On top of the World!

Little Prakash balances while David waves. Daily exercise, karate practice, and healthy, satisfying meals give the children strength physically and emotionally. No couch potatoes here!

Smiles for all seasons

Left to right: Ellakiya, Nandini, Tamil Selvi, Manju (behind), Little Sangeetha holding a cherry between her fingers, Mala with Malathi behind her, Gowri (Raghu's sister), and Esther. Priya decided to avoid this picture and is seen moving out to the right.

Leaping Lizards!

Honest, teacher, the lizard really did eat my homework! Possibly atrracted by the warmth of the laptop (or the crumbs on the table) this baby lizard takes refuge from the piece of paper being used to swat it off the table, by scampering under the power cable connection. While beneficial for keeping down the mosquito population, lizards can be quite bothersome at times - like at 3am when their squawking and scampering on the ceiling above your bed keeps you awake! This baby is no more than an inch long, but these lizards can grow to 8 inches long.

Hello Spring!

Early March at Miracle Garden brings roses in bloom and also the looming of upcoming yearly school exams for the children. April is full of tests in every grade. Thus March is a month when students put their proverbial noses to the grindstone and prepare for the rigorous exam season.

Four Feet High!

Early morning outside Miracle Garden. Buildings are at the 4 ft level where we start marking the doors and windows. Next we will go to the seven feet level and put in a belt of concrete. Within 3 weeks we will be finishing the roofing.

Filling the Flooring Foundation

The basement has to be filled up with mud as preparation for the flooring. We have poured in more than 60 loads of mud so far. We get the mud and then workers get it physically poured into the basement. Then we buy truck loads of water to get the mud to soften up and sink in. When it hardens, we can add layers of gravel ("metal" stones) before the cement is poured for the flooring.

Who needs a forklift?

Workers unload truckloads of cement to be used for mortar in the new building.

The Playground

The Playground at Miracle Garden is a place of fun and joy for our kids. Here you find kids in blissful play and when you see it you find peace yourself.

Budding Orphan Musicians

Here at Miracle Garden we believe in giving all kids a shot at their dreams. Some of our kids dream of becoming musicians. We have a professional teacher who trains our kids in music.

How We Build!

We are building a new home for our Tsunami orphans I thought it would be interesting for you to see how we use old world manual labor to build mordern buildings.

Pillars and belt

The pillars and "belt" are being prepared in the new buildings at Miracle Garden. The pillars and foundation hold most of the weight of the building, while the "belt" or cement & iron ring around the building provides support for each story. Bricks and solid blocks will be used to build the dorms.

Pouring the pillars

Workers stand in a line ready to pass large bowls of mixed cement to pour into the pillar foundation holes for the new dormitory buildings.

Truckloads of sand!

MG girls play on the 10 truckloads of sand delivered just outside the MG compound to be used to mix cement for the new buildings.

Finished Iron Rods

MG boys climb on the completed iron rods, bent and tied to stabilize the pillars for the new buildings.