Right Hand Ministries
RHM: PO Box 12385 Oklahoma City, OK 73157 rhmhope1@gmail.com
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Bittersweet Ministry
July Update
Dear RHM Friends,
Greetings in the Precious Name of our Lord JESUS.
Another reminder to check out
RHM's YouTube channel, and the
BLOG on the website.
May the Lord lead MANY to use these tools in order to stay informed about the ministry here in India, and to pray.
One of the "bitter" sides of ministry: Krupamma (a diabetic), part of the widows & elderly ministry, had one leg amputated just above the knee less than a year ago. About 2 months ago, the other leg got a wound which became infected ( in the photo below). The doctors tried using medication and treatment for quite some time before they finally decided it was necessary to remove the 2nd leg as well. It also was removed just about the knee. The whole ordeal has really taken a toll on her mentally as well. As we work and pray, we don't always like or understand what we see, but we trust Him anyway. Pray for her comfort, and that we can do whatever possible to alleviate her suffering or make life a little more functional for her and her husband.
"...perplexed, but not despairing." 2 Corinthians 4:8
Some of the "sweet" side of ministry: about 3 updates of things which we've asked you to pray about within the last month.
1. We asked you to pray about the financial situation of RHM & HOPE, and the Lord touched hearts so that both are currently in a better position. Praise GOD for His faithfulness!
2. We had mentioned to you in the June newsletter that, because of a new govt incentive which will actually be paying parents to put their children into the public schools, the attendance of fee-paying children was way down in the HOPE School. In late June the number of fee-paying children (non-HOPE, as the HOPE children don't need to pay) was still around 100, the new academic year starting 2 weeks prior. When the previous year ended in April, the HOPE School had about 200 fee-paying children, and the financial position of the school was looking good. Some of us have been trusting Him and praying for miracles, and the number is now around 160 or more. PTL! We're hopeful that our miracle-working Father will continue to restore the HOPE School attendance.
3. We asked you to pray in regard to the very long summer this year, the 100+ days starting in late April or early May. In this area of Andhra Pradesh, the worst part of the summer usually declines in early June. This year, most of June was still really hot and sweaty. Thankfully, the last couple of weeks have been down in the 90's with a few rains. Though there's still plenty of sweating, it's more bearable. Thanks for praying!
Continue to pray for the 6 prisoners who might have their cases reach the Supreme Court in Delhi soon. There's major financial obstacles to overcome, as the lawyers like to get paid lots of money for their work, especially when taking life-sentence cases before the Supreme Court. Pray for financial miracles, and that favor would be granted to these men on several fronts. Without the Lord's favor and mercy, it would be a hopeless situation, trying to get the release of 6 poor Christian men who have been falsely accused of killing a Hindu priest years ago. Even with zero evidence against them (except for many false witnesses, most of their testimonies being dismissed), they have been in prison more than 10 years. Looks to me like a really good opportunity for our Father and Lord JESUS to do some awesome wonders like what we see throughout the Bible. Hallelujah!
Thank you for your prayers and support! Don't forget us. You know the saying, "Out of sight, out of mind." We are half the earth away from most of you, so we're trusting the Holy Spirit to keep us within your hearts and prayers. Bless you.
Brother Dan
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ABOVE: Krupamma and her husband, about 2 months before her 2nd leg was amputated (story above).
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ABOVE: Kanikaramma with her new hut, built in May. She's from Subba Reddy Colony, one of 19 in the widows & elderly program in that village.
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ABOVE: Estheramma, also from Subba Reddy Colony, in front of her new hut. So thankful for the Body of Christ working together to make these things happen, from the donors and people praying, to the pastors who are working with these people and helping to facilitate these things, to those on the admin side, and those doing the building (sometimes they also are believers). To Him alone be glory!
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ABOVE: I had not been at HOPE for a week or so, and when I first saw Veni (10) with these horrid looking boils, I was heartsick. They had tried medication for some time, hoping the boils would open up, but they didn't. It may have been this same day that she was taken to the hospital and the boils were cut open. As expected, Veni cried when the anesthesia shot was given, but she handled the operation well.
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ABOVE: I wish you could see Veni's cute expressions, as it's not easy to get her to stay focused on the camera and smile at the same time. She was so much happier after she got the bandages removed several days after the procedure to cut open the boils.
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ABOVE: A little girl by a Hindu shrine (idol inside), which is just across the road from where a widow lives whom we're assisting.
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ABOVE: Sashamma, from the village of Cheemalapenta. She's one of 8 in the widows & elderly program there (WE for short, but not the name of the ministry). Some remodeling was later done on her house behind her, such as adding a window and a door.
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ABOVE: Kasimbi, also from Cheemalapenta, in the doorway of her newly repaired house. The house was previously shorter, and the roof was in bad condition. The top 3 or 4 feet of the house is all work done recently.
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ABOVE: Chinnamayi in the village of Chinthayapalem (one of 10 people getting assistance there). She is part of the literacy program, Brother Raju and other young men going to 5 villages now to conduct classes for anyone who comes, young or old. But it's mostly the elderly in the widows & elderly ministry who are attending. Here Chinnamayi is practicing writing Scriptures from her Bible. Precious!
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ABOVE: Rupa, part of another girls home we're assisting in another part of India, in new clothes on her 9th birthday earlier in July. Maybe none of the 11 girls in this home have accurate birth certificates, coming from villages where the adults are not very time or date-oriented. So many of their birthdays were established when they were first enrolled in school.
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ABOVE: May birthday children at HOPE. Left to right: Rizwana (12), Anusha (9, small girl), Jean Joy (19), Naveen (12).
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ABOVE: Brother Prasanth leading prayer during a widows/elderly meeting in the village of Alluru (10 elderly who are part of the ministry there). One Alluru pastor is Brother Peter at left, who also is overseeing the HOPE boys along with his wife in Chinthayapalem.
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ABOVE: This is a tribal village called KB Palem. There are 14 members who gather from 3 different villages to attend our widows & elderly ministry meetings here. Here they are singing a praise song (actually only listening, as only the singer knew the words to the song!).
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ABOVE: Little ones also participating in the literacy program in KB Palem. Because of the indifference of the adults in this village in regard to education, most of the children don't attend school.
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ABOVE: HOPE girls in a room I stay & work in when in Bapatla at the girls home. Left to right: Aksha, Anusha, Kranthi, Nithya. Sweet girls!
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ABOVE: HOPE's Subhashini (12) holding little Glory, Brother Prasanth's sister's baby girl.
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"Whatever you do, do all things to the glory of GOD." 1 Corinthians 10:31 |
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