Orphan Mohana is the "akka" or older sister for all the small girls at Miracle Garden. She is seen here with Tamil Selvi, who also seems to have lost several baby teeth! I wonder if the tooth fairy visits India? She should! Please keep Mohana in your prayers so she will be strengthened to look after these little ones and continue to be a good role model for them.  

Its here! The brand new industrial strength washing machine is finally installed and running. The children's school uniforms and bedding is washed with this machine as well as all the laundry for children 8 years old and younger. Older children wash their play clothes by hand. This helps teach them responsibility and care for the blessings they receive. Thank you Bill & Ruth Percival, Beverly Davies, and others for your help in purchasing this tremendous blessing for the children. Thank you also Grandma Barb Abbott for giving the idea to raise money for something special for Bro. John's birthday last July. That is where the idea for the new washing machine came from. Keep those good ideas coming! 

Eight of the nine children who attend English medium school pose in their white uniforms. Pictured here are (from left) Nandakumar, Little Prakash, Sathyan, Velusamy, Sangeetha, Yamuna, Surya, and Kiruba. Tamil Selvi was not feeling well that day so she didn't go to school, although she also attends the English medium school. Thank you again, Ms. Jessica Hope and a few others who have enabled these children to gain a private school education and a brighter future - not to mention fluency in English! The metal carriers in their hands are their lunchboxes. 

THANK YOU Asbury First United Methodist Church! The Christmas boxes finally arrived here in Theethipalayam. The children were thrilled to open each gift and discover so many treasures. You have really blessed them by your gifts and prayers. We all were surprised that it took so long for the boxes to get here. But they made it and the children are enjoying every item! Thank you!!!! 

Oooooh, ice cream! Thank you Jessica Hope for sponsoring an ice cream treat for the children. The boys enjoyed cherry vanilla and the girls enjoyed strawberry. Ice cream is hard to come by way out here in the village, but we were finally able to get some from CBE and bring it back. The kids really enjoyed it.  

You truly can change the world for one child. Miracle Garden still needs more than 20 sponsors. Help these beautiful kids through the healing process and give them hope for the future. Become a sponsor and spread the word!  

Picture yourself here! The Call's received a wonderful, warm welcome by all the orphans. Home made bouquets were given and smiles abounded. Several of the children's sponsors have visited Miracle Garden in the last few months. You could be next! A trip is planned for July 2006. Email Michelle at jmpandian@yahoo.com for details. 

Miracle Garden Tsunami Children's Home welcomed orphan sponsors Mr. & Mrs. Call in February. They were on a tour of India and came out fo their way to see their sponsored child, little Prakash.  

Good morning girls! Waiting in line for breakfast. 

Miracle Garden boys practicing karate lessons. A teacher from the English-medium school has agreed to teach Karate lessons to all the children for about $36 per month. This helps the children build strength, endurance, and skills in self-defense. Both boys and girls get lessons weekly. 

Garden duty team hard at work. In reality, their work has been much harder this last week, as our borewell motor has broken down for the third time. The campus is without borewell water. We have a large drinking water tank and that water has been used for both cooking and bathing. Emergency water has to be purchased to meet the demand on campus. We need to purchase a new borewell motor after this one is fixed temporarily. It will cost about $500. If you are led to contribute to this need of the children, contact Michelle at jmpandian@yahoo.com. 

John with several boys on cow duty. 

Some of the girls enjoying the new ping pong table. Thanks to everyone who participated in that project. :-) 

John calls this van our MUV - multi utility vehicle. It is useful to transport everything from children to rice to kerosene.