The Akkas

There were three young women in the house who were also very much part of the family. Christina is the warden of the girls' orphanage. Everybody calls her Christy. She is 32, un-married, short (she almost comes up to my shoulder), super sweet, and barely speaks any English. Literally, I think she speaks about ten words of English. Which made it difficult to get to know her. Auntie did tell me that her sister is married to one of the branch pastors who lives about four hours away. It was him who first suggested her as a likely candidate for the girls' warden, and now she's been there for six years. Unfortunately, because she's always running around doing things, I wasn't able to get any good pictures of her. :-( We call her and both of the other girls Akka, which, you will remember, means older sister.

Next is Ruth. She grew up in the orphanage, and now she works for the family while they are trying to find her a husband. She is 28, laughs a lot, loves the Lord, and speaks a little more English than Christy Akka. She is mainly the cook, and she is a very good cook. I love Indian food! She also does the laundry.

Ruth Akka ended up in the orphanage the day of her mother's funeral. I believe her dad skipped out on them shortly after her mother became pregnant with her youngest brother. The mother died shortly after the baby was born, and the relatives didn't want anything to do with all of the kids she left behind. David Anna was visiting their village the day of the funeral, met the kids, and saw the box the relatives had given them to live in. So he called Susan Akka and told her that he was bringing them home.

There are five of them all together. Ruth Akka is the eldest. Next is Ravi who is 25, and he is one of the mission's drivers. Paulraj is 23, and he is going to college. Esther is 18, and they are training her to take Ruth Akka's place whenever she eventually gets married. Abi is 15, and I don't really know anything about him. All four of them still live in the orphanage.

 

Ruth Akka and I

Lastly we have Amudha. She is the youngest, and speaks the most English out of the three of them, and consequently I am closer to her than to the others. She is 20, always cheerful, and she's attending college. She also grew up in the orphanage. I'm not entirely certain what her specific job is in the household, but she seems to be responsible for making sure the boys get to school on time. Which can be a full-time job at times.

She ended up in the orphanage after her parents died. Her dad was abusive toward her mother, and one day her mother decided she couldn't take it anymore. So she poured kerosene on herself and found a match. The dad was afraid of the legal investigation that would follow, and tried to save her. He died as well. Amudha watched as this all happened. I believe she was about eight years old at the time.

Amudha has one brother, Munuswamy. His Christian name is Immanuel, but nobody ever calls him that. I found it curious that Amudha told me that was his name and didn't tell me the name he goes by. I'm not sure why she did that. Munuswamy is 19, and he also watched their parents die.

Amudha Akka and I

Munuswamy - he didn't want me to take this picture so of course I had to!