Right Hand Ministries
RHM: PO Box 12385 Oklahoma City, OK 73157 rhmhope1@gmail.com
|
|
|
Shining Like the Sun
October Update
Dear RHM Friends,
"...let those who love Him be like the rising of the sun in its might." Judges 5:31
This was the last line of a victory song sang after Deborah and Barak led the army of Israel to defeat their enemies. May the Lord's people be like the army of GOD in these last days, not fighting with physical weapons, but shining the Light of JESUS which will break through the darkness which has captivated the minds of so many in this generation. We trust that RHM also will be a small part of that great Light shining throughout the earth, doing what He's called us to do: reaching out to the poor and broken, meeting many of their physical needs, but also sharing the Truth which sets the captives free. Pray for that!
I was alerted to the fact that a couple of the pdf links may not have worked in last month's newsletter email. I tested it in my email and found the same problem (both myself and the person who alerted me use gmail). We've done some more testing, and it seems that there's no problem with the email program that we use, but it may have something to do with our browsers or email providers. HATE all these techy problems that are so difficult to figure out and consume a lot of time! Anyway, if that happens to any of you with a pdf link, you should be able to click onto the link and save it to your computer. Then the pdf should open. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Pray in regard to the 5 believers/prisoners who are still awaiting their India Supreme Court hearings. It appears the date has been postponed again, perhaps for the 3rd time. So hard for these men and their families!
Pray for the HOPE boys, who have enjoyed literally months with almost no sicknesses whatsoever. That suddenly came to a halt this Sunday, as 5 boys came down with a fever on the same day! Brother Peter (he and his wife overseeing the boys home) had a fever that day already, then the boys got it also. Sister Buelah went and visited them today (Tuesday), and now 8 of the 10 boys have fevers; Peter is fine, but now his wife has a fever. The girls have had fevers one or 2 girls at a time for some weeks, but all are fine now. But for the boys, it all hit at once.
Continue to pray for more donors, not only for HOPE, but for RHM in general. There is so much more that can be done to minister into the lives of poor children and elderly, or to share the Gospel, etc., but it all requires funds. Trusting Him. Both the HOPE Manna Program (about 16 widows who are part of that ministry) and the rest of the widows & elderly ministry funded by RHM (about 83 members) could use an extra boost in funds. The 92 or so members sponsored via World Challenge (channeling their support through RHM, and we implementing the actual ministry in India) are doing fine as far as funds. Then there are so many other needs I come across regularly, which we simply are not able to do anything about. Asking Him for the fulfillment of 2 Corinthians 9:8-12,
"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed...you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God."
I'll start giving the plug for the 2019 Christmas Project this year. We praise GOD that already a very nice donation has been given for the HOPE Christmas needs, but another $4,000 would be a great blessing and enable us to do all that is in our hearts so far for this season. 3 sets of clothes for the HOPE children is already taken care of, so what still remains that we know of so far is this: New clothes for the HMP widows, Christmas celebrations for the HOPE School and home (including snacks for all the children & staff), bonuses for all the HOPE staff, nearly 25 total, including both the school and home; gifts, snacks & meetings in at least 5 villages, 2 where the HOPE children are doing ministry, and at least another 3 villages where we are supporting Brother Bhaskara Rao's children's ministry in the poor villages; at least one set of new clothes for the 11 girls which we are helping in another part of India; assisting the pastors in that same area as they try to distribute new clothes to the elderly and poor in their villages. If we have extra Christmas funds there's others also we can bless in the Name of JESUS during this season.
As I have said probably every year during the Christmas season, I know Christmas is not our Lord's actual birthday, and I know the Lord or Father GOD never commanded us to celebrate this day, and I know that it might have some pagan origins. But regardless of these things the Christmas season, especially in December, has ALWAYS been a wonderful opportunity to share the love of Christ to needy people. The clothes, gifts and meetings are simply tools to reach out to the people, some of which would not even come to a meeting otherwise. There are Hindu parents who cannot understand why we would give gifts and snacks to their children, and some are drawn to try and understand why we do what we do. We don't just talk about love, but we also talk about the many varied reasons for WHY Christ JESUS was sent by the Father to this corrupt world. Simply put, the Christmas season is a great time to preach and explain the Gospel. If there's no lasting benefit, then we're simply wasting money; but surely the Lord is in the process of bringing salvation and transforming lives during this time. It's all for His glory!
Sometimes we get behind, but the
RHM Blog is a good tool to be able to stay in touch with what's going on with the RHM ministries, but also to keep abreast of some of the prayer needs which are here. Thank you always for your love, prayers and support! Bless you.
Brother Dan
|
|
|
ABOVE: This is CHITTAMMA (in her 70's), part of the HOPE Manna Program (HMP) since 2014. Her husband died about 15 years ago, and she has no children. She comes regularly for meals, but seems like a very lonely woman. Here is her hut (no actual walls), but a roof over her head. Through HMP funds a new tarp was placed on top of her hut. These tarps will generally last about one year before needing to be replaced again. Please pray for Chittamma.
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: This is BHAGYAMMA (in her 70's), also part of the HMP. As with Chittamma, she has been a widow for about 15 years, also joining HMP in 2014. She has one son and one grandson, the son's family also poor. She is faithful to attend for meals and daily devotions most of the time when she is able. She also got a new tarp on her roof. Thankful for His provision!
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: Here the HOPE School 3rd grade children are honoring their teacher, Miss Subhashini, with a gift on Teacher's Day in September. Precious boys and girls!
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: Sister Buelah (overseeing the HOPE ministry) giving cake to Angel (16) during the July through September birthday function at the girls home in September. Ten of HOPE's 28 girls had birthdays from July to September. Every child gets a mini-function on their actual birthday (or near to their birthday), but the cake usually only comes during the combined functions.
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: Happy to have a welcoming committee most everytime I come to the HOPE girls home and school in the mornings. Each child makes a request (or demand) for either my helmet, door keys, bag, and whatever else I have with me. Then they come into the room and hang out with me a few minutes before breakfast. Left to right, this is Aksha, Sruthi and Anusha, 2nd and 3rd graders.
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: The brother sharing the Word is one of the 2 believers who have been released from prison recently. He shared from Ezekiel 37:1-11 about the "dry bones" of GOD's people. He's happy to be reunited with his wife and 6 children after almost 11 long years of an unjust prison sentence.
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: Seven of 11 girls in another girls home we're a part of supporting in India, a different state of India than where the HOPE ministry is located. Here they're wearing some new clothes.
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: Widows & elderly in the town of Karlapalem after receiving new blankets. By His grace and provision (through our donors) new blankets and Christmas clothes are purchased for them each year.
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: New blankets given for the elderly & widows in the tribal village of KB Palem. Thankful to be able to give some help to these very poor people. Some of them are also participating in a weekly literacy class which Brother Raju is leading, unschooled children also coming at that time.
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: New blankets given in the village church at Cheemalapenta. The previous 2 photos are in places where Brother Prasanth is leading the widows ministry. In the Cheemalapenta area (over 100 miles from Prasanth's area), Brother Wesley is leading the ministry. Pray for these Brothers as they minister to these people, praying also for us as we have many decisions to make in regard to their support and care.
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: New blankets given in the village of Subba Reddy Colony. With 19 widows & elderly, this village has the largest number of members of all the many villages & towns we're involved with.
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: Vimalamma in the village of Nandayapalem. She's one of the widows ministry members, but is now mostly bedridden. She's part of one of Brother Prasanth's churches, and they have shared very good things about this sister. Just a few years ago she led her daughter (also a widow) to Christ. For years Vimalamma would walk or find a way to the church, more than a half mile from her house. Wow, an elderly woman so in love with Christ that she'll walk with difficulty to get to church (more than once a week), and still a useful vessel in the Master's Hands, even though illiterate. Pray for her, as she may be in her last stages, not eating much.
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: This is Prasanna, a neighbor girl very close to the HOPE girls home. She's an orphan girl, given support via HOPE for years, mostly for her education. She's now in her 3rd year of nursing college. Just last week her grandmother died from some disease in her liver. Her grandmother was the primary joy in Prasanna's life, always caring for this child. Sister Buelah said that Prasanna was weeping for hours and fainting after this happened. Pray for her comfort. She seems to know the Lord.
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: The nearest 5 girls in this photo are all handicapped girls who are part of a home not far from HOPE, the ministry called Mephibosheth Ministries. They have 6 handicapped girls, the 6th girl (a smaller girl not seen in the photo) who is completely unable to use her legs. They recently took in 5 other poor girls into their home. The brother leading this ministry is a friend of mine named Hanock, who translates for me sometimes. He's been married many years to a girl from Holland (Netherlands), friends in Holland mostly supporting this ministry. Pray for these precious handicapped girls, all having difficulty to, or unable to walk.
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: Memories of the past. For those who have been to HOPE, can you recognize these girls and know their names? This photo was taken the day or shortly after the day these children came into HOPE in 2012. From left to right: Suvarna (now 14, in the 9th grade), Chandrika (now 11, in the 6th grade), Iswarya (Suvarna's sister, now 13, in the 7th grade), Veni (now 10 and in the 5th grade). Yes, they are now happier children.
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: This was also taken in 2012, perhaps not as easy to remember who these little ones in HOPE are since they have changed so much. From left: Sravanthi with her arms around Sravani, Sravanthi now 13 or 14 (birth certificate may not be accurate) and in the 7th grade. Sravani is now 11 and in the 6th grade. At right is Angel holding Elizabeth. Angel is now 16 and in the 8th grade, Elizabeth 9 and in the 3rd grade. Pray for their spiritual lives, and for His continued blessing and protection over their lives.
|
|
|
|
|
"Whatever you do, do all things to the glory of GOD." 1 Corinthians 10:31 |
|
|
|