Near to the Brokenhearted, RHM June Update

Right Hand Ministries
RHM: PO Box 12385 Oklahoma City, OK 73157 rhmforhim@gmail.com

Near to the Brokenhearted

RHM June Update

Dear RHM Friends,

Greetings in the Name of our Precious Lord JESUS.

"The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. "

Psalms 34:18

Have you ever had a broken heart? I'm sure most of us have, and it's a picture of a person that is full of sorrow because of some event, tragedy or disappointment in their life. This ministry in India is, to a large degree, a ministry where our Lord JESUS is continually doing what only He can do: healing hearts and bodies, comforting those who are hurting, and giving them the strength and courage they need to move forward again.

We shared with you in last month's update that Brother Raju was planning to take a group of girls to visit the family of Brother Puthra, a pastor/friend who died in a motorcycle accident on May 1st. On the 9th of June, Raju did take them, and I think you can see in the photos and captions below that the Lord is certainly at work to "heal the brokenhearted", and I believe He used our group to be part of that process.

Sadly, we have made the decision to stop our small girls home. I don't know for sure, but suspect that another pastor was steadily trying to influence the girls, attempting to bring them into his own ministry. Unfortunately, 3 of the 5 girls wanted to leave us and Sister Mary in order to stay with that pastor, and that is where they are now staying. After praying and discussing about the matter, Brothers Raju, Wesley and I decided NOT to continue with this girls home ministry. This is the second year in a row that we have tried, and for various reasons the girls have not wanted to continue in the home. During the 2024-25 school year we had only 2 girls, and this year we had 5. We have been sharing with you many times about this home both years, which possibly inspires you to both pray for them, and support the home. It's not fair to YOU to continue trying to run the home, when we are facing so many problems. If I don't share this with you, then I feel I'm not being honest.

I know that I share things that some people think that I should not, but this is the hard reality we face oftentimes in ministry. I have been greatly inspired by Amy Carmichael's writings, she being an Irish missionary in India from about 1895 to 1951, never even one time leaving India before her death when she was 83. She wrote a book in 1903 called 'Things As They Are', which the initial publisher rejected because he felt that people wouldn't want to read a book that spoke honestly about the many problems which missionaries, and ministries in general, face. But behind the mask of glittering posts, the REALITY is that every ministry faces much spiritual warfare and disappointment! Satan is attacking on every front he can, and sadly, people sometimes make really bad decisions. So, though we are sad about the girls (two of them still very much a part of this ministry, but staying with their mother), we will continue on, faithfully ministering to and helping many needy families and hurting people. In the midst of it all, we will continue to try and fulfill the call of our Lord to "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20

A quick prayer request: Raju's wife, Pavani, is scheduled to have a C-section this Thursday, the 2nd. This will be their 2nd child (they don't know if it's a boy or girl). Pray for a healthy delivery, baby and mother.

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

ABOVE: This is the group of girls and Sister Mary that went to visit Brother Puthra's family (his father, his wife, son and daughter). His daughter, Beulah, is in the middle, to the right of Sister Mary. I was surprised to see how happy she was with our girls, even though she is still in much pain (she was seriously injured, being on the bike with her Dad when the accident happened).

ABOVE: They decided to have a service when our group went to visit them. Beulah is on the front row, to the right. You might be able to see some of the wounds on her face that are still healing.

ABOVE: Puthra's son, Prem Raju, is the tall boy to the right, getting ready to share. I wish I had been there to hear him. I was told that Prem Raju (his name means King of Love) shared with others that the Lord spoke to his heart that the ministry must continue on. Right now, Prem Raju is starting college; we will see what happens in the coming years. Puthra's father, also a pastor named Samuel, is sitting at the table with the towel around his neck. I esteem him as a very Godly man, working as a pastor in his village for decades, and bringing many people to the Lord. He and Puthra worked side by side in ministry since Puthra was around 20 years old, or younger.

ABOVE: Prem Raju is helping Beulah walk, she injuring her collar bone, back, legs and arm. Physical therapy is ongoing, and another surgery might be needed. With the $3,000 that was donated to RHM for their family, at this time the primary needs are Beulah's health (both legs and her left arm are in much pain), and Prem Raju's education. Brother Samuel didn't ask anything for himself or the ministry, but is mainly wanting his grandchildren to be cared for.

ABOVE: Our team of 11 girls and Sister Mary, along with Pastors Wesley (regularly smiling when the camera's not on him) and Samuel, Beulah, and Chinni (Puthra's wife, standing 5th from the left). This is the only time I've seen her smile since her husband's death. I had talked to them on a video call earlier in the morning, and when she saw me she immediately started crying. Though still broken, I can see His loving touch upon her heart.

ABOVE: Puthra's beautiful family: his father, wife, son and daughter. Please keep them in your prayers.

ABOVE: I'm very thankful for our girls (RHM helps 9 of the 11 with education, assisting some of their families in different ways also), who seemed to connect very well with Beulah, bringing some happiness into her life.

ABOVE: Beulah on the cot with young Kavya, along with the rest of our team.

ABOVE: These are the 5 girls who were part of our girls home with Sister Mary. They seemed to be very happy together, but we know how the enemy works, always trying to divide in some way. Divya (left) and Soniya (right) are sisters, now staying with their mother. We are giving extra support to the mother, as she has health problems and it's difficult for her to care for these girls; little Kavya is also their sister. Continue to pray for the Lord's good work in the hearts of the other 3 girls as well: from left, Bindu, Venkata Lakshmi, and Yasaswi. Sister Mary would certainly appreciate your prayers also.

ABOVE: Soniya is now in a different school, actually called "intermediate college", but it's the equivalent to 11th grade in the USA. Transportation would be too expensive, so we got her a bicycle.

ABOVE: Marthababu and his wife, Pavani, have been faithfully doing ministry with us since August 2022, in the beginning helping with both the children's and the elderly ministry. In October 2023 they started working full time with the children. They have been a great blessing, working well with Brother Raju and his wife, also named Pavani. Here he is sharing with 12 year old Abhishek, his mother and grandmother.

ABOVE: This is Hasini (left), her sister Varshini and brother Yaswanth, ages 7, 6 and 3. Your donations are helping Hasini with her education. The father is working, but not caring properly for the family.

ABOVE: Jyothi (18) with new books for her next school year. She's a nice girl, her family very poor.

ABOVE: Raju is teaching in Asiya's home, Asiya the one with the big smile. We help her with education, as well as Nageena, the girl on the left. In the photo are Nageena's mother and Asiya's mother (far right), both sisters. Both families are from Muslim background, but Nageena's mother has come to the Lord, she, Nageena and Asiya all faithfully attending church. We are praying for Asiya's mother's salvation; it's encouraging to see her being willing to listen to Raju sharing about JESUS.

"Whatever you do, do all things to the glory of GOD." 1 Corinthians 10:31