Needing Your Prayers
October 13, 2022 Update
Dear RHM Friends,
Greetings in the Name of our Precious Lord JESUS.
Since our previous update in September, the Lord has brought some financial relief, for which we are so grateful. Praise the Lord! Continue to keep us in your prayers. Our eyes are upon Him only.
"My soul waits in silence for GOD only; from Him is my Salvation." Psalms 62:1
Thanks to all who prayed for my journey and health. There were no problems on either one of those fronts. He is so faithful! It's as if I "hit the ground running", as I reached India on the night of the 23rd, took a train to another state on the 24th, and on the 25th night was on another train with 9 girls, Brother Raju and his wife Pavani for a 7 or 8 hour journey to another part of the state. Because of the tourist visa requirements, we need to be "touring" different spots during this 4 month trip. The Lord abundantly provided the extra funds to be able to do this touring. PTL! Pray for the Lord's will in regard to staying in India. It would be much better to be on a more long-term visa if it's His will for me to be spending much time here.
"Not my will, but Your will be done" should always be the cry of our heart.
Please scroll down for precious photos & captions of the work in India. There is MUCH information within these captions about what is taking place in India via this ministry. I trust it will bless your heart. But also within these captions are prayer requests, some of them pretty major. Another prayer request which comes to mind (not included in the captions below) is concerning a young mother named Chanti. Her husband died with AIDS several years ago, and both Chanti and her son have HIV as a result. The boy is okay at this time, but Chanti is having severe stomach pains. The doctors are suspecting cancer, but I'm not sure why. They are running tests. Chanti is a sweet young lady; pray for her.
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
|
|
|---|
|
 |
ABOVE: When we took 9 girls on a tour to Vizag (common name for the city of Visakhapatnam, the largest city in this state of Andhra Pradesh, India), we had the blessing of staying with this pastor, his name Karuna Nidi. He has been blind since he had an accident as a teenager. His wife, Ratna Kumari (sitting), was hit by a bus when she was 11 years old and had to have one leg amputated above the knee. The Lord brought them together and they got married. They struggled much, having 3 daughters, that also a challenge in the Indian society. The Lord led this brother into ministry, but at times they didn't have sufficient food for their children. By His grace they didn't lose heart, and have seen His blessing mightily upon their lives. They now have a home downstairs, a church upstairs (our girls stayed in the church the 2 days we were there), and all 3 of their daughters married ministry-minded men, all of them now involved in ministry in 3 or 4 locations. This was one of the most inspiring times of my time in India so far. Praise the Lord!
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: After a few hours of sleep, our train reached the Vizag station around 5 in the morning. Here, Brother Raju and his wife Pavani (middle of photo) are with the 9 girls.
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: I'd like to give a brief intro to the 9 girls who came with us on the Vizag trip. Pavani (middle) is with (from left) Jyothi, Esther, Sonia and Hannah. I have shared all of these children's backgrounds with you in our blog or previous updates. Jyothi's parents were delivered from a past of homosexuality and prostitution. Hannah and Esther (sisters) were delivered from "black magic", their own father trying to kill his entire family. Their mother and all 3 children had major problems with insanity, but through the ministry of a pastor we're connected with, found deliverance in Christ. Sonia's family has a history of abuse, the mother finally leaving the Dad after daily beatings.
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: Sister Pavani is with Blessy. Blessy is a precious 20 year old college student, who stays with her grandmother and aunt after both her parents passed from diseases.
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: Sisters Mahima (left) and Swarupa. I'm very thankful to have some connection with these girls again. They were part of a school I was connected with when they were small, but I've seen them very rarely over the last several years. Their parents have struggled some financially, so we (through your donations) have been able to assist these girls with their education, and their family with a recent roof repair on their house.
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: These are sisters Suma (left) and Sreeya. Their family (parents and 5 children) are not in deep poverty, but the Dad has diabetes. That, coupled with a serious accident which left him without being able to work for several months, put them in financial hardship. We are assisting Sreeya and her little brother with education at this time.
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: A very nice group photo with Raju, Pavani and the girls with the Vizag beach in the background. This body of water is the Bay of Bengal, which is on the eastern coast of India. A few of these children had never been to a beach before, and had never rode on a train, so there were some special firsts on this trip.
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: About the best photo I could get, considering the chain link fence, but here is India's national bird, the peacock. As far as I can understand, the correct word for this bird is "peafowl", the males referred to as peacocks and the females as peahens. The males have the beautiful feathers, while the females can spread their feathers, but the feathers aren't as long or attractive.
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: Two sisters, Suma (left) and Sreeya, swinging on the "aerial prop roots" of a banyan tree. These trees are amazing to look at, and fun for the children to swing or hang on.
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: A major prayer request: The boy's name is Baji, his wife Navya with him. Baji is needing a liver transplant, his liver spoiled, causing much swelling in his stomach (some doctors have concluded it was a result of the Covid vaccine, but that probably cannot be confirmed). The hospital and doctors involved are requiring about $25,000 for the transplant. These are basically poor people, so cannot touch that amount. Baji's father has some property, but refuses to sell it for this purpose, also demanding that his son visit a particular mosque for a week, which the father believes will bring healing. Baji and others are currently trying to find other sources of income, especially financial assistance through the government. Pray the Lord will do a miracle, either supernatural healing, or divine favor to get the funds needed for the transplant. RHM is not in position to assist in this, but we are asking for your prayers. Both Baji and Navya seem to be very good believers.
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: Sister Jhansi is here sharing the Word with a few elderly people in the village of Alluru. Jhansi has been doing well since starting to help with the widows & elderly in August. The day after I came to India, a young man on a motorcycle hit Jhansi, throwing her off of her motorcycle. She had some serious scrapes and bruises on her face, arms and legs. She wasn't able to go for ministry for about 2 weeks, but is now doing better and going to the villages again. Please pray for the Lord's protection over her.
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: Sister Pavani and her husband, Marthababu, have been helping in the children's ministry for a few months now, and doing very well. They also have taken the responsibility of our literacy classes with the elderly, and with these children in a village called KB Palem. Precious children, but the mindset of the adults in this tribal village is a major hindrance to being able to make a lasting impact upon the hearts of the people there. All of these children should be in school for their education (the govt/public school within only a block or two of their village), but the adults simply don't put any priority upon education or their spiritual lives. Pray for a spiritual breakthrough in this place.
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: Sweet family, the parents names Joseph and Vani, the girl Navya and the boy Pradeep. We help the children with their education. Joseph has a great testimony: he is a shepherd, in recent years in major financial debt. Daily he would go with his many sheep to find pasture, crying to the Lord about his financial situation. One night he had a dream that 3 men would come, buy all his sheep, and then he could get out of that crisis. The very next day the dream came to pass! Praise the Lord!
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: Brother Raju praying for the precious children during an afternoon session with the children when we had our "monthly gathering" in September. Each month we try to gather many of the children and elderly whom we are involved with for a day of singing, sharing and praying together.
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: Eight girls who came with us on our 2nd excursion since I arrived in India. We tried to go to an island tourist spot, but because of the heavy rains, boats were not allowed onto the river. We tried a couple of other theme parks in the region, they also closed. Although the day didn't turn out as expected, we had a great time with these girls, going to a church for devotions, then to a Christian bookstore, then to an ice cream shop. They thoroughly enjoyed the day. Praise the Lord!
|
|
|
|
|
ABOVE: The girl on the left is Blessy (mentioned in a previous photo also). This was Blessy's 20th birthday on the 25th of September, her little cousin joyfully giving her some cake to eat.
|
|
|
|
|
"Whatever you do, do all things to the glory of GOD." 1 Corinthians 10:31 |
|
|---|
|
|