“In February, 2016 I traveled to India with colleagues from North Carolina, Australia, Texas, and Northern Virginia to visit Leena Lavanya and to see ServeTrust ministries.

Leena’s energy and commitment was inspiring to all of us, as was her dedication to Jesus Christ through so many actions of faith and caring.  Prior to this trip, I did not understand the scope of the ministry that Serve Trust is undertaking, and the expansion of work that is still going on in many communities.  Leena’s ministries are meeting 1000’s of human and spiritual needs in Andhra Pradesh, India. This is a servant ministry directed at so many desperately poor and impoverished people. Every day, Leena is sharing and demonstrating God’s love for her people.

“The opportunity to walk with, work with and learn from Leena Lavanya and her ServeTrust team was one of those experiences in life that leaves an indelible impression. I witnessed what God can do through a life that is surrendered to Him. I was inspired by seeing word and deed seamlessly interwoven to help people hear and experience the Good News. I was moved by the way the love of God has so captivated and compelled Leena and her team that they selflessly and sacrificially express love to people whom many others would avoid or ignore.”

Introduction

As an MBA student at Baylor University, Susanne Blake met Leena when she came to share about her work with business students, in hopes they could contribute valuable insight into the business aspects of ServeTrust. This brief interaction with her led to planning a trip to visit Leena in Narasaraopet, India a few months later …

First Encounter

When I raised my hand to ask Leena a question, I asked, “What is it that you need most? Money? Resources? Etc?” Leena replied “people”. Her speech and gentle nature touched my heart and after the class I made a beeline to her. I told her that I’d been praying about doing volunteer work in India for a long time, that I was planning a trip to a friend’s wedding in Delhi, and I would love to come and do anything I could to help in India. Those 15-20 minutes of chatting with Leena proved to be some of the most valuably invested time of my life. Perhaps others call it coincidence, I call it divine intervention. I knew from the moment I met her that God led her into my life for a reason. Over the next couple of months, we kept in contact and planned my trip to visit her in Narasaraopet.

Suzanne spent two weeks with Leena and the ServeTrust team visiting many of the programs described on this website.

Thoughts returning home …

I know the woman who walks out of this plane will not be the same one that entered Delhi weeks ago. With my hair in braids, wearing multi-colored bangles, a flame-colored, traditional Punjabi suit and a silk scarf embroidered with turquoise, India’s influence is externally evident. However, it is the interior, intangible side that is even more decidedly different than the bright, exterior array. How could I not be changed? After holding a malnourished, dying child in my arms, after feeling hot tears in my eyes while witnessing the greatness of the Taj, after visiting destitute women my own age in their mud huts, after seeing the love of God in the soft brown eyes of one of the most incredible women I have ever met (Leena), my heart is indelibly marked and I will continue to “Pray for India” as I hear the slum children’s voices singing the words.

Introduction

During his years as a BWA Director, Tony Cupit met many outstanding, dedicated leaders and people all over the world who serve God’s people with great commitment. He testifies that few, if any, reveal the same deep spirituality, compassion and practical skill as Leena. Tony was among the first to appreciate Leena’s qualities and her potential for significant service to her people. He and his wife Margaret have been strong supporters of Leena’s work for more tham 16 years.

An Early Memory …

I spoke in the open air in the city of Nellore in India and after I spoke on a specially constructed podium, standing at the foot of the stairs waiting for me, was a very pregnant and very sick woman. She implored me to lay my hands on her head and to pray for her. This I did. In the circumstances I thought I had done about as much as was possible. Leena was at the meeting and as iron filings are attracted to a magnet, somehow the woman found Leena. Leena spent the rest of the night with this desperately sick woman (it turned out she was HIV positive) and after being denied access to two hospitals finally found a hospital that would admit the woman if she had a relative to accompany her.

So Leena and the sick woman drove out to a village, found a sister of the sick woman and extracted a promise that on the following morning she would admit her sister to the hospital. Like the Good Samaritan, Leena bound up her wounds, paid for her care at the hospital and showed what love means. I just prayed. Leena spent the whole night serving this desperate woman.

Final Say …

My wife Margaret and I have had the privilege of knowing Leena from when her social work was in its early stages and have seen that work develop quite spectacularly over the years. Our admiration for Leena has grown as her work has grown for she has been a consistent, warm-hearted and generous friend. We have watched in awe as Leena’s life has touched countless people bringing peace, wholeness, dignity and joy in a context where people can so easily sink into despair. We give thanks to God for this remarkable lady.