Ministry to orphans still changing lives amid turmoil of Sri Lanka

Posted: 8/03/07

Ministry to orphans still changing
lives amid turmoil of Sri Lanka

By Craig Bird

Baptist Child & Family Services

ATTICALOA, Sri Lanka —Out of sight doesn’t mean out of danger for Sri Lanka’s orphans. Even though the world’s interest in the Indian Ocean island country waned rapidly after the December 2004 tsunami, many survivors of that disaster still are caught in the decades-old civil war that pockmarks the northeastern part of the nation.

The tsunami caused 35,000 deaths in Sri Lanka on Dec. 26, 2004, while the civil war is believed to have resulted in 70,000 casualties in 20 years—including 5,000 in the last 20 months.

Many Texas Baptists became well acquainted with Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, in the aftermath of the tsunami when Baptist Child & Family Services’ overseas division, Children’s Emergency Relief International, and Texas Baptist Men responded to pleas for help and were assigned to the coastal town.

BCFS/CERI established a long-term presence in Batticaloa, on the border between the government-controlled area and the region controlled by the secessionist Tamil Tigers. At the request of the Sri Lankan government, the agency created a prototype foster care program. Almost three years later, about 200 children are receiving health care, education and hope for the future through that program.

And despite ongoing fighting and dwindling resources, the family service agency recently opened a pilot program on the southwestern coast and plans to double the number of children in care over the next 12 months.

Government records list 2,560 children nationwide who lost both parents in the tsunami, including 700 in Batticaloa and another 275 at CERI’s new program site. The 200 boys and girls being cared for represent the starting point to address the situation.

Each child receives about $30 monthly, which foster parents must account for in detailed reports. In a first for the country, CERI caseworkers make regular in-home visits to monitor care and provide guidance. Monthly training sessions also are offered for the foster parents.

“Attendance is around 95 percent, even though many of them have to walk several miles to the meetings,” said Basil Fonseka, a Sri Lankan who is CERI’s program director. “We require that a minimum of 10 percent of the monthly stipend go into a savings account the child can access at the age of 18 for higher education or to establish a suitable micro-enterprise program. And some foster parents are putting more than 30 percent, $10, in the accounts each month.”

Program participants re-flect the religious makeup of the country with Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus and Chris-tians all represented in the foster homes.

“God knows every Sri Lankan child by name, and God’s people can provide the funding we need to expand this ministry,” CERI Executive Director Dearing Garner points out.  “After visiting in the homes of our foster children with the national staff a few months back, I came away convinced that we have no choice. Too many lives are being touched by Jesus’ love for us to stop or even stay at the same level.”

Garner, longtime pastor of First Baptist Church in Kingwood before becoming executive director of the overseas agency, won’t have trouble finding motivation to raise funds and mission volunteers for the Sri Lanka program.

“Sri Lankans are such beautiful people who work hard and are generous even in the middle of poverty,” he explained. “In every home—without exception—I met foster parents deeply committed to providing the best possible care and children who are thriving after having their hope for a solid future restored.”

A CERI volunteer mission trip to Sri Lanka is being planned for no later than next spring, Garner noted. More information about BCFS/CERI is available by e-mail at dgarner@bcfs.net, by phone at (800) 830-2246 and on the internet at www.bcfs.net.