A COUPLE from a Nailsea church are seeking sponsors for orphans following their third visit to poverty-stricken tribal areas of India.

David and Hazel Bussey, of Nailsea Baptist Church, along with assistant pastor Paul Carter who travelled there for the first time, visited six of 29 orphanages during their work with the Grace Mission.

The mission started when a graduate called Jacob went out with his bicycle and a Bible in 1991.

David said: “He found two abandoned children and took them into care.

“Now the orphans have been rescued from difficult circumstances and are given clothing; food and a good education.

“Visiting was, and always has been, a very wonderful experience.”

The number of orphans cared for by the project, now the registered charity Gospel for Tribal Social Services Society, has risen from 1,200 when the couple first went in 2008, to 2,250.

There are currently sponsors for 900 of them but more are needed for the other 1,350. It costs �20 per month and six-monthly reports are sent out.

Anyone wishing to sponsor a child can call David and Hazel on 01275 393858 or Dianne Flowers on 07854 568871.

The trio also witnessed the missionary’s ambulance caring for 16 of the country’s 50,000 leper colonies and a three-day convention attended by 8,000 people.