Issue 119 - April 14, 2019
Inspirational Note...
In 2017 a Satsang held in the divine presence in Mexico. When asked about who will enter the Golden Age?

Here is what Swami said

You are having ‘examination fear’. Before an examination, you develop fear about how you are going to pass. Everyone has to take exams. Has anyone graduated from school without writing their exams? I do not know of anybody who has done that. Do not be afraid of the exams. You have to take them and pass. The good part is that you have time on your side. Swami is here to tell you way ahead of time that there is going to be an examination at the end. Since you have time on your side and I keep telling you about the exams, do not waste that time. Use it well, so that you study properly in the available days, and are able to pass the exam with flying colours. Furthermore, you have God with you, guiding you as your teacher as to how to study, do your homework, solve your problems and, finally, write the exam well, so that you can pass with good marks. Where then is the scope for fear? Where are the doubts coming from? You are not trusting your teacher, nor are you trusting yourself, if you doubt that you will pass. Put in your efforts so that, under the grace and guidance of God, everything will be possible. Nobody can help you. The teacher is going to give the exam, but he will only mark you according to what you have written. Yes, he will give you good marks if he sees your sincere effort. A good human effort is the basis of all achievements, including spiritual achievement. You are lucky that you have time on your side and the proper guidance. Use these two well and put effort into not being afraid. Whenever the exam comes, you will be ready to pass – just put in your effort.
Service Updates
New Kitchen Inaugurated
for a School in Jamshedpur
Annapoorna team inaugurated a new kitchen in one of the Breakfast Centres, namely, Sri Surat Sarvajanik Gujarati Middle School at Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.

Attendees of the inauguration function represented Corporates, Non-Governmental Organisations, Alumni and School Management. Also, current students and Annapoorna's volunteers participated in the inauguration event.

Breakfast was cooked in the newly inaugurated kitchen and distributed to children as well the participants!
Help Extended to Needy Schools in Gauribidanur
The Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School (English medium) and Bhargava Rural High School (Kannada medium) are needy schools that are not aided by the Government. These schools are supported by Annapoorna through their Breakfast Programme.

A volunteer of Annapoorna and her colleagues at KPMG, in a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) event organised at schools, contributed meal plates to 465 children studying in these schools which are located at Gauribidanur in Karnataka.

In addition to this, Annapoorna volunteers contributed Rs. 20,000 to help the Head Master buy laboratory apparatus for the schools.
Kudos to Niharika and her colleagues for helping out the needy schools with their generous contribution!
Little Drops of Love to Beat
the Summer Heat
It's summer, and the temperature is already at its peak. All are busy ascribing the scorching heat to global warming, deforestation, pollution and lot more. Rather, should we not do something to survive this heat effectively and naturally?

When the flaming Sun is taking away all the energy, a glass of enriched drink, offered with a beaming smile can be thirst quenching and revitalizing. To help the commuters beat the heat, the Annapoorna volunteers from Thiruvananthapuram came up with an idea of providing boiled drinking water infused with natural herbs.
A Planning Meet with
Government School Teachers
Annapoorna collaborates with the Department of School Education, Government of Andhra Pradesh for initiating breakfast programme in Government schools. The event took place on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Malliah Lingaiah Bhavan, near the Municipal Office in Ongole, in Andhra Pradesh.
Corporate Social Responsibiity
Conclave at Vishakapatnam  
A CSR Conclave was organised in Vishakapatnam in Andhra Pradesh State to ideate, discuss and determine the making of a healthy and happy nation by coming together and helping! This event was conducted at Vishakapatnam on Saturday, March 16, 2019.
A Weekly Exchange of Love
Proper nutrition and timely intake of food is incredibly important for the sustenance of one’s life, yet not all are privileged enough to receive meals due to unfortunate circumstances. Hence many have to go days without having any proper food which severely affects the health – both that of the mind and the body.

Thus, keeping the sacred words of the ever-compassionate Lord in mind, the youth busied themselves during each weekend of the month to prepare flavourful combinations of traditional curries and dishes for the underprivileged and homeless.
 Nourishment with Compassion
As the youth arrived at the steps of the ever-busy Harvard School in Pettah for their monthly visit, they were met with warm hugs and enthusiastic greetings as the children now recognized them! Hearts warmed immediately as several youth sat among the students and listened to the animated tales of their daily mischief. The joy was overflowing as the children posed for pictures, smiles were ever present and it seemed not a moment passed without the sound of heartfelt laughter!
Knowledge Through The Act of Love
As the youth arrived at the steps of the ever-busy Harvard School in Pettah for their monthly visit, they were met with warm hugs and enthusiastic greetings as the children now recognized them! Hearts warmed immediately as several youth sat among the students and listened to the animated tales of their daily mischief. The joy was overflowing as the children posed for pictures, smiles were ever present and it seemed not a moment passed without the sound of heartfelt laughter!
Seva at Construction Sites
“ Seva ” - As Swami puts it, “One has to perform Selfless Service to attain Self-Realisation”.
 
The youth from the Middle East make it a point to regularly visit their friends who toil away at construction sites during the day. Tetra packs of buttermilk, fruit juice, raw vegetables, fresh fruits, rice and other dry rations were lovingly handed out to hard workers who unfortunately, face the lack of basic necessities for their humble living. They greeted the youth warmly and reciprocated with loving smiles which conveyed their heartfelt gratitude and the reassurance they felt, that they have a nurturing and compassionate support system comprised of their very own brothers and sisters!
Seva at Ladies’ Camp
The Seva at the Ladies’ Camp continues with vigor and enthusiasm. The team took advantage of the pleasant climate and engaged in some basic stretching exercises with the ladies. This is one activity which both the Seva team and the ladies enjoy together as they sit down and exercise collectively and share their camaraderie. Moreover, the sessions have become interactive as the team now shares Swami’s Chinna Kathas with the ladies and has a riddle answering session in the end. The ladies too, of recent, have taken to asking riddles and questions to the group, thus making the weekly visit something both parties genuinely enjoy and look forward to! These activities went hand in hand with the weekly distribution of rations such as lentils, sanitary napkins, biscuits and fruits. 
“Young” Youth Seva
The youth Seva continues and grows on a bi-weekly basis with Swami’s grace. The youth took to distributing oranges instead of bananas for their laborer brothers with the hope of providing something equally nutritious for them to enjoy. Recently, a laborer brother approached them asking for an orange, much after the rest of the group had dispersed. With a heavy heart, the youth had to turn him down. While the brother continued to obtain rations from the next volunteer, the youth made a quick search of a seemingly empty trunk of the car and found a single orange in a corner. With much joy and gratitude, they rushed to the brother and offered the orange and he received the same with a smile on his face. This experience highlights the truth that it is in fact the Lord who provides, the Lord who receives and the Lord who is in the act itself!
Transformation
A Profound Transformation
My Pranams at the lotus feet of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. I am Samudra De Zoysa from Sri Lanka. My unprecedented sight of Swami was when I was taken on an unplanned journey to Bangalore in 1995 by my uncle who had some business there. We were fortunate enough to be seated in the second row awaiting Swami‘s Darshan .
Swami’s name is now part of our household. We pray before we eat and we pray each night for every blessing that He has given us! My life has completely changed from a hot-tempered young adult to a kind, compassionate being. This is all because of Swami’s grace and calling. Little did I know that the short meeting back in 1995 would transform my life in such a profound way!