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The India Christian
Mission Center (ICMC) exists to serve India's orphans, widows, lepers, the handicapped
and the unreached, irrespective of caste, creed, community and
religion through the love of Jesus.
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Your
Sponsored Kids Paint the Town Christmas
The man who spent Christmas
last year preaching to inmates from a windowless cell, spent
this year leading a parade of 2000 children caroling through the
streets of Salem. Dr Jay donned a festive Santa hat and
the children all wore their new outfits from you given at
Christmas, sporting traditional costumes with stars, balloons,
lights, crosses and big smiles.
The event
attracted the local media and the children showed up joyfully on
local TV and newspapers the next day.
They had to hire fifteen
policeman for outside crowd control.
Afterwards, the
children
lit off firecrackers, ate sweets and a special Christmas meal
all together.
Photo Note:
The white long outfit that Dr Jay is wearing is the accepted
dress attire for a religious leader.
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www.icmcindia.org a
NEW LOOK
Take a look at our updated
website at www.icmcindia.org
You can now make donations online. New sponsors can see
their child's photo and send an email to your child.
Existing sponsors will be online soon!
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A Peek
into Brenden, Sarah and Colleen's Trip
Our short-term, three-month
team settled in at the House of Peace last week, diving into the
culture, experience and work.
NOTES FROM COLLEEN
(teaching ESL): "It's
going to be a very exhausting time, but I found one teacher
there, teaching second grade, who I really hit it off with right
away. She is going to be a lot of fun to work with and was
telling me all kinds of things we could do and how we could help
each other out...
I am getting bug
bites pretty bad again. I have probably between both my feet I
think 15, plus 9 blisters so I've been doing barefoot some and
remembering to use the deet."
NOTES FROM
SARAH (developing sponsorship automation): "I have had
the privilege of watching the sunrise over the mountains each
morning as I spend time with the Lord on the rooftop.
...I was able to
meet the women in the office with whom I will be working on the
database until the end of the month.
...Today was
day three of trying to learn Tamil. It is coming more easily
than I expected but will still be difficult. The children make
wonderful tutors. They help with my pronunciation and I help
them with their English. Dr. Jay says Tamil it is very easy to
speak. "One month!", he says.
...We drove out to
the Promised Land yesterday. I got to see all the orphans that
stay there. Over 1,000. My heart broke. My only comfort was
that the Lord's burden for them is greater than mine and He is
so much more powerful than I am. Were I to feel a fraction for
the heartache He feels for them, I would be crushed under the
weight. All I can do is love them with the love the Father has
given to me, and I do.
...God is doing
great things here. There is so much need, but there is so much
going right. Dr. Jay, raised as an orphan himself, loves the
children. He always has a hand in his. The children refer to
him as father. They are all receiving an education, and Lord
willing, will be able to have bright futures as they go forth
into the world as lights for Him. There were water filters
installed last year and illness in the orphanage has gone down.
Praise the Lord for all He has done and will continue to do!
NOTES FROM
BRENDEN (preparing for long-term stay, child development):
"So far personal
devotions have been the anchor of my day. We are developing a
strategy and routine for language learning and are investing
considerable time in language study.
...I continue to
spend good time learning from Dr Jay.
...Today I train
to Bangalore to interview translators.
...My faith is
really being increased during this time.
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New Photos by
Warren Hall Crain
 Warren
Hall Crain, rotarian and former journalist, lined up
over 1,000 updated close-up photos of the children
during his visit in December. We hope to have
them linked to existing sponsors and viewable online
in the next month or so. Stay with us on this!
Going from a manual system to automation for 2,000
children is considerably challenging.
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Got a Sponsorship
Question?
Visit www.icmcindia.org/sponsorFAQ.htm
for a list of common
questions and answers, such as: How to I write to my
child? Can I send a gift? Do I get a tax-deductible
receipt?
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Answered Prayers, Boys Hostel to be Built
An answer to many prayers from a government requirement that the
boys at the Promised Land be moved from the school building to a
new place, and other housing needs:
From Dr Jay:
"What
a great good news for the orphans and widows to know that a
friend has left 100,000 USA dollars for the mission.
About 50,000 USA dollars will be
used for primary boys’ hostel for 300 – 350 children at the
Promised Land.
About 30,000 USA dollars will be
used to complete 2nd floor of St.Graham High school
for 1200 children.
About 20,000 USA dollars will be
used to complete the 1st floor of girls’ hostel in
Salem".
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Short
Term Teams Plan Trips
Jan 10 - March 31:
Brenden Hollingsworth, Sarah Zook, and Colleen Hosey are living with the children teaching English, completing the
sponsorship database, and laying a foundation for a future two
to five year team to work alongside Dr Jay. Contact Brenden at
bhollingsworth@icmcindia.org
Jan 9 - 21: Busso and Janette Lemme
are spending thier last days as a team of family and fellow rotarians
right now visiting their sponsored children and touring India.
Jan 20 - Feb 1:
Jeanne Zahn takes a focused team (leaving tonight!!!)
to work in
the office and lay
grounds for US support of the Timothy School and ICMC national
 missionaries, bringing along
a pastor to teach in the Timothy School, a nurse
to work in the clinic, and a psychologist to counsel some of the
children and survey for future work in the this area.
Pray for Jason Olcott, Michael Tucker, Shannon Carpenter, Diana
Hollaway, and Melissa Sloan. Contact Jeanne at
jzahn@icmcindia.org
June 2005:
John Jackson plans to lead a team for church leaders interested
in partnering with ICMC. Contact John at
jjackson@icmcindia.org
July 2006:
Mike Webster plans to lead a team of medical and dental
professionals for a one to two month work at the Promised Land,
possibly in conjunction with a grant from the University of
Mississippi. Contact Mike at
mwebster@icmcindia.org
June 2006 for two
to five years: Brenden
Hollingsworth
 is recruiting for a short/long term team to invest
in ICMC and the children. Looking for humble, willing, and
able men, women and families. You will work alongside Dr
Jay and the national staff with the goal of mutual learning and
leaving it ultimately in their able hands. All areas
require creativity, leadership skills, and business acumen in
the particular field.
Examples include . . .
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Youth
pastors, child development, and staff training.
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Develop Vocational Training
Institute for the teens to learn a trade - there is an empty
building on a piece of land on the main road ready to go!
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Teach English as a second
language in their three schools.
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Develop an Art and Music
therapy school as part of the Tamil curriculum.
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Develop a Physical Education
and extracurricular sports program.
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Medical professionals, such
as nurses, will always find much to do.
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Develop the Timothy School to
the next level. Create library, mentor teachers, work
alongside current Director, live with the students, develop
curriculum.
Contact
Brenden at
bhollingsworth@icmcindia.org
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December Report
from Mrs Christy
We are so grateful
to the Lord as He was so good to us throughout this
year 2005. We are obliged much to all our sponsors,
donors and prayer partners for their loving
faithfulness to our Mission throughout 2005.
All our
children had their half yearly examinations until
23.12.’05.
Three water
purifiers were fixed at the Promised Land and one at
Salem centre.
Readymade
dresses for Christmas were purchased and distributed
to the children on 18.12.’05.
Sweets and
cookies were prepared for all our children and staff
by hiring some specialized people for Christmas.
Special carol rounds
were conducted by our staff and children on
24.12.’05. All the children gathered at Salem and
had a common dinner at St.Basil school. It was a day
of happiness to everyone. Children had a very good
time with the carol parties from other 4 churches
and schools.
Rev. Jay gave a
wonderful heart touching message during Christmas
service.
Special meals
with cakes were taken by the children on the
Christmas day.
All the
children fired many sorts of crackers and enjoyed
much on the Christmas day.
In every village
church (Konnanchettiyur, Mount Zion, Udayapatti,
Ellayur, Deevattipatti, Soragai and Paruthikadu)
Christmas was celebrated well and we all were
thankful to the Lord. Flood relief funds were given
to the needy people.
We had the
opening ceremony of St.Grace Lilian Teacher Training
Institute on 29.12.2005 with the students and staff
having Rev. Fr. Panneerselvam as the chief guest. On
the same day we got recognition from the Tamilnadu
Government. The Lord has done great things for our
mission through your goodselves. We are so thankful
to you.
“Do not be
afraid, I will help you” Isaiah 41:14
We wish you a
happy New Year 2006!
Yours in Him,
Mrs. J. Christy
Secretary
ICMC
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You can set up
automatic payments online now! Go to
www.icmcindia.org and click on MAKE A DONATION.
You will use a secure account to debit your credit
card with a one-time or re-occuring payment.
You can
also use your online banking to have your bank debit your
bank account each month. Visit the website for your
personal bank and add ICMC as a Payee.
NOTE to
existing sponsors: You won't see your children
linked to you yet. If we have your email on file, you
can get your password online.
If we don't
have your email, please don't try to create a new account.
Please email
jzahn@icmcindia.org to get
your password. We
have you linked to your child in ICMC's manual system.
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What's
Happening for ICMC in the USA
Vision Teams
Two week-long teams are criss-crossing in India. The
Seattle team is at ICMC right now and the Arizona/Mississippi
Team leaves for India tomorrow.
4 and 5 Year Old's Piggy Banks
Four and five year olds at Spring of Life Christian Church in
Mesa, AZ have been giving their nickels and dimes to be the
hands and feet of Jesus to the poor. Their sweet hearts
reaching into their piggy banks gave $98.30 over the past few
months to help the children at ICMC.
If you have an
event or trip to post for your state, church, school, or
organization, please contact Jeanne at
jzahn@icmcindia.org
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Your Reminder Band
 You
are now a marketing representative for the children at ICMC!
Let us know if you would like a "Live Strong" wristband that
says "Promised Land Children" and "www.icmcindia.org".
Send $3 extra in your monthly sponsorship and a note and
we'll mail it to you.
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What
do you Think?
Do you like this new format
of getting information from ICMC? We plan on sending
it out via email once a month, mid-month. Let us know
your thoughts, ideas and suggestions, or problems viewing at
jzahn@icmcindia.org
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Addresses
For sponsorships:
ICMC
PO Box 530758
Henderson, Nevada 89053
For letters/cards:
ICMC
Dr. S. Jayaraj Krishnan
(Your child's name)
House of Peace
Vasanthapuram,
Chinna Thirupathy PO
Salem - 636 008
Tamil Nadu India
It cost .80
in stamps and write "airmail" on the envelope.
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