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| Profile: Leena Lavanya |
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Charisma
Possessed with boundless energy and enthusiasm, vision, compassion and a winsome, attractive personality,
Leena is an exceptional person with an encouraging word for all. Leena Lavanya is a remarkable
young Indian woman living and working in Andhra Pradesh, India. Few people command the love and respect
of the people with whom they work, as does Leena. Expectant and approving eyes follow her as she walks
among the people in villages where she spends much of her time. A throng of children accompany her
almost everywhere she goes. Spending time and visiting with her is an inspiring experience that will
challenge you for life.
Heart
Yet Leena would vigorously deny such accolades. She is an essentially humble person whose overwhelming
desire in life is to serve the poorest of the poor in south-central India. She does not glide among her
people like some mystical saint, rather, she gets her hands dirty, kneels in the dust, cleanses the wounds
and wipes away the tears. Her own tears sometimes mingle with the tears of those who suffer, yet there is
always a smile for, and laughter with, all who cross her path.
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| Leena Lavanya |
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Beginnings
From an early age, Leena had family members who were outstanding models of service to the poorest and
marginalized in society. She has had the resolve and opportunity to go well beyond her role models.
In Indian society, a first beloved child will sometimes be cared for, not by the parents, but by
grand-parents. As a small child she was fortunate to be entrusted to grand-parents for her up-bringing,
and they were wonderful people and excellent role models. As a child, she enjoyed the spacious, leafy
grounds of a seminary campus in Ramapatnam, close to the sea, where her grandfather, B.M. Moses, served
as Principal. He was a man, recognized internationally who studied for a time in Chicago, and who cared
for the poor in his area, sparking an initial flame in Leena's heart for the marginalized and destitute
people of India.
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Family
Leena has been fortunate having a caring and talented family who are completely supportive of her
compassionate ministries and who themselves make a strong contribution to the ServeTrust programs.
Her parents, siblings, cousins, have all been involved, and without that encouragement and solidarity,
Leena would not have been as effective as she is.
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Work Ethic
Her work among HIV/Aids patients, sex workers, prisoners, leprosy sufferers, street kids, the aged
and frail and unemployed young people has been well documented, yet hardly can do justice to the
scope and quality of Leena's work. She not only administers this large social enterprise, she is
totally hands on, knowing the names and circumstances of all who come within her area of work and
displaying a level of love and concern, distinguishing herself from most care-givers. It matters
little whether they are young or old, sick or well, rich or poor, Christian, Hindu or Muslim,
respectable or social outcasts, Leena treats every person as if they are most important person
on the planet.
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Communication
Though most comfortable and happy when working among the poorest people, Leena interacts effectively
with Indian government officials, overseas guests and those who might by force of personality, through
position or possessions intimidate others. Similarly, when travelling overseas, Leena is poised and
confident when speaking about her work to crowds of people. She always leaves people totally impressed
with the work she does and the charismatic person she obviously is.
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Vocation
Unable to take her place to study medicine at university because of financial constraints, Leena became
a school teacher, and taught biology in a local college until the demands of her own ServeTrust work
caused her to relinquish that career. To fund her rapidly escalating ministries, Leena has occasionally
worked part-time as a teacher at largely inconvenient hours but a necessary undertaking, in her view, to
ensure the continuation at that time, of a ministry to needy people. Leena has never only relied on
contributions from outside. She has experimented, generally to good effect, with various revenue
producing schemes to help fund the work, including, for many years, running a herd of goats, and
establishing a sewing school and a plate making cottage industry to develop alternative means of
income for sex workers looking for another way of life.
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