Excessive preoccupation with fashion of any kind can be a likely symptom of acedia where one seeks freedom even at the cost of being well.  We see this not only in our attire but in our speech, opinions and patterns of behaviour.  To be fashionable, we often choose to be free rather than be well. "There is a sense that our freedom came at a cost, namely the loss of a higher purpose, of anything worth living for, and so the only remainder is a 'centering on the self'" We quickly get bored, and fashion seems to soothe the desire for free expression. 

April 16, 2021

Respected Sir,

Below i will try to answer all your questions according to my knowledge and my situation :

1) Q:- What are you guys doing for food ?

Ans:- For food now we depend on our parents. because cab work is reduced due o covid-19 and i have to sit at home even if i do not want to. Due to the income of Honey, some personal expenses were coming out. But the School has been closed until month of july. Due to work from home, she is getting half salary only 2500/- Rs. and now you tell me how anyone can run his home only with 2500/- Rupees. How he can take care of his children. In the period of covid -19, we are taking all goods on loan from outside to meet the needs of the children and the home. it is just a feeling that life has become borrowed!. we can not put so much burden on our parents. because there are so many types of household expenses. I am thankful to god if our parents do not help us for food. I would probably have to live on the road at this covid -19 time.

2) Q:- What are other people doing for food?

Ans:- if some do not have jobs and work then Some people will be like me who are taking help from their parents, Friends or relatives. There will be some people living with money taken from outside. some people are finishing their savings. All i can say is at this pedmic time, everyone is trying to run their home in some way or the other way.

3) Q:- Where do people get money for food in the slum?

Ans:- According to my knowledge, slum people don't have any food issues, Because every city has  NGOs  Society they help them.they provide the grocery to needy poor peoples and also rich people, politicians donate food in slum areas to show the public. The second thing is that they have work. because they mostly do labour jobs, drive rickshaws and other small work . so in slum areas no food problem. even in lockdown period.

4) Q:- Do the kids have any lessons online?

Ans:- Yes, due to covid-19 school has been closed until the next govt order, so school starts online classes for next session. But some children and their families, who can not afford smart mobile phones. It is very difficult for them to attend online classes.I have 3 kids even though we can not afford a smartphone phone for kids to attend online classes.Very difficult to manage and this is an extra burden on parents.

5) Q:- What happens when a student cannot afford the internet ?

Ans:- There are some students whose parents have no smartphones, some who come to school for two hours to complete their work. 

6) Q:- The School fees you paid for your kids, will you be able to continue next school year without further fees after the lockdown?

Ans:- We paid last session pending fees to school. Now the next session is starting but we have not yet admitted our children because we have no funds for admission, books,or uniforms and other expenses.���

7) Q:- How do people make payments on rent and mortgages?

Ans:- God knows how people survive in this time. Because not a single help from the government. Neither the rich man has made any difference and nor has the poor man. only middle class men are in the worst condition. Because the middle man can neither become rich nor can live like a poor man. The middle man  always keeps ringing like a bell in the middle.

8) Q:- is the farmers strike still taking place?

Ans:- Yes, Still farmers on strike. 

9) Q:- What are you eating?

Ans:-  we eating only food & Medicines ( problems, our depression, mentaly stress,internal hatred and our tears).

--

With Regards

Amandeep Singh

April 15, 2021

Respected John Sir,

I don't know where to start  and how to start. So let's start from our first meeting. I hope you remember, our first meeting was in my ola cab. On that day you had booked my ola cab to go to the market from Priya's house. That day was also a normal day for me like the rest of my working days. I did not know that God was going to introduce me to a special man today. That man was Dr. John Bickert !

God had sent him to add some color to my colorless life and show the right direction to my directionless life. But I can not know in the first meeting. I picked him up from Priya home and dropped back like a normal customer and I thought that he came from another country and should have taken more business from him, then I had requested him. Sir, whenever you need a cab please call me any time. So this is how my journey Started with Dr. John and I did not realize it. When did he become a part of my family! We can also say that Dr. John's personality is such that he would make everyone his own within minutes. And I strongly believe that he is nothing less than a magician. Because the magician attracts everyone by hypnosis and Mr. John attracts everyone by running a spell of love.

So After first meeting we took many trips. Dr. John also introduced me to CFTW and provided knowledge about CFTW. Vision and Purpose of Cftw is to spread love and help those in need, Providing basic health facilities including healthcare and education in third world countries. And then I understood the reason for Dr. John's arrival in india. 

I always wanted to help others, due to the lack of income and lack of the right path I could hardly help needy people and whenever I had a chance to help a needy person I tried to help. We are human beings and this is the most unique thing created by God. And I strongly believe that God helps those who help others. So, Dr. John showed me the right path and  he started bringing me with him to help needy people. We visited many Places like ruler areas in delhi, punjab for giving treatment for any health related issue. We also visited schools / Colleges to help needy students who want to study, but because of the lack of money in the family, they are unable to study further.

I am thankful to Dr. John because he gave me the opportunity to serve others. Dr. John also helped me and helped my family alot during covid -19 lockdown periods. He helped us financially by buying groceries and paying the children 's school fees.

There are a lot of things to write and speak for him, But for a person like him, the more you write is less for him. There are very few people in the world. Who leave their mark in the hearts of others but you are one of them my dear Dr. John.

In the end it is thanks to God from bottom of my heart that he gifted me a friend like Dr, John. We love you alot. Sir. You are a legend for us.

and wish you a very very happy wedding Anniversary.

With Regards,

Amandeep Singh

Appeals for donations to help the poor are so abundant that the poor and destitute images become overly graphic and prevalent. Every person who has seen these images can quickly bring them forward to consciousness. Often, one must promptly dismiss the images to reduce the impact of the suffering may have on the day. It is preferable only to acknowledge the poverty and hope that one can make some active act of charitable donation when convenient. We maintain a shadow outline of the images to avoid excessive emotions of despair and hopelessness. If we dwell on these images, they may produce feelings of guilt, and since we cannot actively do something to help, one begins to resent the appeals for help to sideline the guilt feelings that may well up. Guilt is uncomfortable but results at times from a failure to act. If you have a charitable heart, then compassionate feelings can be overwhelming.

One cannot entirely dismiss mass media appeals. Ignoring them goes against a compassionate nature. Ignoring the prompts of compassion is highly uncomfortable, especially when an adequate response is not possible. We tend to relegate the tragedy of poverty to a passing image or cursory glance. Like the one my confessor unconsciously gave my abdomen while explaining how some forms of gluttony could be less serious than others, momentary intemperance in eating, for instance.

Perhaps Chesterton saw some deal with the pain of poverty. Rather than seeing the images with a clear, sharp lens, we prefer to see the images in vague outlines or a complex, impenetrable maze without seeing the pain. Chesterton states, “There are two ways of dealing with the dignity, the pain, the prejudice or the rooted humour of the poor; especially of the rural poor. One of them is to see in their tragedy only a stark simplicity, like the outline of a rock; the other is to see in it an unfathomable though a savage complexity."

There might be a particular splendour in poverty that reflects on the pessimist as bravery in the face of poverty. But at this point, the pessimist abruptly stops. They see poverty as a nebulous maze that resembles a forest entangling an unwary person who ventures into it. The pessimist believes the entire problem is beyond the ability of a few people to solve and relegates the issue as a whole to the grinding wheels of the bureaucracy of political channels and government studies and committees.

Meanwhile, in India, we have recently been told the middle-class suffers from lockdowns and social unrest and strikes. Food and fuel prices are soaring while businesses close and salaries are reduced in half. One example is a family who considered themselves “middle-class” in the past. We have helped them with school fees, but now other expenses are mounting. They now must live on 2500 rupees a month and are struggling to provide for their three children on that income.

Please commit to helping. Remember, Charity is the highest, most eminent virtue. You express that virtue with your donation. We struggle daily to help, but we can do nothing without your support.

Charities such as us are working to provide aid to those who need it the most, but the struggle to continuously raise funds is a barrier. With your donations we have been able to do marvelous things that would have inhibited multiple peoples lives and abilities if not completed. Although, we must acknowledge that charities such as ours get assistance from the community and our followers in many ways, and in this blog, I will tell you how you can help. 

2. Raise Awareness!

Need a topic to discuss with your friends? Perhaps consider informing them about issues they may not even be aware of. Did you know Leprosy is still prevalent in India today? Many people think it was an illness eradicated over 100 years ago as we don’t see it in the West. 

7. Become an Ambassador/ Share online

a. Reaching the correct audience is difficult without your help. The number of viewers on our content dramatically determines the amount of money we are able to raise. You can help us by simply pressing share or adding our posts to your story.

Overall, providing aid to your local charity is not as difficult as it may seem, as small actions such as those outlined above can lead to something great. When you are unable to donate, there are many other ways you can help. Remember that there are still people all around the world who need us to work for them to survive. Please consider supporting us on this journey. 

April 13^th marks a special day for 3 of the most populous religions in not only India but on Earth. For all three to fall on the same day is a rare occasion,  and for many this a symbol of unity. While separation and tensions arise in all countries and nations, such celebrations intertwining reminds us to find strength and alliance in diversity.  

Now to discuss a bit about each:

 Navratri translates into “nine nights” where the people of the Hindu religion focus on rejuvenation through following a strict diet, sleep, and meditation. Each of the nine days are dedicated towards Goddess Shakti’s nine embodiments.

April 13^th also happens to be the first day of Ramadan, one of the five pillars of Islam. Ramadan lasts from the sighting of one crescent moon to the next, therefore it roughly lasts about 30 days. Ramadan is practiced as to attain taqwa, to make amends for ones sins and avoid drought. Along with this, it provides Muslims with a period of reflection, where Allah may guide them to peace and clarity, and allow them to be grateful. Muslims strictly fast for the entire time the sun is up, only breaking fast during night. Along with this many Muslims give Sadaqah, donations to charity for the cause of Allah.

Overall, there is a wave of much needed peace and acceptance this week as the focus shifts towards peace, humility, and self deliberation. 

Personal initiative is part of Spiritual Life. It is part of our freedom to chose how to act. When Charity reflects our love for God, and through that, we assist those in need, it is indisputable evidence of our love for God and, in turn, our love for others.

When giving is difficult, it is a more extraordinary act of your love for others. Mother Theresa is an excellent example of the freedom of action in Spiritual Life. 

Do not miss your opportunity to help those in need with your gift. 

Please Donate Now. 

God Bless,

Thank you

Dr. John Bickert,

President

CFTW 

We have just past the decade anniversary of the gigantic Japanese earthquake/tsunami which occurred on March 11, 2011. A force so strong, it not only shook Japan, but the rest of the world along with it. If you were over the age of 10 you probably remember what you were doing that day, and every news source providing updates on it for weeks afterward.

On that day, a 100-year-old Clock was stopped by the jolt, as one of it’s parts must’ve been knocked out of position. After this the clock has rested at an antique store to present day. However, this year on February 13^th, nearly 10 years after, Japan was struck with another Earthquake, while it was not as damaging as the massive quake of 2011, it still created fear. Many scientists believed this was still an aftershock of the original one. This aftershock must have been the correct amount of force needed, as it somehow turned the clock back on. 

The 58-year-old antique store owner claims this as a sign of restoration. World-wide efforts were made to assist Japans efforts in cleaning up the nuclear damage, along with providing aid to those who lost their homes and businesses. Although, the lasting impacts have still been lingering, in cases like this we must look towards instances such as the clock for hope.

At times we all fail to consider our privilege, and the fact that everything around us, the things, people and places we take for granted can be taken away at any moment. For the families who were impacted by the Tsunami, they are still dealing with radiating damages over a catastrophe which occurred 10 years ago.

But: “Education is the key to opportunity. It's a ticket out of poverty” – Barack Obama

References:

Clock stopped by Japan earthquake restarts decade on. (2021, April 14). Msn. Retrieved from https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/clock-stopped-by-japan-earthquake-restarts-decade-on/ar-BB1fEzMv

We visited St. Thomas’s martyrdom site and his tomb in the beautiful city of Chennai overlooking the Bay of Bengal in Tamil Nadu. Even Thomas, who walked, talked, and witnessed the many miracles that Jesus performed, could not believe Jesus’s disciples when they told him that they had seen the Lord. Indeed someone as close to Jesus as he had been would have seen Jesus himself. Thomas was incredulous, “…he said to them, ‘Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.”