The children behind every gift

Simple English lessons are giving children the confidence to speak up — in class and beyond.

Through vision boards and Gospel sessions, children put words and pictures to a future they can work toward.

One boy was so lit up by the Cookery session that he ran home to bake for his family that very evening.

Voice training, guitar and keyboard sessions uncovered hidden talents — and gave shy children room to shine.

New children are attending church, and a brand-new worship gathering has taken root in the village.

For many children, our IT sessions are their first hands-on time with a computer — a doorway to what's possible.

Simple English lessons are giving children the confidence to speak up — in class and beyond.

One of the most exciting parts of every mission trip was the action song session. The children joyfully performed every movement. What made it more special was that, after each program, many children continued singing on their own and taught the songs to other children. Seeing their willingness to share what they had learned was deeply rewarding.

Teaching the Music class was a wonderful experience at Mullivaikal. The children were eager to learn how to sing the seven notes. Over 85 percent of them had naturally beautiful voices, especially a 16-year-old girl with a wonderful voice. We recognized that these children were really talented and had the potential to excel in music.

I visited Mullaitivu and met a 4-year-old boy. His parents had gone to work, and his brother was taking care of him. At first, he slowly came near me and started talking with me. He showed his love and trust by staying close to me. Finally, he sat on my lap with happiness and comfort. This small moment touched my heart and reminded me of the innocent love and trust of children.

I visited Nawalapitiya and spent time with the children by sitting in a circle and teaching them. One 4-year-old girl stayed close to me wherever I went and called me, 'Akka, Akka,' with so much love. When she was going home, she held her slippers and asked me, 'Akka, please put them on my feet.' This beautiful experience reminded me of the pure love and trust of children.

During our crafts and art activities in Nawalapitiya, I asked the children, 'When was the last time you did crafts work?' They replied, 'This is our first time.' Even though it was their first time, they created beautiful crafts with great interest and enjoyed every moment. Seeing their happiness, creativity, and excitement was a wonderful experience.

One girl was very shy and hardly spoke when we first met. By the end of the mission trip, she had become comfortable enough to hold my hand, talk openly, and ask if we would come back. Seeing her open up and feel at ease was one of the most meaningful parts of the mission trip for me.

I visited Mullaitivu and met an 8-year-old girl who has difficulty walking. Her mother carried her and helped her sit beside me. I spent time teaching her, and she was learning very well. She smiled beautifully and enjoyed playing with others. Seeing her daughter’s smile brought tears to her mother’s eyes. Her mother sincerely thanked me from her heart.

Through the music sessions conducted by Soul Harvesters, I was truly blessed and inspired to learn more about music. I developed a greater interest in vocal singing and learning the keyboard, and throughout the program, I eagerly continued practicing and improving my skills. By the end of the sessions, I was able to learn the basics of playing the keyboard and use it in a simple way during our Sunday service. I am thankful to Soul Harvesters for this opportunity and for inspiring me to use my talents for God's ministry.

After the completion of the ministry programs, we received another invitation from Pathana to conduct a ministry among around 100 children. After hearing about the impact of the Soul Harvesters ministry, the people from Pathana contacted the Pastor's wife and expressed their desire to invite the team to serve in their area. We believe this is a clear sign that God is opening new doors and using Soul Harvesters according to His will to reach and impact more lives.

As a pastor serving this community, I have witnessed many children's desire to learn, but due to limited opportunities, many of them struggle to develop their educational skills. This year, for the very first time, Soul Harvesters organized a series of educational sessions for our local children. It is a new initiative that has brought great hope to both the children and their families. These sessions are not just one-day activities. They are designed to help children grow in their studies, build confidence, and develop important life skills through regular learning opportunities. Seeing the excitement on the children's faces and their eagerness to participate has been a great encouragement to our community. I sincerely believe this ministry will have a lasting impact. It is helping to build a stronger future for our children by investing in their education and personal development. On behalf of our church and community, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Soul Harvesters and everyone who has supported this mission. Your generosity is making a real difference in the lives of these young children, and we pray that God will continue to bless this work abundantly.

After Soul Harvesters conducted a basic IT training session for our students, we saw their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn technology. Although our school has very limited facilities and lacks the necessary IT equipment, this program opened a new world of learning for our children. The impact of this session encouraged us to invite the Soul Harvesters team to return twice a month to continue teaching IT classes. We believe these regular sessions will help our students develop essential computer skills that they would not otherwise have the opportunity to learn. We are deeply grateful for this initiative and sincerely appreciate the team's commitment to investing in the future of our children. Their willingness to serve our school is creating hope and opening new opportunities for our students.

The ministry of Soul Harvesters has brought a remarkable impact to our communities in Mullaitivu. Following these children's outreach programs, we were encouraged to begin a Children's Ministry in the Mullivaikkal area. What has touched us most is that many non-Christian parents have expressed their support and are willing to help us build this ministry for the benefit of their children. In Selvapuram, we have also witnessed another wonderful blessing. Since the outreach program, several Catholic children have been attending our Sunday services regularly. These are clear signs that God is opening doors through acts of love and service.

The music session organized by Soul Harvesters was truly inspiring for our young people. It was more than just learning music—it gave them confidence, joy, and a desire to develop the talents God has given them. After the program, one of our youth members approached us and asked if Soul Harvesters could continue by offering online guitar classes because he was eager to keep learning. Seeing this kind of passion and commitment has been a great encouragement to us.

Through the ministry of Soul Harvesters, outreach programs were conducted in seven different locations, bringing the love of Christ to many children and youth. Throughout every session, we witnessed how the children and young people responded with great joy and were drawn closer to the Kingdom of God through the activities, teaching, and love demonstrated by the team. We were greatly encouraged to see such a young team wholeheartedly committed to serving God. Their passion, dedication, and willingness to serve have inspired us and strengthened our faith.