Mid-July, my colleague Shannon (in red) and I spent three inspiring days with Women of the ELCA at their Triennial Gathering in Des Moines, Iowa.  

What made our experience even sweeter was having two of our partners from the Arcot Lutheran Church there amongst us: Pastor Jane Anitha (pictured at right), who managed Siloam Boarding Home from 2012 to 2023 and currently oversees Lebanon Home for Abandoned Women, among other church initiatives, and Mrs. Dora Hemalatha (pictured at left), who teaches physics and lives on the campus of Saron Boarding Home for boys, which her husband manages.  

When greeting Dora at our LPGM booth, one of the first things she said was, “Thank you for the new soaps and oils for the students!”  

This caught me a bit by surprise, as when I think of student sponsorships at the ALC boarding homes, what comes to mind are food, clean water, safe lodging, school supplies and uniforms, not hygiene products. It lifted my spirit to hear how now, at the start of a new school year in India, these boys and girls are arriving at their boarding homes to find not only the necessities from a back-to-school list, but items meant to build their self-confidence and dignity.  

Your gifts of all sizes throughout the year bless these children at the margins in big ways and create a lasting impact for generations to come! 

In fact, Pastor Jane’s own grandmother was a marginalized Dalit woman who received a gift from loving Christian women like you that also has made lasting impact. 

She shared her family’s story of resilience during a past trip to Minneapolis:  

Years ago in southeast India, a young bride, age 14, walked sadly toward the river. She was pregnant, and her husband had just died in an accident. 

As is common for Dalit (“Untouchable”) girls, when this girl entered into the arranged marriage, ties to her family were cut off. Girls are seen as temporary members of their families, who expect that someday they will get married and become part of another family. 

This young girl, so hopeless and alone, walked to the bridge, prepared to end her life. 

A Danish missionary named Mary Magdalene saw the girl on the bridge, approached her gently, and invited her to come the boarding school where the missionary lived. The girl agreed. 

She took a job working in the kitchen. She soon gave birth to a baby girl and raised her daughter in this loving, Christian environment.  

Like the boys at Saron Boarding Home, Dalit girls like her were given food, clean water, safe lodging, school supplies, uniforms, and  hope  for  a  brighter  future through education.  

This baby grew up to be Pastor Jane Anitha’s mother. 

Your steadfast support and prayers are making a generational impact on the lives of girls and boys at the margins, like Pastor Jane’s grandmother and mother! 

As we enter August, we at LPGM will promote National Make-a-Will Month. Watch for ways your own legacy gift can continue to make an impact even beyond your lifetime.

As LPGM's development director, Bethany Krepela cultivates, invites, and stewards gifts that support students and sustain the ministry, including legacy gifts. To learn more, contact her at bethany@lutheranpartners.org or 612-806-0733.