The Samuel Joseph Jackson
Memorial Mercy Home
The Mercy Orphanage was
sited in a suburb of Bangalore when we visited on the 2000 mission. We were
aware that the children were subdued, even frightened. When we questioned the
managers they told us of an incident that had happened two or three weeks
previously. Two cobra snakes had got into one of the children's dormitories and
the manager had chased them out. He killed one of the snakes but when the local
Hindus found out they attacked the orphanage. The local people worship the
snakes and this manager had killed one of their gods. After this incident there
was a discussion between Bishop Pastor Francis Jackson and the local people but
because of an ongoing danger to the children it was agreed that the orphanage
should move.
It was during our visit
that the Pastor's son Samuel died and it was thought right that the new home be
called "The Samuel Joseph Jackson Memorial Mercy Home". During the mission in
2001 the Orphanage was officially opened and three ministers from the state of
Karnataka officiated at the opening.
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It's good to see
the children so happy and smiling and to know that they are well looked
after. |
What a lovely smile!
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The Together For God team
could see the change in the children; they were now happy and relaxed. Within
one year of the problem the children are re-settled and developing in a happy
and loving environment. There will always be work to do at the Samuel Joseph
Jackson Memorial Mercy Home as the number of orphans needing assistance
continues to grow.
During the visit in 2003,
five women from the Together for God team spent several days at the orphanage,
teaching the children, helping them with their homework and simply enjoying
spending time with them.(see photographs
under projects)
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Second storey being built in dormitory block
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During our latest
visit in 2004, we noticed that more building work has been done. Construction
work on more dormitories has started, as more room is needed for the 120
children being cared for in the orphange as the work continues to grow.
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