Dimapur, Dec 26 (MExN): Varied forms of celebrations reverberated long into the chilly December night of Christmas eve as the bulk of Dimapurians awaited the arrival of Christmas. It is during this time of the year when we, lost in our own world of merry-making, often forget those individuals staring agape and envious at us ‘fortunate individuals’.
But not all forget. Twenty one street children, including two girls were gifted warm clothes and treated to a lavish meal at Hotel Avilyn on Christmas eve.
Five individuals, Bendangtila, a social activist rendering her service to a funding agency known as ‘World Vision’, her husband Chuba Jamir, Parents of John Roughton, Pastor of Spirit of Faith, and Limawati, owner of Hotel Avilyn got together to realize a cherished wish of Bendangtila to make some sidelined children bask in the bliss of receiving something unearned yet deserved during this festive season. Their gesture evidently brought smiles and cheers among the children receiving a share of Christmas spirit.
Bendangtila, a lady with a vision to open a night shelter for the street children’ and a home for abandoned wives and widows stated that Christmas is all about sharing and working love. “It is not money but love that gives us strength to face life”, she acknowledged. Bendangtila, with her tot in embrace went around the gathered children inquiring their hardships and consoling them. She urged them to be honest, put trust in God and work hard in order to be loved and also become responsible citizens.
The night’s informal gathering also witnessed testimonials from four children, songs by the ‘band’ that presented songs during the “Pre-Christmas for street children” at fellowship colony on the 21st of this month, a mass prayer was offered where all present held each others hand while forming an arc and a combined note of thanks by the grateful children. Incidentally, the clothes were offered at a subsidized rate by ‘Arvind Stores’.
“I never had opportunity to have coffee in this kind of cup”, a child wearing his new gifted clothes and clutching his old ones gleefully said as he sat sipping coffee at the hotel.
The Children, with otherwise no opportunity to be seen in such an ambience, sat on chairs with their new clothes on and had a meal to their little hearts’ contents as blaring crackers and Christmas songs filled the December night, which appeared no more as chilly. Indeed, as Bendangtila said, “the world would be a better place to live in if we had love for one another”.
