Character Profile:

[KAHN´dee] / comes from the name of the capital city of the central province of Sri Lanka

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Many people think that Kandy is shy, but her friends know better. She doesn’t talk a lot because she is always thinking. She is as quick with her mind as she is on her feet. Kandy also likes to ask a lot of questions. She wants to understand as much as she can.

Asking questions is what helped Kandy learn about Jesus. She used to follow the teachings of Theravada Buddhism, which demand a very strict, disciplined lifestyle. Kandy often got into trouble with her teachers because she liked to know the reasons behind the things she was asked to do. She would ask many questions, especially about ‘enlightenment,’ which is the ultimate goal of a Buddhist. She was always told that she must find her own path to enlightenment by following the disciplined lifestyle taught by Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.

Kandy always wondered how she could possibly reach enlightenment if she was supposed to do it on her own. There was no one who could tell her for sure how she could get there. Kandy wanted someone who could show her the way.

One day, Kandy met a Christian who told her that God had already provided a Way. The Christian was able to answer many of Kandy’s questions. He told Kandy that all of the wrong things we have done are called sins and these sins are what separate us from God. God loved us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins and be the Way for us to spend eternity with Him.

Kandy was so happy to learn that Jesus had already provided the Way for her and all she had to do was ask Him into her heart. Now she knows for sure that she will go to Heaven one day to live with God.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, once known as Ceylon, is an island nation located about 18 miles off the southern coast of India. It is home to more than 20 million people. Sri Lanka has been a center of Buddhist religion and culture since ancient times. It is famous for the production and export of tea, coffee, rubber and coconuts.

Gecko

Geckos are a type of lizard found in warm climates all over the world. They are different from other lizards in that they use vocal noises for social interaction. Geckos also have no eyelids; instead a transparent membrane protects their eyes. Their toes bend in the opposite direction of human toes and fingers. Geckos stay primarily in wet areas and live in piles of leaves.

Buddhism

There are two schools of thought in the Buddhist world: Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism. Theravada Buddhism, which is practiced in Sri Lanka, emphasizes the original Buddhist scriptural tradition. Theravada Buddhism is strict and emphasizes not only the early Buddhist scriptures but also the monastic life (the strict lifestyle of a monk). Mahayana Buddhism accepts a wider variety of scriptural traditions and gives greater freedom in terms of devotional beliefs and practices than does Theravada Buddhism, which tends to be more uniform.

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