September 10, 2007

Dear Friends,

On the edge of one of the worst slums in the town of Dehradun, in northern India, is a Christian ministry called “SNEHA,” which is Hindi for God’s love or grace. It really is a “light on a hill.”

Often people ask me (Scott) what I do, especially now I have been given the title of “empowerment consultant.” I hope the following will give a snapshot of my work last week, as an example of how many of my weeks pass.

Hilary Smith celebrates Indian Independence Day by applying mehendi work on her hand.

SNEHA was started over 10 years ago by Dr Reeta Rao and her husband as a medical service to the people of the slums. It has branched out to include literacy and skills training, candlemaking, sewing, and mehendi (putting special designs on the hands and faces of the bride and other women in wedding parties). The project helps the women of the slums generate their own incomes and savings, which result in increased social and familiar respect. SNEHA also started a school that many children from the slum attend. It is a good ministry and has been a valuable Christian presence over the years.

Scott Smith is helping SNEHA move its successful ministry in Dehradun to other areas of India.

Recently, the international donors for SNEHA, one of which is the PC(USA), asked the project to work in other slums. This caused many of the people SNEHA has helped to feel threatened.

The challenge I was given was to help them answer the following questions: How does SNEHA leave in a positive way so that the slum will not feel abandoned and the gains of the past will not be lost?  Where should they begin working next?

We met together for four days, celebrating past accomplishments and planning the future. Much of the plan depends on the people of the slums themselves. This means that the focus of the staff has to shift from delivering services to preparing those involved to take up the running of the services themselves. The role must change to coaching those who will remain in the slum. To their credit, the staff is looking forward to this new direction in their work.

After four days together, we had a plan, and the mood of the staff changed from rather hopeless to hopeful and determined.

I love this part of my job as a consultant to Christian service projects in South Asia. We have to think about the sustainability of our development interventions. It has to be a conscious commitment. Without that commitment, our initial responses to poverty, oppression, injustice, and other needs would only be temporary and would only create dependency and increase the poor communities’ feelings of helplessness.

SNEHA has a lot to do to make sure the people in the slum will be ready for the project’s departure. They now have the vision that it is possible, the plan of how it can come about, and the faith that they will be able to make it happen. That, I believe, is what the good news is all about—bringing confidence and hope of a better future, because of God’s gifts and partnership, into the present.

We have seen God’s spirit of hope and acceptance transform people without a vision, making them people of purpose and direction. It is our privilege to be a part of that transformation. I hope you can feel your partnership with these Christians as we share our experiences with you. Thanks for making these moments of SNEHA (“grace”) possible through your continuing support and care for our work.

We are very thankful to the churches that have supported us for many years and also those who have given us some extra funds so that Scott can travel in South Asia when his help is requested. The account number for this is E052504. To give online, use the button below.

Mission Challenge ’07

We also hope you have heard of Mission Challenge ’07. During October, 47 PC(USA) missionaries will spend a week sharing the stories of their ministry in 143 presbyteries. That’s more than 80 percent of our presbyteries. We hope to put speakers in 700 churches that month to share the news that every day, in Christ’s name lives are being saved, wells are being dug, and hope is being shared with people in need around the world.

India network meeting

We are very excited that the first India Network Meeting will be held in Louisville on October 1 and 2. After helping other country networks get off the ground, we want to see the India network help churches, presbyteries, and individuals feel that they can be part of the challenge to address poverty and suffering in India. It’s a chance to get together with other Presbyterians and work together to serve the people of India. We hope that churches will learn and be inspired by each other. If any one wants to be part of this network please contact David Van Dam at djvd66@charter.net.

The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 114