President of Lokenath Divine Life Fellowship Tours Sunderbans with Baba

Ann Shannon, President of Lokenath Divine Life Fellowship, a branch of Lokenath Divine Life Mission in the United States, was recently a guest of the Self Help Group (SHG) women in the Sunderbans and accompanied Baba on his annual visit.

While there Ann heard many true stories of how incredible the SHG are!

SHG Group Intervenes to Save Village

Family in Time of Health Crisis

When a Gosaba area village woman recently fell critically ill and required Rs. 30,000 for immediate hospitalization and treatment, the family was going to be forced to sell their land, their only means of survival. The local LDLM SHG called an emergency meeting to discuss whether they could lend the large sum of money to the family. The woman was not an SHG member, so this loan would be made outside of the SHG's rules. The group members had to wrestle with the very real question of what would happen if the family could not pay the money back, since that would threaten the very survival of the SHG and its ability to function. Binodini Mondal, the cashier of the SHG since 1997, and Anima Mondal, SHG President, and Sushma Mondal, the Group's Secretary, stepped forward to personally guarantee repayment of the huge sum over time if for any reason the loan was not repaid. The SHG voted to make the loan. The woman received the necessary treatment and is now safely home and well, with her family. Because of the SHG's generosity, the family had the time necessary to raise the funds from other sources. They repaid the loan in only 2 months.

"This is so moving," Ann Shannon said to Baba, "it demonstrates so profoundly the difference that SHGs are making at a human level, the power of their commitment to everyone in their village, and why SHG members are becoming such powerful, honored and respected leaders in their local areas. I cannot imagine a Westerner making this kind of financial commitment to help a neighbor. The power and importance of what SHGs are doing to create a sense of family in their villages is unfathomable."

Share Ann's joy, and help the women and children! If you are in the United States you can make a tax deductible donation to Lokenath Divine Life Fellowship on http://www.feelinghearts.org/.

To read more about Ann's profound and touching visit in the Sunderban's, visit Ann at

http://www.travelpod.com/, and search for globalgramma.

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SARASWATI PUJA CELEBRATED AT THE STREET SCHOOLS ON JANUARY 31, 2009

Goddess Saraswati is the goddess of learning in Kolkata. All the street school students of Kalighat, Rashbehari, Swinhoe and Garcha schools are taught to pray to Goddess Saraswati and ask for her blessings so that they all grow up enriched with the power to constantly learn and evolve. Through learning and evolution they then have the tools to fight their poor economic condition and bring smiles in the faces of their parents.

Lokenath Divine Life Mission is committed to bring these street children into mainstream schooling and instill them with confidence in themselves. The Teachers constantly remind the children “Yes, we are with you! You can do it as every other normal child does!” The Mission believes that planting the seed of education in these children will enable them to overcome their miseries and make them bloom in times to come.

Sports held for all the Street Schools of Lokenath Divine Life Mission

17^th January ’09, Saturday was a day full of fun and joy for all the little children of our street schools . This day they all participated in a sports meet organized by Lokenath Divine Life Mission. Little students came well dressed raring to go on the field. The children were so happy they all came to Baba for his blessings. Baba was also full of ecstasy to see his little children bouncing with energy. The events were 100 mts run for the boys and the girls, biscuit race, skipping for girls, spoon and marble race, letter run and a 50 mts run for little children. In total 31 boys and 64 girls participated in the Sports. Each of them gave their best in the events. Baba distributed toffees to them. After successful completion of all the events the children had their lunch on the field. Then there was prize distribution, they were so proud to receive their prizes. Children were distributed little colorful hats which they wore and went to our Ashram and prayed to Baba Lokenath before leaving for their homes. Let Baba 's grace be on the blessed souls.

LITTLE HANDS IN MOTION AT PAINTING COMPETITION

Teachers from Lokenath Divine Life Mission street schools celebrated children's day on November 14. All the children were overjoyed when they heard there would be a painting competition. They were given paper, pencils and colored crayons to draw their imagination on paper. Little hands were put in motion. Slowly, slowly their canvases came alive with their scribbles. After coloring their drawings they proudly came up to the teacher to show their drawings. Their eyes and face were gleaming with the joy of creation and excitement that Baba will see their drawings. Baba will award prizes to the winners soon!

TINY GIRL'S BURNS HEALED AT LDLM MOBILE MEDICAL CLINIC

This 3 year old child named Radhika Paswan is a regular patient to our Mobile Medical Clinic. Her father is a day laborer and mother is a housewife. They live in a very small thatch roofed hut. When Radhika was 1 year old she suffered from burn injuries caused by a cooking accident at home. She suffered from multiple burn injuries. Our mobile medical van came to her rescue as there is no nearby hospital. They cannot afford the costly medical treatment.

She was treated for burn injuries through Homeopathy. She was thoroughly cured over time. Now she suffers from allergic cough and is undergoing treatment from mission’s doctors. She comes to Mission’s mobile medical clinic with her mother and knows that if she takes the medicines she will be cured.

Our mobile medical van serves so many poor families like Radhika who live in the slums of Kolkata. We call it the lifeline of the slums, giving medical advice, medicines, and treatments to the poor and downtrodden. The slum dwellers thank Lokenath Divine Life Mission for carrying on the mobile medical service for over 16 years.

SCHOOL CHILDREN'S FACES LIGHT UP WITH GIFT OF CLOTHES FROM BABA!

On Durga Puja Baba visited Swinhoe Street School. The students were full of joy to see Baba come to their school. The children presented yoga, dance and recitations to Baba and a huge gathering of people from the community. It was so lovely to hear poems from their soft voices. Baba praised each one of them with encouagement and cheers.


It was a true celebration to see the kids faces lighting up as Baba pulled out the most beautiful outfits from the covers and handed them over to the little children.



One by one the children gave Baba greeting cards which they painted with the words “Baba we love you”. Baba was most pleased that the children beautifully painted Baba Lokenath’s picture, who is closest to their hearts.