9) How much contact should there be? &
10) Can there be too much?
We have always left this to the discretion of the sponsors. To be honest, the children (and the teachers) find it very hard to write regularly since their first (and for the younger ones, only) language is Tamil. So everything must be written out in Tamil and translated (which means finding someone to translate hundreds of letters… So with the best will in the world, the children are not likely to write often until their English is good enough. Even then it is not part of their culture as it is ours, and some may never become proficient in English. Having said that, I feel it is important for the sponsors to write to and especially pray for their child, if they can. I don't think there can be too much contact. If you wanted to go and visit, you would be made very welcome.
11) How advanced will the education be as the children grow up? Do they learn skills so that they can work and support themselves?
The children will be encouraged to progress as far as they can. Most of the older ones already want to go through Bible College and become pastors or teachers. Some will take higher education. In the next phase of building we are planning to build a Technical College where they can learn skills such as computing, sewing, mechanics, carpentry, secretarial, administration, animal husbandry, etc. Some are given opportunities to learn life and home skills by being 'home-helps' for awhile in various homes. Here they learn housekeeping, and general life skills like shopping, etc.
We are very much learning as we go along, with the Lord's help. One of the things we are very keen to do is to encourage sponsors and benefactors to consider taking a few weeks holiday to visit the orphanage and teach the staff and teachers any appropriate skills. This could be anything from the obvious such as pediatrics or dieticians to the less obvious such as electricians and farmers, and could take the form of seminars or practical demonstrations.
