OK, this post is going to be quite a tough one to write. As I write this tears are streaming down my face. This morning we visited the Gateway School, Children's Home and the Come Together compound. It was one of the most humbling experiences of my life and one that has left me, we'll ... Broken. The Come Together compound is home to the Gateway School and the Children's Home. 400 children come each day from 3 years old through to their mid-teens. The youngest can be in classes of 50-60 whilst some of the older ones are in classes of 10-15 as the school is only a few years old. When we asked them what they liked most about Gateway School, there was a resounding answer of 'studying!' There is a hunger to learn that is challenging to those of who sometimes struggle to persuade our children to get out of bed and go to school. But more than anything there is such a palpable sense of hope and optimism in the eyes of those beautiful little children.
These faces have smiles so wide they could swallow you. They probably come from families with virtually nothing by our Western standards (and by many Indian standards too - the gap between rich and poor in this country is staggering), but they have a love and a joy in their hearts and an optimism for life which children the world over have. One of the differences with Gateway School is that they are trying to build on that hope and with God's strength and power to help these amazing children to break free from their backgrounds and what their culture or caste may say they are going to become and to live free and full lives full of all the gifts, callings and potential that Creator God has put in them. It is therefore an unbelievable privilege to stand in the presence of Pastor Prasad and his wife Sunni (who is the Head Mistress) and all of the teachers and watch as they pour love and hope into these children. Those staff stood there this morning and wanted to honour us for all that we have done for the school and at that moment I really did not want to be there because it isn't me that has done anything, it is those staff and helpers who are, day in and day out, giving of themselves to help those children become all that God wants them to be.
There is a sign over the building with the name and details on it, which says "The future starts here" and I really cannot think of a better phrase to describe the work that is happening in this school. Then, on top of this the Together compound is the children's home, which houses some of the children who are either full orphans or whose family cannot afford to keep them any more. It is heartbreaking to hear of some of the circumstances but an amazing joy that some of these children are able to find a new home in the compound - a home full of love and joy. There is much laughter in the compound and that is a wonderful sign of the atmosphere that has been created here.
I will go back to Cardiff next week a changed person not just because of the poverty that I have seen but because I have seen people, first hand, who are doing something about it and are making a difference in the lives of many, many children and this can only bless the heart of God so much.
But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14 NET)
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