to an environment where they are subject to abuse and neglect. The primary school gives poor families (i.e. those making under $100 per month) a chance to send one or more of their children to an English medium school that provides uniforms, school supplies, nutritious meals, basic health care, and most importantly the love of Christ.

Not only does Anurag provide basic needs to students, it is also helps the students and staff grow in their faith of Christ. Anurag holds Bible clubs for primary school students on Wednesdays, where they learn basic Bible stories and memorize scripture. The Saturday Bible club is available for general sponsorship students as well as children who don’t attend Anurag. Hundreds of children attend both of these Bible clubs! And it will never cease to amaze me the amount of scripture the students have memorized – they are models for our students here in America! In addition, the Tailoring school students and staff have devotions every morning, teachers and administrative staff have a Bible study on Friday afternoons, and yes even the kitchen staff has regular devotions. They even won a recent contest for scripture memory!

Anurag has been a key force in bringing many children and adults in New Delhi to come to know the love of Christ, and God’s kingdom IS being expanded through the program. It’s so awesome to be a small part of that! I encourage all who feel called to support the program both financially and through prayer. Know that God will definitely use your resources to expand His Kingdom!