Go Beyond | Kolkata

One of Kingsland’s long time partners is Hope of Life, a ministry in Kolkata run by Nabin and his wife Matilda.  One day about eleven years ago, Nabin noticed that there were children left unattended at the railroad station.  He was concerned for the children, and he began visiting there every day to speak with them.  After a few weeks of visiting them, the walls started to come down, and they started to open up to Nabin.  He quickly came to a shocking conclusion.  The children were not just unattended, they lived at the railroad station….alone.  They had been abandoned by their parents.

There are several trash piles near the railroad area, and many of the children were known as “trash pickers”.  (For more information about this, I strongly encourage you to watch the Netflix documentary called “Tales By Light”, episodes “Children In Need” – Part 1 and 2.  Although the footage is not from Kolkata, the situation is nearly identical.)

Today our team met up with the kids from Hope of Life, many whom we had met back in 2012.  We gathered with them at a food court at a local mall.  I asked Nabin if they came to this mall often since their home was so close.  He said, “We have not taken the children to a restaurant in five years.”  This was a huge treat for them, and it was fun to watch them devour fried rice, chicken, Pepsi, and ice cream cones!

We were able to recreate a few pictures that we had taken the first time we met.  They are all grown up now, but many new ones have joined Nabin and Matilda.  We heard a few success stories, and some that have had heartbreaking endings as well.  Through it all, this family has remained faithful to their calling to save as many children from the dangerous life of trash picking and on the railroad tracks.

One great example of a life changed FOREVER is Soma. She has been with Hope of Life since 2011.  Lord willing, Soma will attend nursing school beginning in June.  I took the first picture below just days after she arrived at Hope of Life.  She and Pinky are both wearing head scarves.  Their scalps were so infested with lice that the staff had to completely shave their heads.  The second picture below was taken tonight, with those exact 4 girls, 9 years later.  I know it’s hard to tell from their faces, but they really were so excited to recreate this photo for me!

Please keep Hope of Life in your prayers.  The work they are doing is so important, but entirely unseen.  Their staff could really use some encouragement, as the work is tireless.