The Impact of a Selfless Decision
“‘For
I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and
not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” *
During
the Sunday service at our church a few years ago, a young woman named Kaylee
and her husband, Dhiraj, talked about their work in southern India. In 2014 Dhiraj,
a native of India, founded a private school in conjunction with a children’s
hostel started by his father, Pastor William.
After
the service, Dhiraj and Kaylee were available to talk with people about the
school and share pictures of individual students from K-10th grade
who needed sponsors. The photo of one little girl with a radiant smile looked
like one of my second-grade students from years ago.
Al
and I were excited to have the opportunity to sponsor that child, helping to
provide for her housing, food, healthcare and educational expenses. She is now in the fourth grade, progressing
through school and receiving a quality education. What an opportunity Dhiraj
and Kaylee are providing for 100 children of migrant families, ages 5-15.
When
Kaylee returned to Michigan a few weeks ago, she agreed to sit down with me and
share more of her story, as well as explain more about their work with the
migrant families who travel to their city for employment as construction
workers.
The love story between Dhiraj and Kaylee began
with a selfless decision made by her grandmother and grandfather years earlier
when Kaylee’s grandmother offered to open her home to ministry workers who came
to the states.
Kaylee’s
grandparents and Dhiraj’s father, Pastor William, belonged to the same
denomination. During Pastor William’s travels to the US, he began staying in
their home. They formed a strong connection over the years, and their families
kept in touch.
In 2019 Dhiraj came to the US for the first
time, and stayed in the home of Kaylee’s parents. That was when Kaylee and Dhiraj
met—she, a junior at Concordia University in Ann Arbor leaning in the direction
of a ministry degree in family life, Dhiraj doing ministry work with his father
in India, after leaving a good job at the airport in his city.
Both
had a strong passion for children and felt God’s hand in their meeting. In
Kaylee’s own words, “Never underestimate the power of a decision. Even a small
one like my grandmother’s inviting Dhiraj’s father into her home, can influence
generations to come!”
So,
what prompted the opening of the children’s home in the first place? After
Pastor William, his wife and four sons moved to a city where he could go to
seminary and further his training, he began wondering what God had for him to
do there. As he walked through the streets and prayed, he noticed children who
should have been in school, playing outside in the mud.
Migrant
construction workers who moved their families from one location to another,
often lived in squalid conditions. Many were too poor to buy books and uniforms
so that their children could attend public schools. Boys who were able to
attend school were often pulled out to go to work. Girls usually were married
at a young age, many not having any schooling at all.
Pastor
William wanted to provide a safe home for migrant children, where they could be
housed, fed and nurtured while their parents worked. He and his wife began
offering day care in their own home and eventually started the children’s home.
When
Dhiraj joined his parents in their endeavor, he felt the need for a school as
well, a private school that would provide the children with a good quality
education. He and Kaylee now manage both the children’s home and the school
where they consistently expose their students to scripture, worship and prayer.
The
verse from Jeremiah given above has been especially meaningful to both of their
families. “God has good plans for you and for your life,” Kaylee says.
And
from the book of Proverbs: “In his heart a man plans his course, but the
Lord determines his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9 NIV)
“You
can make your own plans, but the Lord directs your steps!” she adds with a
smile.
Thank you Kaylee, Dhiraj, your families and the generations that came before
you for your faithfulness to respond to the Lord’s call on your lives.
*Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Website:
https://www.persecution.com/idop/
(Pictured above, Diraj and Kaylee at Easter. Kaylee is wearing the sari belonging to his mother, deceased.)
(Kaylee's grandparents hosted Diraj's father, Pastor William, years ago,)
This student attended the school from the primary grades, graduated from high school and is now a nurse!
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