Lama Sevana is reaching out to the children of four slum areas with a combined population of 3,500. Most of these people live in one or two-room houses without water, electricity or sanitation facilities. Drinking water is collected from common wells. The roofs of many of the houses leak when it rains.

Most of the families have more than five children, as there is little knowledge of family planning. In many of the households, the woman is the breadwinner, as their husbands are drug or alcohol addicts, sleeping during the day and gambling at night. Strapped for funds to feed their children, it is not unusual for these women to work as maids by day and prostitutes by nights.

Many of these women have also attended our programs, and several have made the decision to accept Christ as Savior. Women who live in slums are being educated on health and child care matters, as well as in Christian principles.

Loans are advanced, as money becomes available, to construct decent living shelters or start simple businesses. Women are taught how to cook low-cost, but nourishing meals.

As our ministry grows, we are seeking to improve the condition of depressed villages. Through a community-based revolving loan fund, we were able to provide the families of one village slum with wells and sanitation facilities for each household.

This year, Christian Aid provided the funds for us to purchase a piece of land on which to build a new children’s home. We are expecting to receive our permit soon, and will then begin construction. Praise the Lord for His provision!