Beauty in the Midst of Ashes
June 14, 2021 Update
Dear RHM Friends,
Greetings in the Name of our Precious Lord JESUS.
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted...to give them beauty for ashes..." Isaiah 61:1-3
There's many things in this world which can cause a broken heart. But perhaps more than anything else which can bring us into the "ashes" is the death of one we love. And there is truly much of that going on among those we are connected with in India. Several pastors whom we are acquainted with (not necessarily doing ministry with) have died with Covid. And some of the family members of the 85 or so families the Lord has us giving food to during the Covid outbreak, have died with Covid. We know of at least 5 husbands/fathers who have died (all of them on these food distribution lists) who have died with Covid, leaving their families in a very difficult financial situation, besides their broken hearts. And we are also still hurting over the deaths of 2 of the children whom RHM has been supporting for the last year or so, Joy (13 yr old who died with severe diabetes and other health issues) and Annamani, a 3 yr old who died only a few days ago of malnutrition and whatever other health problems which might have resulted from that.
But in the midst of it all, we serve a GOD of Hope, a GOD of Comfort and Peace, One who
"heals the brokenhearted" Isaiah 61:1; Psalms 147:3. We know that for those who love Him, it is not all lost, as the saved loved ones HAVE eternal life! For those who love Him, we are not WAITING for eternal life; we HAVE eternal life.
"And this is the testimony: that GOD has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son." "I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" The answer to that question will determine whether or not we stay in the ashes, or are eventually able to come up out of those ashes because of our hope in Him (the "Beauty" of Isaiah 61:1). Please pray for the families who are still in the ashes because their loved one(s) have died recently. And friends, the tiny fragment of India where we are involved is just a drop in comparison to what is happening all around that country. Though India doesn't deserve His mercy (just like America does not deserve His mercy), pray that He will extend His mercy toward India so that the believers can once again go out and reach the lost and hurting before His return, hopefully with much more zeal and compassion than ever before.
The previous academic year was pretty much lost below the 10th grade, the students being automatically promoted to the next grade. But many or most of the schools and colleges lost a lot of revenue because of this Covid situation. So we can see many of the academic institutions chomping at the bit to not let another school year (along with its income) be lost to Covid. Even with the situation much worse this year than last, many are planning to start online classes soon (the school year in India generally starts in early June), and are wanting to have children return to the schools as soon as possible. Pray that we and the children's relatives whom we are involved with (26 children at this time, not counting a few older children who are now in or out of college) will have wisdom in the coming months about the children's education, and whether to send them or not.
Thank you always for your love, prayers and support! Scroll down to see some of what the Lord is doing through your giving & prayers. 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: Brother Wesley prayiing for the widows & elderly in VV Palem. Before all the Covid mess, there would usually be about 20 people gathering for a time of worship and hearing the Word. Wesley normally goes to at least 8 different churches in his area to do the elderly ministry, but because of the Covid outbreak is only going to 2 of those churches/villages to meet with the people. This is one, and the other is his own congregation very near to his home. The others are all locked down.
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ABOVE: This is Kamalamma, part of our widows ministry who fractured her leg a few months ago, hit by a rash driver. She is recovering nicely. Here, she had just received some rice & other items, part of the Covid Relief Project which World Challenge has sponsored for all our elderly in June and July. PTL!
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ABOVE: This is Sister Ruthamma, part of the widows ministry in Subba Reddy Colony, after receiving some rice & provisions.
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ABOVE: This is Sugunamma from Alluru, part of the elderly ministry there. Her husband had Covid recently, and she also wasn't feeling well. Both are now doing better, but Sugunamma is getting weaker and has been more susceptible to sickness in recent months. Please pray for her.
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ABOVE: This is Krupamma from Patisonpet after receiving some food & provisions. Krupamma had both legs amputated within the last 2 years because of diabetes. Brother Raju said that she is not able to communicate much now. The continual pain and suffering has affected her mental capacities. Please pray for Krupamma. (Krupa means "grace")
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ABOVE: Three generations: the grandmother is Salome, part of our widows ministry. The young woman on the left is her daughter (a very prayerful girl), and Blessy in the middle. Blessy's parents both passed away with health problems when she was small. The Lord is using us to help Blessy with her college fees. They are all serious believers. |
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ABOVE: This is Nageswara Rao from NTR Colony. You might notice he has a growth on his lip, which he's had procedures for, but they didn't help him any. The Lord's working in his heart, but we're not sure he's yet been born again. Pray for him, as he feels much shame because of this growth. |
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ABOVE: Marthamma from Sathya Narayana. At this time her village is prohibiting any outside visitors into the village, so we met her outside the village to give her the food & provisions. Her 2 little great granddaughters are part of our children's ministry (now 26 children). Their mother died after giving birth to the 2nd girl; the father then abandoned them.
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ABOVE: Brother Hanock (left) gave rice & provisions to this mother and her 2 children. Her husband died of Covid recently. Her brother and another relative are in the photo. World Challenge is also working through RHM to help 50 families who are in need directly because of the Covid outbreak.
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ABOVE: This is Kotamma, also part of the widows & elderly ministry. She must be around 85 or 90, as her daughter, Koteswaramma, is also part of that ministry, she about 70. Most of our elderly don't know their ages because their families had no education, and had little knowledge of days, months, time or dates in those days.
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ABOVE: This may be the last time we will share this photo or story in our updates or newsletter. Little Annamani (3, who had seizures and brain damage since she was a baby) passed away only a few days ago. It's still a mystery how this happened (we're very suspicious; the Lord knows), but she simply died of malnutrition, and we couldn't get her strength back up again. Pray for the comfort of her family members who truly cared for her.
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ABOVE: Children in Chilakala Colony enjoying a praise song during Sunday School in their village recently. We're thankful that a few of the villages are still willing for the Sunday Schools to be conducted, even with the Covid situation.
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ABOVE: Brother Bhaskara Rao (lower right) is one of several brothers who are continuing to risk their lives during this Covid situation. This photo was taken in May at KB Palem, a very poor tribal village. Brother Wesley (top photo) knows of 3 pastors who have died within the last 4-6 weeks, all of them whom he was acquainted with. I knew one of them also, and shared in His church twice.
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ABOVE: Children enjoying a May Sunday School class in Madala Narayana, another tribal village.
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ABOVE: Literacy program with the elderly in Alluru. Hoping in the Lord that we can get this part of the elderly ministry back to normal soon. So many lockdowns, and some fear among the elderly is making it very difficult to keep the classes going.
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ABOVE: The main time frame of the 6 month tailoring project was completed at the end of April, but there are a few students, such as Karima above, to whom we want to give another couple of months classes for extra training. Not everyone learns at the same speed, so some need more training. This also is on hold until the Covid situation reduces. Another thing we ask you to pray about is the fact that the girls/young women who had sufficient training are not able to round up hardly any business, as less people are having tailoring work done these days.
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"Whatever you do, do all things to the glory of GOD." 1 Corinthians 10:31 |
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