Fr Jeff’s Return Visit to India – Sunday 18^th January

Having travelled for nearly 5,500 miles Mary Skaag and I eventually arrived last Saturday in the remote village of Amagampalli, in the southern region of Andhra Pradesh. The welcome we received from Fr Sarves with flowered garlands and all the members from the Home for the Needy was emotional. It was great to be back. The transformation that has taken place since my last visit two years ago was amazing. Further accommodation blocks have now been built. The elderly residents staying at the Home are now able to use hot water daily which is generated from solar panels on the roofs. In a country where hygiene is difficult to maintain the hot water is an essential luxury. The orphaned children also welcomed us to the Home for the Needy with their usual enthusiasm. As they were beginning a weeks holiday from school they were keen to let Mary and I know what they had been learning. Fr Sarves introduced me to some new children who are being helped. The immediate impression you have of the Home is a community of young and old working together as a family. This would never have been possible without the blessing of God, the tireless work of Mary Skaag and Fr Sarves and the financial support of the parishioners back in the UK. Here in Consett, we have supported the work of Fr Sarves for five years and other parishes in Newcastle and Stockton have also come on board. In God’s way, we have all been invited to help some of the poorest in our world today. I feel humbled that we have responded to the real needy in a particular rural part of India. Lives have been saved and transformed and children who would never have had the opportunity to attend school are now given new opportunities. In just over eight years so much has been achieved through cooperating with God’s providence.

Last Sunday was the feast of the Baptism of the Lord which was a fitting day to baptise two of our sponsored children at the Home. Sreekanth and Lakshmi who are 16 and 13 were dressed up for the occasion by Mary, who rose to the challenge like any mother would! Priests from the surrounding parishes attended the open air Mass and the atmosphere turned into a big village celebration. Fr Sarves asked me to baptise the children and offer them their First Holy Communion. I felt tremendously proud of what we were doing and united myself in prayer with all families back at home. Once again I was grateful of the support you give this project. Lunch was later served for all with goat curry and rice being a rare treat. I tried it and found it tasty.

Other events this week have included a visit to Bishop’s House in Kadapa, two hours by bumpy road from Amagampalli. I say bumpy because my head keeps hitting the roof of the vehicle as Fr Sarves tries to avoid the potholes. The Bishop sends his regards to us all and praised Fr Sarves as a good priest whose care for the real needy was an inspiration for both civic and religious leaders. Mary and I also visited a local village from which one of our orphaned children came. We met his aunty and her family in their house which I would describe as a plastic and brick house. Despite the severe poverty there was a joyfulness and simplicity that was a gift to ponder. The children from the Home for the Needy came with us on this visit so we were never short of a laugh and new insights into India which they wanted to share with us.

This coming week I hope to visit a children’s prison where one of Fr Sarves friends is chaplain. Mary and I will also visit a local medical centre run by two young doctors. There commitment to the poor in this village seven days a week is another example of being instruments of God’s healing to others. Please continue to pray for Mary and myself during this time in India.

Kind regards, Fr Jeff