Right Hand Ministries
RHM: PO Box 12385 Oklahoma City, OK 73157 rhmhope1@gmail.com
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Troubled on Every Side
September Update
SORRY to those of you who are seeing this update a 2nd time! Made a mistake in the subject line, which we wanted to rectify. All the content below is the same as previously.
Dear RHM Friends,
Greetings in the Precious Name of our Lord JESUS.
"For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears." 2 Corinthians 7:5
In Revelation 12 we see that the devil has come down with great wrath, knowing that his time is short (12:12). It seems that in the days we live in, almost anywhere you go, there is an escalation of trials and persecution in believers' lives. I only have knowledge about 2 places, the USA and India. In America there is a spiritual and moral onslaught of the enemy taking place like we perhaps have never seen before. Of course, the sleeping, get-along-go-along believer may not recognize anything different, but those who are willing to suffer for their faith can understand the attacks. Here in India, the national government is controlled by a staunch Hindu party, which has emboldened various authorities around the country (and non-authorities also) to come against Christians, or anyone who isn't Hindu.
In the HOPE district and state (Andhra Pradesh), within the last year we have seen a major shift in government policies. Previously the authorities were not requiring children's homes or hostels to conform to their ideological beliefs. Now they are. They also weren't threatening the various organizations that they will be punished if "prayers" are being conducted in the homes. Now they are. I am not very involved in the administrative side of HOPE, so this hasn't so much affected me personally. But Sister Buelah and other HOPE staff have been inundated for months with continual requirements for more documentation (oftentimes the same info being given again and again), but also HOPE has had to install closed circuit cameras throughout their 2 properties, purchase cots (beds) for all the children, and meet other physical requirements as well.
Pray for HOPE, for Sister Buelah, the children, staff, and all facets of the ministry here. They need grace to endure whatever issues may arise in the coming days, and they need miracles. "
For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You." 2 Chronicles 20:12
Please pray for the 5 Christian men who are still in prison, falsely accused of killing a Hindu leader more than 10 years ago. They have a hearing before India's Supreme Court on September 17th, just a few days from now. With the issues of government corruption, radicals who want them to rot in prison (though no real evidence was ever found against them), and a need for money for the lawyers to fight their cases, surely miracles are needed in order for them to be released.
Pray for me, scheduled to return to America on the 23rd of this month. The days are flying by, on one hand a good thing, but on the other very sad, as it's a tough thing to leave these precious HOPE children. Pray also that the Lord will guide my heart into whatever ministry or activities He would have me to do during the 7 weeks or so I plan to be there.
Thank you always for your love, prayers and support! Bless you.
Brother Dan
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ABOVE: The HOPE Band. The 3 girls with the play instruments wanted a photo with them playing together. From left to right: Veni on the guitar, Aksha on the drum (the photo taken on her birthday, shorthly after receiving the new drum), Keerthana on the other guitar, which she received a few days prior. On the right is K. Sravani with the microphone, other HOPE girls also singing.
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ABOVE: Brother Wesley (with the garland of flowers) went to this more volatile part of India for a couple of days in late August. He was there to share the Word, but also distribute support funds for the girls home, prisoners families, pastors and widows. The custom in this area is to give a big (and LOUD) welcome to any guests who come to them for ministry.
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ABOVE: Brother Wesley, a pastor and part of RHM staff in India, is sharing the Word of GOD, with a local pastor translating. A special blessing for all on this particular day was the presence of the 2 brothers sitting in the chairs. They are the 2 men who have been released from their prisons within the last few months. As you may remember, 7 Christian men were falsely charged with killing a Hindu leader more than 10 years ago. For more than 10 years these men were in prison unjustly.
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ABOVE: The 2 brothers who recently got out of the prison are standing by their wives, while the other 5 women are still hoping and praying for their husbands to be released soon. Please pray with them; all 5 men's cases are due for a India Supreme Court hearing on September 17th, just a few days from now.
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ABOVE: These are the pastors whom we appealed to you about in early August, except for Brother Wesley (front row on left). They lost their sponsorship for 2019, which was a hard blow for them. We are so thankful for precious donors who have given for them this year. Although it's not as much as they received via the sponsor last year, still we've been able to pass on your donations to them when we go to this place. What you have given in 2019 is about 76% of what they were receiving previously. PTL!
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ABOVE: Brother Wesley on right, with the 11 girls in the girls home which we are assisting, along with some other sponsors for that ministry. The pastor at left, along with his wife, oversees these girls.
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ABOVE: September 5 was Teachers Day in India, a good opportunity to honor the HOPE School teachers. This is the 4th grade students giving a gift to their main teacher, Miss Sujatha.
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ABOVE: These are 6th grade HOPE School girls (4 of them HOPE girls) giving a gift to their main teacher, Miss Suneela, on Teachers Day.
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ABOVE: HOPE girls giving their "greetings" to Charity (3rd from left) on her 9th birthday September 1st. Pray for Charity, whom everyone likes, but not a child whom we would describe as "obedient". She came into the home a few years ago wild and having little knowledge of rules and boundaries. Though she's somewhat better, still her nature is a negative influence on other small children.
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ABOVE: Sister Buelah had just returned from America in early August, and so was given garlands. A good opportunity for all the girls to have their pictures taken, which they very much like! This is Mary on the left (13, 8th grade) and Suvarna (14, 9th grade).
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ABOVE: When Brother Wesley and I went to the village of Valetivaripalem for widows ministry earlier this month, we were very thankful to hear this pastor singing again. This is Brother Samuel, who had a stroke around the first of August, leaving him partially paralyzed and unable to talk. Thank GOD, the brother is now about 60% healed (my estimation only), able to sing and talk some, and is moving around better. He still needs healing in his right hand. Pray for Brother Samuel, a good pastor for many years. Many souls have come to the Lord through he and his son's ministry. Brother Puthra, whom we've mentioned at different times over the years, is his son, also a pastor.
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ABOVE: Women in Karlapalem during literacy class. Thankful for the blessed ministry which is going on in 5 different villages, teaching the elderly how to read and write. Maybe 2 of these women are not actually part of the widows ministry, but are also coming to the classes.
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ABOVE: Brother Prasanth (right) getting signatures or thumb prints from the widows and elderly who are receiving their monthly support. This is Chandramma in the village of Alluru; she is the grandmother of the HOPE girl Mary (3rd photo above this one).
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ABOVE: These 2 widows, Sugunamma (left) and Ramulamma in the village of Bangarakkapalem, were previously living most of their lives on their cots. Wesley and I would need to go to their houses once or twice a month to visit them and give them support. Now they are able to come to the church when we meet with the others and share the Word of GOD.
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ABOVE: Venkateswaramma in the village of Paliboinavaripalem, standing in front of the new hut the Lord has provided for her via World Challenge funds. RHM is so blessed to be able to partner with WC, channeling the funds which they are giving to meet many of the needs of these widows and elderly.
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ABOVE: Annamma (with the stick), standing in front of her new hut built earlier this year. Brother Prasanth is talking with the other woman, who is also asking for support. There's no end to the poverty in this world. Praise the Lord for a BETTER world yet to come!
"But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells." 2 Peter 3:13
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"Whatever you do, do all things to the glory of GOD." 1 Corinthians 10:31 |
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