One of the orphanages that we visited was on the southern coast in a village called Kayam Kulum. We met a celebrity there named Sumi. She is ten years old and she reminds me of the princess in the Disney Movie "Alladin". She made the front page of the local paper because she was reported dead afetr the tidal wave hit her village. Some people had seen her on the beach just before the wave hit so they listed her among the dead.

Two days later, local fisherman found her floating in the ocean clinging to a small piece of wood. The local newspaper heard about her and came to the orphanage to take her picture. Sumi lost her father to the tidal wave and her mother is missing, however she has been reunited with her younger sister, Subi and they now live together.

There are eighteen children living in this orphange and each one of them are victims of this natural disaster that the world has forgotten about. We learned that we were the first Americans to visit this place since it was founded two years ago. Additionally, this place has received no financial support since February of this year.

When I heard Sumi's story and realized how desperate the circumstances were here I couldn't help but think what a tradegy it would be for this tiny girl to lose her parents and her home, survive two days at sea only to starve death for want of a bowl of rice, a piece of bread and some clean water to drink.

Each time I visit a new orphange on this trip I meet another Sumi, another miracle child that should not be alive today except for the grace of God and the kindness of these orphange workers. Each time I hear a voice in my head that says " we can't care for all the orphans in India but we can care for the ones in these orphahges"!!!

The Pastor in Sumi's orphanage asked us for the same thing every other Pastor has asked us for on this trip "Please pray for us that God would provide our needs". No one has asked us for money but we provided money just the same. To say that this trip happened in the nick of time is an understatement. We have been able to provide food, clothing, toys, medical supplies and many other needs thanks to the support of i58 donors. The stark reality is that if we had not made this trip NOW many of these children may not have survived much longer.

Please remember Sumi's story and please pray for her and the other children in the Kayam Kulum orphanage that "God will continue to provide for their needs".

God Bless,

Cliff White

OKB