7 Questions With David Adhikary

Thanks for asking your questions of David, the Compassion field communication specialist in Bangladesh. Here is the wisdom he has to share with us! 

1. First of all, thank you so much for all you do for the precious children of Bangladesh! My question is, as you go through each day seeing a multitude of needs in these children’s lives, what do you find yourself praying for most often? (Lindy)

You are always welcome. Actually, I feel a deep pain when I find myself in a position where I can’t afford to help each of my children to solve their problems.

Every night I pray that at least they could have their dinner and have a sound and peaceful family environment. 

2. I would like to know the specifics of how the global food crisis is affecting the people in Bangladesh and how it has affected Compassion’s program there. Have you cut back days that the children meet? Has it made a difference in the type of food that you can afford to serve the children? (Cheryl J)

The price of rice and other food products including lentils, flour, oil, and sugar are increasing continuously from last year.

According to different sources, the cost of the cheapest rice has increased by over 90 percent, and for the better grade rice, it is over 64 percent.

According to the statistics provided by the World Bank and United Nations, the daily income of a lower-level person in Bangladesh is between $1 and $2.

Each family requires at least four pounds of rice each day, which means if they only buy four pounds of the cheapest rice, they have to spend $1.18, which means they have little or no money left to buy vegetables, oil, and other food products.

Compassion Bangladesh hasn’t cut back the number of days that the children meet. Instead, we started an extra day of Compassion program.

Most of the child development centers provided a meal five days a week, but now they are providing a meal six days a week.

Some centers had to reduce their expense for food revenue; they decreased the quantity of food.

After receiving the support of the Global Food Crisis fund, this lack has been filled and children are getting food according to the new, revised menu.

Your support and prayer made it possible.    

3. How far do the students travel, on average, to get to the centers, and how do they do so? (walk, bus, etc.) (Beth Ingersoll) 

Students of Compassion have to walk for 30 minutes on average to reach their child development centers. They cannot afford the bus and it is not available in the remote areas. 

4. What do you like best about your job? (Britney)

Actually, I like two things about my job. The first thing is the love and affection of the children and their families. For example, last month I visited the house of one of our Compassion children. His name is Saidi.

I went to his house just to see how he and his family were doing. Saidi’s parents cooked their only chicken for our meal. We had dinner together. I felt so honored.

I tried to pay them the price of the chicken, but they refused my offer. They were thanking Compassion and all of us for taking care of their kid. Their love and gratefulness deeply touched me.

The second thing I like about my job is your sponsors’ response. When I see that our children are getting support from you and my stories and reports are used to benefit the children, then I feel so satisfied.

5. What do you love most about the children that you work with? (Mary)

I love their smiles. They are so lively and energetic. Their prayer is very strong, as they pray from their heart. 

6. If you could have one wish granted for the children you work with, what would that wish be? (Crystal)

I would wish for their safety. I would wish no one will ever hit them or hurt them physically or mentally. (No matter what they do wrong, there is no excuse to hit a child.)

I want to thank all of you for your questions. Please feel free to ask any other thing you want to know about compassion’s ministry in Bangladesh.

Please pray for me that I could efficiently serve our Lord and the children through Compassion’s ministry.