EDEN in MADH Island

The Little Angels Ashram-Orphanage in Mumbai India

Tousha and her kids

The hut has been demolished and is currently being reconstructed as a ground plus one floor structure. The orphanage has raised funds covering only a fourth of the estimated cost.

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Eden

Project Eden is aimed at supporting this orphanage financially and providing a consistent supply of resources for food, clothing, Bibles and school books. It is anticipated that part of the project plan (Phase 2) will also involve the expansion and renovation of the orphanage As I reflected on my life, I had a lot to thank God for. He has blessed me with family, friends and relatives. I have so much, yet I experienced a void in my life. I felt like life had to be more than just living for ourselves. Yes, it is great to have the necessities and luxuries, but what about a purpose. Surely God had a greater purpose in mind when He created us. Of course He did, we were made to glorify Him In my prayers, I began to seek direction. I asked the Lord to guide me in the direction He wanted for me. And as I prayed, after approximately 8 months, God laid it on my heart that He wanted me to start an orphanage in India. I was born in India, spent my teen years in the U.S.A. and migrated to Canada after I started a family. Being born and raised in India, I saw a lot of poverty. Poverty in India is prevalent and widespread. It is heartbreaking to watch lovely children live with no hope or future. When I was a child, I often wondered about a solution to such a big problem. God laid it on my heart that the solution was a little one - give the children hope and show them love. At first, I felt overwhelmed with what God was asking my family to do, and I had fears and doubts. My biggest fear was the feasibility of overseeing a project this big, from so far away in Canada. But when God asks you to do something, he gives you the resources to follow through. He brought me to the realization that I needed someone who has a heart for God and wants to serve him selflessly. Someone we can trust in India to run this orphanage, while I do all I can to support this initiative at this end. In that vein, I came across The Little Angel's Ashram that is run by Joanna Buthello. It's an orphanage located in Madh Island, Mumbai, and is currently home to 65 orphaned children. Mrs Buthello who is a retired school teacher and is a Christian woman who serves the Lord with all her heart, has turned her little 300 sq ft home into an orphanage where she teaches the children by day and turns the premises into a home at night. During the day, the children put up the blackboards to study. At night the girls retire inside the house and the boys sleep out in the yard. Project Eden's goal is to support this orphanage initially, and also support other such orphanages in India. To provide hope to the children who are the future. To love them and show them that there are people in this world who still care to make it a better place. To share the gospel so they have nourishment for their soul, to help them to get an education and empower them as individuals to make their life a success, so they may also "pay it forward". To expand the orphanage so that it may be a home for more children. And most importantly, glorify God by living a life in service to those in need.

Mark and Tousha PintoProject Lead Members

Sanitary facilities are a challenge... Till a couple of years ago, there was only one toilet and many of the children had to defecate in an open field nearby. About two years ago, some local benefactors built two more toilets. However, 65 children sharing just three very basic toilets is a tough juggling act.

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