Greetings in Jesus' Name.
Sometime back I had written that the believers at Pod Colony had built a worship shed for themselves and by themselves. Pictures of this shed is available at http://community.webshots.com/album/162988363wckEUe
Please find below a short report by Mr. Somesh Rao on as to how the work in this village started. This is for your praise and prayer.
Closing with prayers
Remo
Report on Pod Colony
Mr. Somesh Rao
Missionary
Mundiguda Field Center
Pod Colony a hamlet under Padia Pali Gram Panchayat of Kudumul Gumma Block at Malkangiri District. 14 Kondhs and Mathia tribal families live here for the past twelve years. Government has sanctioned twenty Indra Awas colony houses for the needy persons and settled them, which came to be known as Pod Colony. "Podo" means buffalo. This is place the buffaloes of the inhabitants of Padia Pali used to graze and rest. When Indra Awas colony houses were built and people start living the place was named Pod Colony. It is 2 km away from Kudumul Gumma Block and 12 kms from Mundiguda field center. (Please refer to note by Remo at the end to understand the terms)
Through survey it was identified that lot of Kondh tribal villages in Kudumul Gumma and Khoirput blocks are unreached with Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Kondh tribals are animist in their belief, living in bondage of liquor, low social standard and exploited by the people. Reaching Hand Society missionaries got a contact in this village through tract distribution and village meeting. The first contact person was Budra Khilo, age 35, drunkard, very poor and made a living by selling coal as fuel for fire and most of his earnings was spent on drinking.
It was in January of 2002 Reaching Hand Society missionaries visited his house and started a friendship with the family and other villagers. God opened the door through opportunities to share the gospel, and as the Holy Spirit moved, Budra started to know more about Jesus Christ. He started to experience the Peace in his life. He and the whole family accepted the Lord Jesus Christ (including his parents.) From then on prayer meetings and Bible studies are conducted in his house.
Budra requested to have a Bible and started to read and witness to his relatives and friends. Then opposition started from other villagers and his father-in-law's house. He was treated as an outcast. The high caste people from Kudumul Gumma Block started to question and argue with him about his conversion. He was very discouraged. Reaching Hand Society missionaries supported him through prayer and encouraged him through God's word to stand firm in faith. Praise God that Budra stood firm and boldly and told the people that Jesus is the Lord.
One day his neighbour wanted to kill him because of an enmity from the past quarrelling (prior to Budra accepting the Lord). This time he was not afraid as he prayed to Jesus to give him victory. God answered his prayer. His quarrelling friends did not do any harm but asked forgiveness to Budra. To them Budra gave his testimony that he is a child of God and Jesus is with him, He will save him from all evils. God has blessed him with another son and has named that boy Johan Khilo. He has one daughter and four sons.
Budra is currently an evangelist with Reaching Hand Society working for his Kondh people in and around his village.
Now at Pod Colony three families are regularly coming for prayer and Bible studies. They have by themselves made a small hut for worship and prayer. Please visit the following site for more pictures of this worship shed http://community.webshots.com/album/162988363wckEUe