Too Hot!
RHM May Update
Dear RHM Friends,
Greetings in the Name of our Precious Lord JESUS.
"The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night." Psalms 121:5-6
"For You have been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat..." Isaiah 25:4
Have you ever said that on a hot summer day, "Wow, it is TOO HOT!" I'm sure that's what many of our friends in India this year are saying, as it is one of those really hot summers so far. Here in Oklahoma, we typically think of summer as being from early June through part of September, depending on how long the heat lasts. In India (at least where we do ministry), it's hitting the 90's usually sometime in February, the high temps around 90-95 through April. They might consider that summer, but what they really consider summer is from early May until whenever the rains start in June. But even in late June & July the high temps are often in the 90's.
As far as I know, this year has been no different, except that the summer of May has been 105 and higher for many days now. Now they have had some rain, and the temps are predicted to be in the lower 100's for the next week or more. Remember, perhaps none of the people we work with have air conditioning, so inside or out, it is hot! All that to say that the heat is causing problems with the health of some of our adults & children, especially those with HIV or are just generally weak because of age or some other reason. Besides the people that you will see below in the photos, there are also a couple of others with HIV. Another widow, Valiab, had a cataract surgery that apparently was not successful, so we're praying and helping her with further treatment.
As mentioned in the very last photo caption below, Brother Raju is planning to take some girls to the village where Brother Puthra's family is. As most of you know, Puthra was my friend, and a friend of the ministry for many years, and suddenly died in an accident on May 1st (I mistakenly wrote May 8th in one of our posts). I so wish I could be there to visit his father Samuel, his wife and children to try and minister the Lord's comfort to them, but it's not possible. I'm very thankful for Raju, as I didn't ask him to go, but he had this on his heart, to take some of our girls to go and encourage Puthra's family, the girls hopefully being an encouragement to Puthra's daughter, Beulah, who was on the motorcycle when the accident happened, she also suffering injuries. Pray that the Lord will use their presence and words mightily to bring encouragement.
Please see and read the photos & captions below, These captions always give you things that you can pray for, as well as rejoice with us for what the Lord is doing in the lives of our precious Indian friends.
Thank you ALWAYS for your love, prayers and support! Bless you.
Brother Dan
"So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith." Galatians 6:10
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ABOVE: This is Brother Raju giving some extra food assistance to Sister Bharathi. She is one of our widows, living with her 16 year old son. She has the disease mentioned above (I try not to give very specific information about different ones, because some of our young people have the internet and could be reading our posts; no need for sensitive info to spread). The husband/father died of AIDS long ago.
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ABOVE: This is Sister Chanti, another young widow, with her 17 year old son, Paul. Both of them have the same problem mentioned above, the father dying with AIDS long ago. Chanti has a deep love for the Lord, and Paul seems to have grown in his relationship with the Lord over the last year or so. Besides the three in these first 2 photos, we have 2 other women with the same issue. For all 5 of them the Lord is providing them with extra food to help them through this hot season. Please pray for them.
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ABOVE: This is Mary (20), her sister-in-law Chandrika with her in the hospital. We've asked you to pray for Mary, she and her twin sister Martha born prematurely, and both being generally weak. Only about 2 weeks ago Mary began getting treatment for a root canal (a 4-session process, only completed yesterday), and about 3 days ago she suddenly got a 104 temp and fever, along with low blood pressure. She's doing a little better, but Raju said today she's still weak with the low BP. Pray for Mary.
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ABOVE: Maybe I'm sharing this photo too much, but not everyone's seen it. It's still difficult to wrap my mind around the loss. This probably won't be the last time I will mention the accidental death of our friend for many years in ministry, Brother Puthra, a pastor in a remote village. We want to share a praise report that we had some precious donors respond to his family's financial needs with $3,000. This is probably far more than their family would normally earn in one year. Praise the Lord! |
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ABOVE: This is Puthra's daughter, Beulah, who was on the motorcycle with her Daddy when the accident happened. As you can see, she was injured badly, and it's possible she has a broken collar bone. There's still over $400 of hospital bill loans that need to be paid, and she'll likely need ongoing treatment. Part of the $3,000 will care for her treatment and pay the loans off, and we're trusting the Lord for wisdom how to best assist their family during this difficult time. We'll be meeting with Puthra's father, Samuel (a long-time faithful pastor), soon to discuss these things. Please pray, especially for Samuel, Puthra's wife Chinni, and his 2 children, Beulah and Prem. I can truly testify that Puthra was in many ways the strength of their home, and they are feeling a tremendous emptiness without him.
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ABOVE: Brother Wesley is praying for this girl, Swarupa (about to turn 21), and her Daddy. Swarupa has finished her 4 years of college, so she and her family (parents and another sister) are praying about what job or steps she should take next. She's a very spiritual girl, and has a desire to serve the Lord, whether she's working a job or doing something else.
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ABOVE: These are a couple of adults and children in a small village we've been ministering to for several years now. Probably not one of the people (maybe 20-25 people in 5 or more families) are literate, and it's been very difficult to minister to them because of a spiritual darkness over most of the adults, especially the men. There are 2 women, Muthyalu (hands raised to the Lord) and her mother Rangamma, who have come to the Lord, and continue to pray for the salvation of their village.
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ABOVE: "Handing out chocolates" to the rest of the Sunday School class. We appreciate our ministry friend, Bhaskara Rao, who helps us with Sunday School ministry in 5 different villages. Even though the pay is small, he comes from another city to help us. And he buys the chocolates or any other materials & snacks to give to the children. May the Lord bless our Brother abundantly!
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ABOVE: At this time most of the schools and colleges are closed until sometime in June. Earlier this month Brothers Raju and Marthababu, and a couple of older youth also, took these boys on an excursion to the beach. But as they always try to do, they met in one of the boy's home and had a time of singing, sharing the Word and praying before going to the beach. |
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ABOVE: It seems to be a tradition whenever we take kids to the beach, that they stop at this place where they can sit and have lunch in this open space, shaded by the trees. |
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ABOVE: Some of you might recognize these 3 brothers, from left Vikram, Indra and Karthik. In late 2024 their Daddy unexpectedly died in an accident. By His amazing love and grace (through a husband and wife who are donating) we have been able to assist their mother, Bhavana, and these boys on a monthly basis since that time, also helping the boys with their education. Praise the Lord! |
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ABOVE: Sister Mary, who's helped us over the last couple of years take care of some girls in different rent homes, is sharing the Word with girls during a May trip to the home of Jyothi (bottom right) in a city called Chilakaluripet (Peta for short). |
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ABOVE: A nice group photo of the girls and a few adults when visiting Jyothi's home. Jyothi's mother (left) and sister, Pavani (sitting), are also in this photo. Although a very poor family, they are always very happy to welcome our group that comes, overflowing with hospitality. |
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ABOVE: Besides the excursions (always including devotions), we also are having some special gatherings during the summer holidays at different homes. This is Brother Wesley sharing the Word with girls and adults in a village called Marruproluvaripalem (I think I wrote that correctly). Before the schools and colleges begin again, Brother Raju is hoping to have one or 2 more house gatherings, and one trip with some girls to the village where Brother Puthra's family is. It's on his heart to go and encourage Brother Samuel and the family. Please pray for these summer activities. |
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"Whatever you do, do all things to the glory of GOD." 1 Corinthians 10:31 |
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