On Sunday evening, Feb. 13, all of the children in Pearl’s Home, the Hands of Compassion boarding home in the village, were at church when a fire started in one of the 2 buildings in that complex. The one-story building had a thatched roof that had been there for a long time and was extremely dry. Apparently the fire started from a power surge and the building was quickly engulfed in flames and destroyed.
Praise the Lord there were no children in the building. However, three bicycles that the children used to go to school, several schoolbooks, and their stainless eating plates were destroyed.
The caretaker’s quarters are in a two-story building located directly behind the burning building and was saved as a portion of a thatched overhang caught fire and they were able to cut some rope attaching it to the building so that the thatch fell away resulting in the second building being saved.
Most of the children are now sleeping in the two-story building and some who live nearby have returned to sleep at home but return during the day to be a part of the ongoing program that includes special tutoring for them. Food is cooked outdoors over an open fire.
Plans are already underway to replace the lost building with a more functional one that will better meet the needs of the 45 or so children in the home. A “Rebuilding Fund” has already been started and a number of checks have been received and these funds will go to India the first week in April when Mel is there.
Your prayers are greatly appreciated.
