We recently received a letter from our Compassion International sponsored child~ V. (her first initial.)
V is 16 and lives with her mother and father and brother. Her mother works in the market place sometimes, and her father pulls the rickshaw taxi sometimes. ~ V does very well in school and even writes her letters in English herself without the use of a translator! We are very proud of her!
Here's what she wrote:
In V's school they recently celebrated India Republic Day. I think it is a lot like our 4th of July.
Here's what the Compassion International website says about it.
"A Republic Day celebration is organized by every Compassion child development center across eastern India to teach children in our sponsorship program about national pride. The celebrations include a series of programs like a parade and patriotic dances by the children, flag hoisting, a standing salute to the Indian tricolor by children and staff, and a short speech by the guest of honor.
Through these celebrations, children at the development centers are taught about brotherhood and harmony irrespective of their caste and faith. Children learn to become responsible and loyal toward their future duty as citizens of their nation.
Republic Day (26th January) is celebrated every year across India with great pomp and pageant. It is one of the three national holidays of the country.
The occasion is marked by a grand parade in the nation’s capital of New Delhi. It includes a march-past by India’s three armed forces, distribution of bravery awards, and folk dances by tribal people in their traditional costumes, marking the cultural unity of India.
After flag hoisting, the children put together a beautiful patriotic dance dressed up in the tricolored attire, followed by another short message on the theme of Republic Day. Finally the celebration culminates with a vote of thanks and closing prayer from another Compassion-assisted child.
After the program ends, children line up in rows of two to collect sweets and the national flag is distributed at the gate by volunteers
Republic Day fills up every Indian heart with patriotic fervor because it was on this day in 1950 that the Indian Republic and its constitution came into force. On January 26, 1950, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar framed the written constitution of India with seven other members of the drafting committee that finally saw India become a republic nation.
Republic Day has set a milestone in India’s history by giving all Indian citizens the right to exercise freedom in every sphere of their life and also teaching them to live in unity, equality and harmony amidst their vast cultural diversity.
The Marthoma center is ministering to children coming from both Hindu and Muslim families. In the past, village standards were so rigid that Hindu and Muslims would not drink from the same hand pump without first washing it properly. Each had their separate ponds where they took baths. The development center has helped children to advocate the message of brotherhood and unity in their families through which many Hindu and Muslim families have come together in love and harmony."
Love and Harmony! That's what we are all working towards, aren't we? ~ Hopefully we have made some difference in the life of V and her family. ~ She is growing up to be a beautiful young lady with a great school that is teaching her Christian values and helping her self esteem. Educated girls are the ones who will be able to support themselves and help support their families some day. Less of these girls will be married when they are 14 or 16 and already having babies. ~
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