Pray for India Trip
April 25, 2022 Update
Dear RHM Friends,
Greetings in the Name of our Precious Lord JESUS.
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ JESUS for good works, which GOD prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10
This is a Scripture which applies to every believer in Christ (every true Christian): the Lord has created us and commissioned us to do good works. What exactly that looks like will be different for all of us. The Lord's called me to go overseas; many or most He has not called to do that. But everywhere we are, we are called to be the "light of the world", "salt of the earth", "ambassadors for Christ", "a fragrant aroma", etc., whether in your home, community, work place, school, wherever. We need to pray for one another, that each one of us will be faithful to fulfill whatever good works He has called us to do.
After having gone back and forth to India for 28 years, and having mostly lived there from 2011 until late 2020, it's been difficult at times to not be able to see the people firsthand (but praise the Lord for video calls!). Because of Covid and visa problems, the only option to return at this time is as a tourist, and India has not allowed tourism since about March 2020. The door opened for tourism in November 2021, but it hasn't worked out for me to go until now. Please pray for His blessing and favor all along the way. The visa is only good for 30 days, but that's better than nothing! Lord willing, reaching India on May 4th, leaving India on June 2nd. Please keep me in your prayers.
Time is short, so this is a shorter update. The Lord has provided for most of the extra activities which we hope to do in May (including taking some children on excursions which they normally wouldn't be able to go on), and we are so thankful! If you feel led to contribute to this trip, that would be great; just designate your gift toward the "May India trip" in some way.
Scroll down to see more info about ongoing ministry, as well as praise reports and prayer requests. Bless you always for your prayers and support!
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: Hundreds, if not thousands of churches in India celebrated Palm Sunday by taking to the streets with the children with palm leaves in their hands, trying to share the Good News with the community. This is one Sunday School group from the town of Bapatla.
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ABOVE: A group of precious elderly (most widows) getting ready to go to their homes after a prayer meeting in a village we call VV Palem. In some areas where we work with the people, there could possibly be 20% or more believers (at least professing). But in most of the villages and towns in the VV Palem area, it's more likely to be 2-3% believers or less.
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ABOVE: The children are watching Sister Mary teach them how to do "butterfly claps", which is drawing some big miles. Precious kids! Most of these children we are helping in some way (via your donations). Praise the Lord! |
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ABOVE: No need to find any tables and chairs; just find a spot on the floor and they're good. These children are eating lunch in between sessions of our monthly prayer gathering of the children and elderly who we minister to on a regular basis.
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ABOVE: Brother Bhaskara Rao is teaching the children in Nandayapalem how to make different shapes with the balloons. They love it! RHM sponsors this brother to lead Sunday School in various villages 8 times a month. He has been very faithful.
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ABOVE: This is the current status of Bro. John's house/church construction in Ponnur. John's 13 yr old daughter Joy died last year, and World Challenge (out of Colorado) gave a wonderful donation to John in the memory of Joy so that he could build this church, part of it being a couple of rooms for he and his wife to stay in. WC gave the funds, RHM implementing the project.
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ABOVE: About 100 feet from John's house/church (previous pic) is this house of one of the families we are involved with. We're planning to spend a little over $1,300 to go up with some walls around this "home" (probably not enough for the entire wall height, but better than what it is now). If we can at least bring the walls up a few feet all around the house, it will help keep the rats and snakes out. There are 2 girls (22 and 18) and a 16 year old boy who live here, all part of John's congregation. Their parents are in bad health, and simply are not capable of providing a proper home for the children.
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ABOVE: The Sister on the right is Sathyavathi (part of our widows' ministry), next to her own sister. We purchased this cart, the stove and other items so they could start a small business cooking breakfast items for the people in their village. |
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ABOVE: Mary (right) is giving tutoring to these precious children. The 6 children to the left are all from a small tribal colony near to Mary, 4 of the children having one Dad and 2 mothers, living in 2 huts right next to each other. The bigger girl on the right is from a Muslim home, but started attending the Sunday School on her own. Now her mother is sometimes attending. Trusting the Lord for great things with both these situations, using education as a means to ultimately reach their heart. |
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ABOVE: The older boy's name is Pavan, a very bright student in college, and having much love for the Lord. He's teaching some boys from the Word during our monthly gathering of children & elderly.
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ABOVE: Mary teaching a good-size group of little ones during the same monthly gathering as the previous photo. Very thankful for Mary, as she has committed her life to work with children. I don't remember offhand, but her husband either died or left her long ago, and she has no plans to remarry.
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ABOVE: Good looking boys (brothers), Jone (left) giving cake to Jaison on his 8th birthday back in October. Their Daddy died of head injuries in 2020, and they have really bonded with Bro. Raju & his wife Pavani (who lead the children's ministry), Raju becoming a father figure in their lives.
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ABOVE: Nirmalamma (part of our elderly ministry), had a mastectomy late last year. Sadly, that didn't take care of all the cancer, so she is undergoing chemo & radiation and has lost her hair and is weak. Please remember Nirmala in your prayers.
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ABOVE: Such a blessing to be part of this family's lives. The 2 girls are 16 year old twins Mary (left) and Martha, along with their older brother Prem. When we met their family last June, we didn't even know Prem existed. Probably because they didn't have any walls on their home and had no electricity, water, flooring, or a proper bathroom, he just didn't stay there very much. Now they have all that, and the Lord is doing a very good work in their hearts. Glory to Him alone!
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ABOVE: This is Chandramma, one of our widows from the village of Sathya Narayana, along with her little grandson, Vijay Kumar (don't give him any trouble; you can see his fists are clinched!). Chandramma has been a faithful believer for many years (in our estimation), and has helped her daughter take good care of Vijay Kumar and his 5 year old sister, Deborah, after their Daddy abandoned the home for another woman in early 2020.
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"Whatever you do, do all things to the glory of GOD." 1 Corinthians 10:31 |
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