Children's Ministry in Need
July 15, 2022 Update
Dear RHM Friends,
Greetings in the Name of our Precious Lord JESUS.
"Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."
Many people involved in missions don't like the part of raising funds or talking about money issues. But at the same time we have responsibility to share about the needs of those whom the Lord has called us to minister to, to "uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed". So in this update I am upholding the cause of the children we're involved with.
The widows and elderly ministry is doing well financially at this time. Most of the widows are sponsored by World Challenge, based in Colorado Springs, started years ago by David Wilkerson (also founder of Teen Challenge). There are 127 widows/widowers that we work with who are sponsored by WC. There are another 41 elderly and handicapped believers who are assisted by RHM funds which have been designated for the elderly.
Another major part of the Lord's calling for RHM is to work with needy children, but we have very few regular sponsors for the children's ministry (so we mostly use RHM general funds to work with the children). We have about 50 children whom we work with, the great majority also having various levels of school expenses, and sometimes medical needs. We meet the children in their homes, so are often helping their families with food and other needs. There are also several villages where we are involved with Sunday Schools, but that is not included among these 50 or so children we have a greater commitment to. We have added some new children over the last several months, by faith. For the 30 years the Lord has had me involved in India, it has always moved forward by faith in Him. We trust that He is guiding our hearts and minds, and then He supplies for those things.
"Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established." Proverbs 16:3
For some reason, donations have been down this year, so it's been a good time of searching our hearts to see if I or the brothers leading the ministry in India have grieved His Heart or missed His direction in any way. In the midst of the wondering what's going on, we believe He has given us favor with a principal in the town of Bapatla, who also has a loving heart for the children, so has given us a 30-40% discount for each of our poor children. He's not yet a believer, but the Lord is drawing him. You can see photos of the school, children, and learn more details in the photos below. At this time, it takes about $2,000 or more a month to do the children's minstry, which includes some salaries and admin expenses. But the great majority of this goes directly to meet the needs of the children.
I have never felt His anointing upon me to do fund-raising, although I have spoken many times over the years to individuals, and occasionally in churches and with families. If any of you in the Oklahoma area would like to visit with me or want me to share with your church or pastor, please contact me. Of course, no matter where you live, we are only a phone or video call away. Another quandary is that we have had very few new donors connect with us for the last year or so. Please pray, and we will trust Him for miracles, as we always have over the years. And He has always been faithful! Please share this info online, with relatives, friends, coworkers, etc. as the Lord might lead you. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
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: RHM gave about $400 so that the principal we are working with could make his school look more appealing to the children and their parents or guardians. We are all stunned how much nicer the entire place looks now. Praise the Lord!
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ABOVE: Fourteen of these children, we have committed to help with their fees for this academic year, the total less than $300 per child per year (includes all materials and transportation). Three of the children we hope to sponsor, and one boy is being sponsored by the principal himself.
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ABOVE: This is the principal of the school (also one of the superintendents of the schools in this area), giving a new school bag to Padma. Both of her parents are alcoholics, so it's mostly her grandmother who cares for her and her 4 siblings, as well as brings them to church. Padma is in kindergarten.
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ABOVE: One of the school staff members giving a new bag to Nageena, now in the 9th grade. Nageena's father left the family; her mother has HIV, is now saved and working in the tailoring shop we started earlier this year. She's also part of RHM's elderly and handicapped ministry.
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ABOVE: A new school bag for Prasanna, now in the 8th grade. Her mother unknowingly "married" her Dad, who was already married. After having 2 girls, he left. Prasanna's older sister is in 10th grade in the same school. Her mother is working in the tailoring shop we started about 6 months ago.
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ABOVE: Sonia (7th grade) is receiving a new school bag from another staff member. Sonia's mother left the Dad because of alcoholism and regular beatings to the mother. Sonia, her mother, and her 2 little sisters (also in this school) are all so much happier since we became involved in their lives. PTL!
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ABOVE: Sudha Rani receiving a new bag. Both her parents abandoned her, so she stays with her grandparents. Since she's not the grandmother's own grandchild (his first wife's grandchild), the grandmother also doesn't treat her well. Sudha in now in the 6th grade.
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ABOVE: This is Paul, now in the 4th grade. He and his mother both have HIV, his Dad dying of AIDS. The mother is now part of our widows ministry. The principal is Paul's uncle, and he is giving free education for Paul. RHM is assisting Paul with any other needs he and his mother might have.
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ABOVE: Little Kavya (Sonia's little sister, now studying in kindergarten). She naturally makes others happy being around her. Her brief background is 3 photos before this, part of Sonia's photo caption.
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ABOVE: Jone (the boy) and Sirisha, both in 10th grade. Jone and his brother Jaison (3rd grade in this school), their Dad died of alcohol-related problems in 2020, their mother then burdened down with loans and personal health problems, and now in our widows ministry. Sirisha is Prasanna's older sister, Prasanna's story a few photos before this one.
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ABOVE: 9th grade students Nageena (left, her story in previous photo), Pinky and Pradeep. Pinky is one of the students we hope to sponsor once we get sponsorship for the others we have in this school. Her Dad died in a motorcycle accident in 2020, her mother on our widows list. Pradeep has both parents, but his family was driven off their own land and property by relatives because of their Christianity.
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ABOVE: From left: Prasanna, Prizey, Sonia and Sai, all in the 7th or 8th grades. Prasanna & Sonia backgrounds are above. Prizey is one of 5 children, her Dad having an accident and on the bed for 1 year. He's now working, but most of his salary goes to pay loans taken for the family's survival. We are not yet committed to paying her fees. Sai's father is an alcoholic, and the mother has mental problems.
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ABOVE: These are 3rd and 4th grade students we're hoping to find sponsors for, all their stories above. From left: Prem Kumar (Prizey's brother), Paul, Jaison (Jone's brother), Divya (Sonia & Kavya's sister).
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ABOVE: Kindergarten students Padma, Kavya (both their stories above), Sonal (Padma's brother), and Sathish. Sathish's father is a drinker and not caring for his family properly; his mother works in the tailoring shop we started earlier this year.
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ABOVE: The remaining students are not in the above school. At left is Abraham, his parents not earning much income with their vegetable-selling business, and his father in bad health. At right is Preethi (Pinky's sister), her father dying in a motorcycle accident, her mother part of our widows ministry. Both are studying in 1st year intermediate, the equivalent to our 11th grade.
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ABOVE: Blessy (left) is now in her 2nd year of college. Her father died of jaundice when she was a baby, her mother of cancer & jaundice several years later. Now with her grandmother (part of our widows ministry) and aunt. Martha and Mary (twin girls on the right): father died of Covid in 2020, both studying in the 2nd year of intermediate (equivalent to a senior in high school in America).
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ABOVE: Sravani (left), 8th grade. Her father left the family when she was a baby; she never has seen him since. The mother is a field worker. Akshaya (right), 8th grade. Her Dad abandoned the home after cheating the mother out of her property, and the mother's 2nd husband will not take any responsibility for Akshaya. She stays with her grandparents, the grandfather a severe alcoholic.
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ABOVE: At left is Sameera, now in the 6th grade (in the above school, but she was sick the day we took photos), her Daddy dying of cancer in 2018. She has a very tender heart for the Lord. Right is Poojitha, perhaps in the 3rd grade now. She, her mother and 5 other siblings stay in a hut, her Daddy usually with his 2nd wife and 2 children in a separate hut nearby. Poojitha cried a lot when her Daddy wouldn't allow her to come to the same school above. Please pray for all these precious children!
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"Whatever you do, do all things to the glory of GOD." 1 Corinthians 10:31 |
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