Our earliest steps in social action were taken in response to events that happened to touch us either as individuals or as a group: the discrimination and neglect suffered by a large number of refugee children in a nearby village, the trauma of a teen-aged girl who ran away from home to escape harsh treatment by a cruel brother, the plight of tribal children rendered destitute by the death or desertion of their parents. Initially, we were bewildered by questions of the consequences of whatever we would decide to do in response to these situations. But, as we waited upon the Lord, He seemed to be guiding us slowly but surely for these and much greater, things.

His invisible hand guided us to Narainpur, a small town about two thousand kilometers away from our home ground, in the tribal belt of Bastar district in the present state of Chattisgarh. Bastar is famous for its natural beauty because of the vast forest area – about two-thirds of Bastar is covered by forest. The need for education and medical help was great in these areas. We could not do much about the medical need. But the Lord led us to starting an orphanage for orphaned children. Later this was converted into a hostel for the children of these tribal people. In purely human terms, we had everything going against us. But we felt that we were following a divine plan, and that He who made the heaven and the earth would provide. Yes, He has provided, always and in full measure.