January 2006

Hi there!

Here is Fr. Shaju again from Brisson Bala Bhavan, wishing you all a very happy and prosperous new year.

Brisson Bala Bhavan was closed for Christmas and New Year and all the boys were together with their parents for those beautiful occasions. However Brisson Bala Bhavan had an anticipated Christmas celebration on the 16th of December together with the community of Samarpanaram. The ‘Brissonites’ (Brisson Bala Bhavan boys) put up a skit of the nativity scene. It was amazing to see the creativity of the kids. Thanks to the kids and staff of Brisson Bala Bhavan. All of us enjoyed it. Then we had a nice supper and every one received their gifts (probably for the first time) and the boys were jubilant with their gifts in their hand. We had a lot of fun together.

On the 15th of December we had two special guests from Europe by name Ingrid and Christian Mitterecker who performed a riddle for the kids and also for the community of Samarpanaram. It was very thought provoking. Most of us could not catch the meaning of the riddle, however when it was explored and got an insight into the riddle everyone said “vow!”. The kids enjoyed it and all the more they had an opportunity to participate in it in some way. Thanks to Mr & Mrs Mitterecker.

The boys returned from their holidays on the 2nd of January. They all had to go to school on that day. School again! Vow!!, that was not something that the kids wanted to do. With eyes full of tears they made their way to the school. Their parents looked on when Roy, our driver, drove them away to school.

After the kids left for school I had a meeting with the parents of the school. Their mouths were full to speak to me about experiencing their kids back at home for holidays from our boys’ home. They appreciated the way the kids were behaving at home. They wanted a bath at home in the morning. One was doing yoga after he got up from sleep. One insisted on cleanliness at home, he was cleaning home himself, some even ventured to speak English to their parents, which they did not understand, and so on and so forth. Any way it was interesting to talk to their parents.

When the kids came back from school, of course, their parents had gone. They were sad, but fast they recuperated. The next day morning after the yoga one decided to run home to meet his mother. He had no idea where his mother was. Still he ventured. That gave the rest of us a lot of tension. He was found the next day from the near by city.

Now they are all very much at home in the hostel. They received the progress report and they are doing well. All of them improved from the first semester.

Applications started to come in for the next academic year. We have provision only for six kids for the next year. By the grace of God and by the grace all our generous friends, I guess, we can run it well.

Once again wishing you all a very happy and prosperous New Year and thank you very much for all your generous support

Fr. Shaju
(Director)