Government opens an orphanage with children from MOJ In the United States, abandoned or homeless children are placed into foster homes or facilities run by the state. Christian orphanages here are pretty much non-existent. For almost 20 years, Mission of Joy has been making room for these little ones for the love of Jesus Christ. In India, such a system would create a great burden on the government financially. Yet, in our region of India, the name of Christ has been lifted up among the people because of the work we have done to these little ones. It has caused people to turn from Hinduism and towards Christ, and this has caused great anger among many. So, the government opened it’s own residence facility recently to show that they were doing something about the “millions” of orphans. To start their new facility, they could have gone into the streets and found children at the edge of starvation—children at the edge of physical health—children who had never held a book much less learned to read. Instead, they came to our facility and wanted 20 of our 200 orphans. Because the state has the authority, we did not have the power to stop them. If the government were truly unhappy about the care we were giving, they could have taken all of the children. Instead they took children who had been with us for some time who were well-educated and in very good health. Now, they can show the Hindus who complained about the problem, and of our influence, that they have done something. We of course, are greatly saddened to lose the care of these children, but continue to pray for them. It is possible that when the heat is off, the government will send these children back to us. For now, we ask for our sponsor forbearance. Those whose children have been moved, will be sent new child sponsor packets. We still have many children in need of sponsors, and of course, the loss of these children means we will make room for additional orphans—of which there are thousands in the nearby city of Vijayawada. We ask that you continue to pray for us as we fight a spiritual battle, not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. In the final chapter of our work and lives, we know that Jesus Christ will be declared the final victor. May we be faithful until that soon-coming day.
