It has been a struggle to start writing this letter. This is because I write this with mixed emotions. August was not an easy month. My grandmother went to be with the Lord on the 17th August 2004. I was at Bangalore helping David settle into his college. I still feel very bad for not having been able to be by her side as she left this world to join her maker. I am very blessed to have an extended family in RHS as they took care of all the funeral needs. Also thanks to the friends in Malkangiri and the friends at IMST who were a great help during the funeral.
RABAGUDA UPDATE:
Rabaguda - A Koya village tucked away in the jungles with no electricity is a beautiful place. It is from this village that Ranu Rabe comes. Thank you for your prayers. She is today healed of all her physical scars from the bear attack. She is healthy and without any problem. She was a girl who the doctors gave no hope of survival but today due to prayer she is alive. Her pictures can be found at http://community.webshots.com/album/187589283khISDe
With the financial assistance got from Ms. Rema, Alice and Arul Livingston we were able to build a three-room house that Niranjan, Dilip and Thomas use. This house is also used for the daily literacy classes and the Sunday service. Pictures of this house can be seen at http://community.webshots.com/album/187596707klqLzT. We now need to build a toilet and a kitchen and also white wash the house. Will appreciate your prayers for the needed finances.
Young men from this village have requested a loan of Rs. 7,200/- for the purchase of 4 cycles (each cycle costs Rs. 1,800/-) that they plan to use to buy and take small groceries from the main market and sell them at villages. Last year Raba Muta and Beti Mala had taken such cycle loans and have successfully returned it as well. This cycle has helped them to make a living during the lean summer months. We thank Rev. Theodore Williams for this gift that enabled us to buy the cycles for Raba Muta and Beti Mala.
Beti Irma of Machaguda (a village close to Rabaguda where we have literacy class and Bible study happening) wants a loan of Rs. 4,000/- to set-up a small shop.
I must thank Pastor Manohar from the Grace Centre Trust for their monthly contributions specifically towards the ministry in Rabaguda. Thank you Pastor.
If you are led of the Lord to support the ministry in this village regularly or as a one-time gift towards any of the projects in the village, please get in touch with me at remopaul@vsnl.net and I should be able to give you the details.
More pictures of Rabaguda are available at http://community.webshots.com/user/remopaul. If you are not able to view the pictures and would like to get these pictures, please email me as to which picture you need and I should be able to send it as email attachments.
Please specifically remember Niranjan, Dilip and Thomas as they work. Please pray for continued revival in this village and in the villages in this area.
Both Niranjan and Dilip are now down with fever. Both of them have gone home for treatment and rest. Will appreciate your prayers for them.
The wedding of Niranjan has been fixed and he will be married in February 2005. Please pray for him as he prepares himself to start a new chapter in his life and obviously he is very excited and so also his extended family in Reaching Hand Society.
UPDATE ON DR. IRIS.
Mummy is in her last leg of her visit to the US on invitation and fully sponsored by India Partners. She has so far has had a good and fruitful time. A report from her is at the end of this letter. Please feel free to write to her at iris_paul@vsnl.net (she has limited access to the net as she travels, so maybe delayed in her responses).
FAMILY NEWS:
8 of our children who study in Lamtaput were here last week for their mid-term vacation. It was a joy to have them here. They left early today morning back to school. It was hard to say goodbye, but we know that it is necessary for their education.
David has joined a college in Bangalore to do his bachelors in Advertising and Graphic Design. He is enjoying his studies and is now managing his life as an independent man in the big wide world. He lives with my uncle in his house in Bangalore.
Mary started her A Levels course in Hebron. After a rough last year she is also starting to mature into a fine young woman.
FINANCES:
Finances have continued to be a struggle, but Jehovah Jireh has been good. Will continue to appreciate your prayers and support in this regard.
Closing with prayers
Remo