Luke*, along with his 2 sisters and mother and father lived in Tirunevelli in the south of India. His father held a good job as a Postmaster and they owned their own house along with some land for farming. Life was good to them all and the 3 children were all educated in English medium schools. However, when he was just 7 years old, everything took a dramatic change when Luke’s father died of a heart disease in 1992. The family were in desperate financial difficulties as huge loans had been taken out to pay for medical treatment during their father’s illness. Other family members refused to help them in their dilemma. His mother sold their house to gain some funds but it was still not enough to pay for school fees. In her desperation, Luke’s mother took the 3 children to Chennai to try and find help. It seemed that all was lost and nothing left to do but end their lives! She took the children to a park and sat them down. She opened out her bag and brought out a bottle of poison. As she and the children were about to drink the poison, a Social worker was passing by and saw them in their hopelessness, realised they needed help, and immediately removed the bottle from them.

It was the saving of the family, as this dear person took the family to a Children’s home in Chennai run by an Australian missionary. The home admitted the 2 girls but as no boys were taken she recommended that Luke be sent to Nambikkai Illam. So after 3+ years of struggle and despondency Luke’s mother finally received the help she desperately needed and went the long way back home alone. Imagine her sadness as she left her children behind. The years ahead were extremely difficult and at times she had to search for fire wood to sell in order to survive.

Luke was 11 years old when he came to Nambi and felt the separation from his mother and sisters dreadfully. He cried and cried for many days. The Tamil spoken in Chennai was different from the Tamil spoken in his hometown of Tirunevelli so he didn’t speak to anyone at first and felt so lonely. The other boys in the home told him that his mum would come on the second Saturday in the month to see him. Leela told Luke that his mother would not be allowed to see him until he stopped crying! It wasn’t until after 3 months that she finally came.

Luke began to make friends with the other boys and to settle into the home although at times he wanted to stop studying and go back home. For the first time in his life he learnt about Jesus Christ. His older sisters were also in a Christian home and they wrote and encouraged Luke to have faith in Jesus. This he did and prayed also that his mother would have faith in the Lord Jesus for eternal life. In 2005 he was baptised and added to the Church of God in Pallavaram. He has often been used in translating church messages.

Luke proved a good student and this year gained a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communications. He is now looking for work in Chennai. He hopes to set up a home where his mother and sisters can join him. Luke has been extremely popular at the home. His quiet manner and tender ways has made him a big brother to most of the younger boys. It has been delightful to hear him say that Nambi is not a hostel but a home and the best thing about being there was learning that Jesus gives eternal life. We can certainly see it at work in his life. His desire now is to do to others as has been done to him. He appreciates the kindness of so many people who have financed the home and would like to help in this way himself. We will all miss him so much!

* Name has been changed.