October 2014 Newsletter — Shantipuri Friends Foundation

A Message from Swami Nirvanananda

Dear Friends,

It was such a joy to greet many of you again on my US tour this summer. I also visited Brazil this year which was new for me. I enjoyed meeting and singing with so many people and was very touched by your generosity towards me and the underprivileged children of Puri. I hope to see you all again in 2015.

Hari Om!
Swami Nirvanananda

Please Renew Your Sponsorship!

School sponsorships are up for renewal now! The children are back in school and studying hard. If you have not renewed your sponsorship we urge you to do so right away so their studies are not interrupted. If you are not sure about your renewal, please inquire at info@shantipurifriends.org. Each child needs only $10.00 per month, $120.00 per year. You can make your payment annually or monthly. Donate online at ShantipuriFriends.org. If you prefer to send a check, please send it to:

Shantipuri Friends Foundation
PO Box 235713
Encinitas, CA 92023

Your School Sponsorships Are Making a Difference

Thank you to all new and renewing school sponsors. We had 150 new sponsorships from Europe, Brazil, and North America this year. At the Beatrix School alone we are now sponsoring 700 children through Grade 12 and we have even been able to send a few young people to college. It is truly inspiring. In total, we are now sponsoring 1,400 children!

The School Building is Finished

The Father Marion Memorial Beatrix School in Puri is now finished! From the groundbreaking in September 2011 to May 2014, your generous donations have funded $360,000 to accomplish this goal! The completed school was officially opened on June 17th. Thank you!

Three New Projects Are Underway

1. Water facilities for drinking and sanitation

Access to clean water is the basis for a minimum standard of living and enables the deprived to immediately improve their quality of life. Water supply for households is thus a key component of our “Basic Needs Services.” Local and state governments have continuously failed in their efforts to supply water to rural and needy areas in India. We are working with the Karunalaya Leprosy Village to provide water facilities for drinking and sanitation. There will be two large overhead water tanks along with two pumps to supply each half of the village. This will ensure that there will be clean water available in the village at least from one of the systems in case of any eventuality.

2. Cow farm and bio-gas for the kitchens

Like people everywhere, these children and their families need a good, stable diet. This helps strengthen their immune systems to withstand diseases especially Hansen's disease (leprosy) and tuberculosis. To that end, we are starting a cow farm to provide pure milk, cheese, and butter for much needed calories and protein.

In 2014, we started with five cows and will add five more cows next year. In order to provide fodder for the cows, we have started cultivating a pasture for them. The cow dung will be used for a bio-gas plant (to be established) for the Children's Home kitchen. The slurry (a waste product) from the bio-gas plant will be used as fertilizer for the vegetable garden and the fodder cultivation. The garden vegetables will be used for both the Mercy kitchen (feeding the leper families) and the Children's Home kitchen (feeding the schoolchildren).

3. Housing construction

The next big project is to build new houses for the leper colony. There are 71 leprosy victim families in the Punaruthanpalli — Village of Resurrection. Father Marion helped to shelter these families in rudimentary houses many years ago. The houses are now in very dilapidated condition. With your general fund donations we have built four new houses. We hope to construct 67 houses with modern bathrooms using tiles on the floor and walls (instead of dirt, plaster, or dung) for better hygiene. The roof of the houses will be of reinforced concrete (instead of thatch). These new homes will be of quality construction and last long into the future.

Swami Nirvanananda's Music

Can't get enough of Swamiji's beautiful chants? Visit Nirvanananda.org to listen to and download many of his songs. Do you know he has recorded more than 50 CDs?

His newest CDs are:
A Touch of Bliss, recorded in Brazil;
I Am Thine, recorded in Rochester, NY;
Lokah Samastah, recorded in Encinitas, CA.

Coming next year:
Atma Priya and Beneath Your Wing, both recorded in Hawaii;
Live in Encinitas 2014, ;
Love Came Down at Christmas, a selection of Christmas carols from different traditions.