The Rescuers Down Under

We were able to see the Slum preschool work the “Rescue and Restore” ministry of Freddy and Daisy Paul from a couple of days ago, but today, we were privileged to visit the shelter where 34 of the “rescued” kids have come to live and begin their “restoration.”


Their house is a fairly large dwelling in a nice neighborhood (let’s talk about neighborhoods are like in Chennai in another setting) with a large, well used front yard (as you can see). There are presently 34 kids ranging in age from very small to young adult, with a live in staff of 6. By my count, that’s a lot of people for this neighborhood shelter.

What is really special about the home is the really beautiful relationship between Freddy and Daisy with all of these kids. Their 2 biological girls move effortlessly among all the other kids. I kept hearing all the kids refer to Freddy and “Daddy” and Daisy as “Mommy.” Daisy informed me that she is the mother that these kids have, and the title is appropriate.




Pictured here looks like a man outstanding in his field, but actually, it is my failing effort to present one of the broken-in Soccer balls gifted by Bryn of Carrollton, Texas to the kids of the house. I guess I was looking for an opportunity to give a speech or something, but as soon as I pulled Bryn’s soccer ball out of my bag, a scene right out of “Shark Week” on the Discovery Channel emerged.


The young men of the house knew exactly what a soccer ball was (okay, a “football”) and they didn’t need any additional bloviating from me to know exactly how to put that soccer ball into good use. And use it they did. Thanks to Bryn.

Daisy had a very special dinner prepared, but a few of the boys had a little dance routine they prepared to show for the first time. Everybody sat down to watch, and I could not help but observe the genuine smile of maternal pride displayed by Daisy as the boys were “bustin a move.”



All the other kids were clapping and very supportive of the boys. It felt very much like a family atmosphere, utterly without pretense. There is an unmistakable feeling of comfort and acceptance that exists in this home. These kids were thriving.

As I was talking to Daisy about the caring atmosphere I was sensing, she would quickly relate the background of each kid that walked by, with a level of detail and concern for each kid as an individual, not as though they were numbers in the group.
She mentioned Kala, with whom I got a quick photo. Seems that Kala’s mother thought there was some sort of curse on her, and that she was bringing bad luck into the home. So, it seems her answer was to ask her father, Kala’s grampa, to drive the little girl 3 hours into the big city of Chennai (which I learned today is close to 8 million people. Wow) and simply drop her off to fend for herself.

Seems the grampa told Kala to sit on a bench while he rounded to the corner to get something to eat. He instructed her to stay right there. After hours, a woman passed by to ask her what she was doing, and she explained her grampa’s instruction. The woman took Kala and the Rescue and Restore house took her in.

Now, to me, it is inconceivable to me that a grampa would do such a thing, but Daisy indicated that there was more. Apparently, after 7 years, the family may wish to retrieve Kala because the period of the curse is over. Daisy said she is pretty sure that someone in the family knows where the girl is, and will come around to try to retrieve her after 7 years time (This because the same thing happened to another abandoned girl after she has reached the age of 20).

Because Kala was old enough to know that this happened to her, you can imagine the potential for bitterness and unforgiveness if she were to see her mother or granddad again. And, here is the real kicker, because they are taught that their heavenly Father loves them, and because the restoration process includes learning about forgiveness, they are better equipped to forgive those who have treated them shamefully when the time comes.

I’m telling you, this is a very sweet little girl, and Freddy and Daisy are being the hands and feet of Christ to Kala.



Every one of the kids has been “rescued” from some kind a dreadful situation. I don’t have the time to go into it all, but I believe the life Freddy and Daisy are living, doing what they can with what they’ve got where they are to help some of the most systematically impoverished people I have ever met, is a model for all who follow the high calling of Christ.
We will be travelling to Pune, India tomorrow. For those of you who pray, please keep us in your prayers.