An orphan bathes with water from a well that was just dug on the property.

Some of the more than 500 children assemble for a time of singing.

Lunch being served to the children.

Children at the orphanage eating lunch.

In the middle of a tiger preserve, eighty miles from medical facilities, in an area frequented by Maoist terrorists, live 525 orphans and children at risk. They have no electricity and live in mud and straw homes. Yet, Central India Christian Mission provides food and education for them in the best way their current resources allow. “If we had not accepted these children, ” says Ajai Lall, founder of CICM, “most of them would have died because there was no one to take care of them. Before we got these children, they were living under trees and tin sheds. There was no school in the whole region.”

Many of these children were left to fend for themselves when their parents traveled to large metro cities in an effort to make a living for their families. Some of their parents ended up as bonded laborers in the cities and have not returned to their children. Other children at the home were rescued from child slavery. Pappu Sadhu, CICM area director laments, “Child bondage labor is a critical problem in my country. Through this children’s home we have saved so many children from slavery.” Laws exist in India to ban the use of young workers. But, in the rural areas surrounding the children’s home, many children are forced into labor by wealthy land owners looking to exploit them for higher profits. Throughout India, estimates of child laborers, ages 5-14, range as high 44 million. UNICEF statistics even go as high as 75 million. Many of these children were sold as bonded child laborers to cover some small (relatively speaking) debt their families incurred.

Sadhu added that there are still so many children waiting for an opening in the home, “Now, we are not able to take them. We need more space. We need more food. We need more teachers.”

Listen to a short sample of the children singing.
Orphans-Singing Click Here
Call to action: Visit http://www.indiamission.org/ and sponsor a child.

All Photographs copyright Gary S. Chapman

(Nikon D4, 70-200mm f2.8 @135mm, 1/1200 sec, f2.8, ISO 400)

(Nikon D4, 24mm f1.4, 1/60 sec, f7.1, ISO 3200)

(Nikon D4, 24mm f1.4, 1/160 sec, f2, ISO 100)

(Nikon D4, 70-200mm f2.8 @135mm, 1/640 sec, f2.8, ISO 200)

(Nikon D4, 24mm f1.4, 1/250 sec, f2.5, ISO 3200)

(Nikon D4, 24mm f1.4, 1/60 sec, f4, ISO 4000)

A teacher with her students in one of the mud and straw buildings.

Boys read and nap in a dorm that holds over 200 children.

Maya in prayer after her baptism.

Maya being baptized.

New Bible given to those baptized.

The serenity on her face is evidence of the peace she says is now in her heart. Maya, 21, raised in a Hindu home, chose to follow the teachings of Jesus and express her decision by baptism.

But, painful memories of her family’s rejection after her decision are still very close to the surface. In a quiet voice, almost tortured by the recalling, Maya relates, “As soon as I accepted Jesus Christ, my family disowned me. They told me, ‘We have nothing more to do with you. Go away from us.’”

In India, where only 2.5% of the people are followers of Jesus, leaving the Hindu traditions of your family often results in rejection and persecution. Maya, her face encircled by her white Sari, looks up and says, “Even though my family has left me, I feel the peace, the calm, the presence of my Lord Jesus Christ in my heart and in my mind. And, it has changed me completely.”

All Photographs copyright Gary S. Chapman

(Nikon D4, 70-200mm f2.8, 1/640 sec, f2.8, ISO 3200)

(Nikon D4, 24mm f1.4, 1/200 sec, f1.8, ISO 5000)

(Nikon D4, 70-200mm f2.8, 1/320 sec, f2.8, ISO 3200)

Sakshi, 8, sprinkles flower petals on her brother’s grave on Easter morning in central India.

Candles and flower petals cover a grave on Easter morning in central India.

Four-thirty on Easter Sunday morning, the cool pre-dawn air in the cemetery is infused with the sweet smells of incense and candle smoke. The cacophony of morning traffic and the dry heat of 100+ afternoons is still hours away. Stillness reigns.

Family by family, little groups of people filter into the Christian cemetery in central India to honor and remember their deceased loved ones by decorating the simple graves with flowers, candles and white chalk dust. It is their custom to celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection. They believe they too will one day be resurrected to be with Jesus as well as with their family and friends.

Most are silent as they light the candles or incense, cover the mounds with quilts of flower petals, or wrap the headstones with garlands of yellow and orange flowers. A few kneel and pray.

The graves, now resplendent with their new coverings, are left to shimmer alone as the several hundred early-risers leave the graves and gather in a clearing to sing and listen to scripture readings. The gathering ends just as the sun begins to light the eastern sky.

All Photographs copyright Gary S. Chapman

(Nikon D800, 50mm f1.4, 1/60 sec, f2, ISO 2000)

(Nikon D4, 24mm f1.4, 1/80 sec, f1.8, ISO 3200)

(Nikon D4, 50mm f1.4, 1/200 sec, f1.8, ISO 3200)

CNN Photo Blog-Gary S. Chapman 2011-Persecution in Pakistan

Few people know about the plight of Pakistani Christians. My photos on the persecuted community living there are on CNN’s photo blog. Vivian’s reflections on our experiences are linked on the Belief Blog. Please go to the links below and feel free to comment and share to get the word out.

CNN Photo Blog

CNN Belief Blog

A worker feeds a child with disabilities.

A child brushes his teeth at the children's home.

Children play in the shadow of the Bal Bhavan children's home.

Children at Bal Bhavan praying before bedtime.

“We’ve found babies in the trash dumps.”

“We’ve found babies in the train toilets, on the train tracks.”

“We’ve found babies at our doorsteps.”

“People leave babies at the hospital sometimes.”

“In Hindi, the word orphan means ‘a godless child.’  So we call this place a children’s home. Bal Bhavan (the name of the home) literally means ‘children’s palace.’ We want them to be able to call this place their own home.”

–Lashi Lall Howard–Director of Bal Bhavan Children’s Home.

We have all seen them…ads asking us to support orphaned kids. Who do you believe? Who do you support? Well, I have seen these kids CICM helps. Their workers are amazing. Your money won’t be wasted here. CICM–Central India Christian Mission supports around 4,500 children throughout India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Bal Bhavan is home to 98 children.  Click CICM to help. NEWS UPDATE**Just found out another 350 kids were supported yesterday after people viewed video and photos produced by Andrew Tucciarone, Jon Sturdevant and myself. A few weeks ago 225 people stepped up to help kids too. This should be very encouraging to all photographers and workers in this field.

All Photographs copyright Gary S. Chapman

(Nikon D3s, 50mm f1.4, 1/400 sec, f1.4, ISO 2500)

(Nikon D3s, 24mm f1.4, 1/6400 sec, f1.4, ISO 200)

(Nikon D3s, 70-200mm f2.8 @85mm, 1/320 sec, f7.1, ISO 200)

(Nikon D3s, 24mm f1.4, 1/125 sec, f2.5, ISO 4000)

Buddhism: A Buddhist monk circles Boudanath Stupa in Nepal while spinning his prayer wheel.

Hinduism: Hindu Sadu at Pashupatinah, Nepal

Islam: Muslim men praying at Jama Masjid in Delhi, India.

Christianity: New Christian believer being baptized in Delhi, India.

Four faiths all leading to the same place? The same end? Can everyone be right? Are there multiple roads to eternity that all join together as they near a place called heaven? Can I do enough good works to merit a place in heaven? What do I really deserve? Is it us vs them…a fight to the death? Can I neglect every faith and still be right with God? Are there millions of gods? How do I chose one? Can a modern intellectual really believe in a god? Am I a god? Are we asking enough questions? Are we giving up on God, eternity, heaven and the pursuit of truth because it is all too confusing?

My intent with this post is to encourage readers to continue asking questions about faith and not to offend anyone.

All Photographs copyright Gary S. Chapman

(Nikon D3s, 70-200mm f2.8 @145mm, 1/1600 sec, f2.8, ISO 3200)

(Nikon D3s, 70-200mm f2.8 @122mm, 1/800 sec, f2.8, ISO 400)

(Nikon D3s, 70-200mm f2.8 @180mm, 1/400 sec, f2.8, ISO 400)

(Nikon D3s, 24mm f1.4, 1/6400 sec, f1.4, ISO 200)

One newborn of twins abandoned at railway station in India.

This child is more fortunate than many babies abandoned in India. She and her twin sibling were found in a railway station and immediately rushed to the Mission Hospital run by CICM, Central India Christian Mission. Just two days old in this photo, the twins will become part of the growing family of children given shelter in the home run by CICM once they gain their strength and can leave the hospital.

The home has taken in many children abandoned for different reasons — an unwed mother fearing the stigma of raising a child alone, birth defects, extreme poverty or couples wanting a boy instead of a girl. Should you care to help any of the orphans being helped by CICM, please check out their site: Central India Christian Mission.

Photograph ©Copyright Gary S. Chapman 2011
(Nikon D3s, 50mm 1.4, 1/400 sec, f1.4, ISO 250)

Brian, known as the "Preacher under the Bridges" has lived on the streets for over 20 years.

A young volunteer navigates the steep grade of an underpass to deliver a lunch.

Reta, comforted and prayed for by a young volunteer bringing food.

Touch and sincere interaction are trademarks of the 7Bridges volunteers.

Matt Brandon of The Digital Trekker once asked me during an interview if I ever did any humanitarian photographic work in my own backyard, Atlanta. I was stumped. I have traveled days to get to a remote village in many of the 60+ countries I have photographed in. But I have never had  an assignment with a local organization that helps the hurting living under bridges just 45 minutes from my comfortable rural home.

That changed this weekend as I was asked to photograph for The Do Good Experience, billed as a conference to inspire and equip students to serve  daily through acts of love and service to at-risk communities. Hundreds of students fanned out across the metro area to serve with local non-profits.

One of these non-profits is 7 Bridges to Recovery, a faith-based group that goes out in the streets and under the bridges of downtown Atlanta every week, regardless of weather.

I am looking forward to linking up with other non-profits in my own backyard…not too many frequent flyer reward points…but rewarding none the less.

All Photographs copyright Gary S. Chapman

(Nikon D3s, 24mm f1.4, 1/1000 sec, f1.4, ISO200)

(Nikon D3s, 24mm f1.4, 1/400 sec, f2, ISO800)

(Nikon D3s, 70-200 f2.8 @120mm, 1/160 sec, f2.8, ISO800)

(Nikon D3s, 24mm f1.4, 1/250 sec, f5.0, ISO200)

Please consider supporting these organizations:

The Do Good Experience and 7 Bridges to Recovery

 

Jonathan Golden, Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee

Drink coffee. Do good.

This is not just a catchy phrase, but the premise by which Jonathan Golden started Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee Company just north of Atlanta in Roswell. An Anglican priest by vocation, he started a coffee growing business that also fosters healing among warring tribes in Rwanda. Former enemies during the 1994 genocide now work side-by-side to produce specialty coffees that are then served in USA coffee shops, restaurants, and churches. Thousand Hills pays higher than fair trade wages and says that  investment in the farming community is their “top priority.”

Two children at the orphanage air out their bedding.

Queen receives a toothbrush in 2008.

Queen in the hospital a few days ago.

A few days ago I received an email from a friend in Kenya telling of an emergency need for food and hospital care for several orphans. Vivian and I gave some, but knew more would be needed. I decided to share the need via Twitter and Facebook and within hours the immediate emergency need was met. You continued to give and now we have enough in reserve to provide food and care for several months. Vivian and I are grateful, but the 40 children at the home are even more grateful.

Emergency need met! Several months in reserve! But what happens next? How do we help them for future needs? Is there anyway to help the children become at least partially self-sustainable? It is the age old question of giving a man a fish or teaching him how to fish. If someone has wisdom on this, share your ideas and questions.

We hope to travel to the orphanage  to do individual photo stories on as many children as we can so that we can help match the children with families around the world that would like to “adopt” them by giving monthly support.

Thanks again for the tremendous generosity. Now, come together with us to help them help themselves.