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Potsdam North Country Community Church parishioner starts project for homeland India

Posted 12/16/10

POTSDAM -- When Sirish Joshua Yeeda came to Potsdam, so that his wife could pursue her doctorate at Clarkson University, he left his heart in India. During the three years they have lived here, Yeeda …

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Potsdam North Country Community Church parishioner starts project for homeland India

Posted

POTSDAM -- When Sirish Joshua Yeeda came to Potsdam, so that his wife could pursue her doctorate at Clarkson University, he left his heart in India.

During the three years they have lived here, Yeeda has continued to work on projects in his home area of rural eastern Andhra Pradesh state, acccording to North Country Community Church Pastor Ed Sachs.

In India, Yeeda had been pastor of a church and served as the secretary of a ministerial organization. Since coming to the states he has helped to raise funds for events for the other pastors he worked with there, many of which live on as little as $1 a week. Being moved by their inability to purchase even one set of clothes for themselves he started the Noel Pastor Project.

Returning to visit this past January he presented 200 sets of clothes to ministers there. He also worked to provide cook stoves, beds and other basic needs that were presented to ministers at their annual Easter celebration where the pastors were given a good meal as well, Sachs said.

Yeeda’s has family operated a children's home since before his birth. He has been raising funds to build a new dormitory for that children's home and construction is well underway.

While here, he has also worked with North Country Community Church to begin a feeding program that provides a hot lunch to poor children in the fishing village of Gudapalli once a week.

He also started the Noel Child Project that presents Christmas gifts to children from rural villages. Many of them have never before seen crayons or had a single toy of their own. This past January he presented gifts to 1000 children.

Sachs accompanied him on his visit and was able to see firsthand the joy on the children's faces.

“What a thrill to be surrounded by hundreds of children opening what may have been their first Christmas present ever," said Sachs. "The people there are so grateful to those of us in the states that care enough to reach out to them and help in their desperate poverty.”

Yeeda will visit India again this January, giving clothes to ministers and gifts to children as part of the Noel Projects. This time he will be accompanied by a team of eight men from the North Country who will also put on a program in the Rajahmundry Central Prison. Yeeda worked with these men and others in similar programs in prisons here and he wanted to bring their ideas back to India. But, Sachs said, Yeeda is always thinking of his next project, so he will go to Nepal before returning to Potsdam and make connections to present the program in the Central Prison in Katmandu next year.

"I know I have been changed by visiting India with Yeeda," says Rev. Sachs.

"I also know the North Country has been blessed by taking this opportunity

to care for the needy people in India."

There is always need of financial support to make these projects happen. Yeeda has worked with many churches and individuals in the North Country to collect funds. Anyone who would like to contribute to the Noel Child or Noel Pastor Projects is encouraged to send donations to Calvary Baptist Church, 103 E Main St., Canton, NY 13617 or New Hope Community Church, 33 Grant St Potsdam, NY 13676, or North Country Community Church, PO Box 825, Potsdam, NY, 13676. Contributions can also be sent directly to Sirish Joshua Yeeda 53 B, Market St, Potsdam, NY 13676.

North Country Community Church, 97 Elm St., is also raising funds for the projects by showing the VeggieTales movie, “Saint Nicholas, A Story of Joyful Giving” at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17 and at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18. Although there is no charge, donations to the Noel Child Project will be accepted.