Safe Haven had a mission
Sunday, September 7th 2014, was a Fathers’ Day with a difference. Lakpahana Adventist College in Sri Lanka had sent a plea for help, for funds to repair their tractor, generator and general neglect of their college, where hundreds of fresh young minds were being educated. They needed $9,500 as a bare minimum to get the College back in to working order and to restart a Soy Plant as a sustaining source of income.
We responded and made it our mission, recruiting our supporters to put on a fundraising lunch for three hundred people. Food was donated by Indian and Sri Lankan restaurants, and drink by Pattritti wines, moved by the cause. With Indian cuisine and live entertainment promised, posters were printed, tickets were sold at $30 a head and a venue secured – a daunting task but for the grace of God and the answering of prayers.
Problems arose that would give most of us good reason to cancel, but our faithful response to “We’ve double-booked the venue” was “No problem”; “But its on Fathers’ Day” was “No problem”; “It’s less than two weeks away”, “There’s no printing staff available” were always met with “No problem”, followed by a humble, sincere request, “Pray about it.”
Those difficulties were overcome, PRAISE GOD. Sunday, September 7 saw a small team of volunteers rise early after late preparation the night before, to plunge into catering on a grand scale. Two special ladies, Prakash and Rukmani, had flown down from Sydney to assist Molsy with the event. Their tireless efforts and ever-smiling consideration for others and adaption to whatever needed doing inspired the whole team to love and uncomplaining good works.
Simmering rice cookers took up entire benches, tubs of fruit were spectacular in their enormous, cascading colours and Molsy’s delicious soy curry filled a small vat, that needed an oar to stir it and a fire of it’s own to cook it on, outside. More than one volunteer must have prayed for assistance from the angels, as the momentum of the behind-the-scenes activity accelerated as the youth arrived in their professional black and white attire, ready to be briefed for waiting on tables
Guests, with smiles and happy greetings, arrived quickly to fill the bright hall swimming in pink tablecloths, with smiles and happy greetings. Friends were seated and a welcome made. Kingsley Wood, our chief guest, introduced the Master of Ceremonies, Ken Mulholland, and then offered the Grace and the feast began. Despite a few hiccoughs in the kitchen and delicious entrees of samosas, curried cauliflower and Pakoras were served, along with refreshing sparkling red and white grape-juice. Ken, the ever-lively MC, began the entertainment. Jolanta and her Joyful Singers lead a cheery atmosphere of song and praise. Appreciative mouths enjoyed the three promised curries, all different but all equally yum, served with saffron rice and green salad. Solos from artists Yolanta Mielczarek and Edward Bokovic of numbers including “You Lift Me Up” and “I’m Just a Man” inspired the audience. Children were involved in a game of running around collecting from all the seated adults to fill Ken’s very large bowl of money, which actually amounted to a (surprising) grand total of $2,500. Thanks to the generous donation of Miroslav Doncevic of a latest model computer, an auction was held which raised another $2,600 on its own. Gulabjamun balls, fruit salad and ice-cream topped off the meal and guests could leave being, every one of them, witness to the showering of God’s blessings.
A good time was had by all, and everyone involved received a blessing, even those who could not leave because they were faced with the cleaning up. God had truly opened the windows of Heaven to save Lakpahana. The three-course Indian meal raised more than the Safe Haven Australia goal of $9,500, like a cup that overflowed. Let our prayers be full of thanksgiving that the vision of restoring the Lakpahana Adventist College can become a reality. Let our prayed be full of thanksgiving that the vision of restoring the Lakpahana Adeventist College can become a reality. Appreciation goes to all who helped: the Safe Haven members including Ken Williams for diligently taking photos during the event and Peter Scott for his invaluable assistance. Special thanks go to Sam and Molsy Arulanandam, and every single person who donated, and may the amazing results bring glory to our holy Father in Heaven.
By Mandy Howe