By Rosie Thandu
This year, I made sure to return to India from the US just in time for one of our most cherished traditions — our annual outing with the children to celebrate my birthday. It is truly our favorite time of the year. We pause to reflect on the year that has passed, celebrate the joy we share as a family, and simply enjoy being together as one big Children of Faith community.
For more than a decade, we’ve taken the children on an annual beach trip, and it’s something everyone looks forward to with great excitement. But this year, we decided to try something new — ASR Gardens, a beautiful park spread across more than 50 acres, filled with open play areas, gardens, animals, and so many interesting things to see. The moment we arrived, the children were wide-eyed and thrilled, walking around and exploring.
We traveled in two buses — one for the girls and one for the boys — along with our cooks, teachers, and staff. A long drive like this is always special. It gives us time to bond with the people who work so hard for our children every single day. Seeing them relaxed, laughing, playing games, and enjoying the day was truly heartwarming.
The children had a wonderful time. The boys played field games, the girls enjoyed taking photos, and everyone joined in for group games and dancing. Of course, food, snacks, and ice cream were the biggest hits of the day! By the time we headed back home, the buses were filled with sleepy, satisfied children. At one point, little Beulah looked at me and asked, “Mommy, when we go back, can we dance all night?” It was the sweetest moment — though everyone fell fast asleep long before we reached home.
One of the most meaningful parts of my birthday this year was a beautiful surprise — several of our older students came to visit the Home. I hadn’t seen one of them, Amos, in nearly ten years. Seeing him walk in left me completely speechless. When Jibon graduated last year, I had teased him saying, “Next birthday you won’t be here, Jibon.” And he replied, “Mommy, I’ll be back.” He kept his word. That meant everything to me.
The visitors spent time looking around the new dining hall, remembering their childhood here, sharing stories, and reliving old memories. For all of us, it was a reminder of how deeply connected we are — no matter how many years pass.
We ended the day with some firecrackers and fun activities, making the celebration even more special.
It truly was an unforgettable day, filled with joy, gratitude, and the reminder that every moment we share as a Children of Faith family is a blessing
Help us Buy a New Bus
It is time to replace one of our buses, we rely on the buses to transport our 120 children on special outings like this. safe reliable transportation is important to keep our program going. Please consider contributing what you can.
