Dearly Beloved in Christ,
Greetings in Jesus' Name.
WATER --- WATER --- EVERYWHERE --- NOT A DROP TO DRINK.
Never in the history of Malkangiri have we had a flood situation. There are 2 rivers, which form the borders of Malkangiri. River Sabari separates Malkangiri Dt from Chathisgrarh and River Seleru separates Malkangiri form Andhra. Though they flow about 80 feet below the land area , this time both the rivers rose and met each other covering the tip of Malkangiri for a distance of 3 km and covered the IMST mission compound up to the first floor in Kunta. The bridges in the district on streams and Poteru River over flowed and the main bridge was broken and the side washed away for 2 km, disrupting road and telephone service for 10 days. The lighting strikes disrupted many phone lines and till today the house line is not connected. Mobiles work on and off. The whole area including our office area and my old home area was stinking of sewage. The filth and stench is less now. Praise God that none of the missionaries who had to drink the stinking boiled water is sick. This is a miracle.
With No money to do relief work I was in tears and Praise the Lord - EFICOR stepped in to help 2600 families out of the 4000 flood and rain affected families. Our missionaries worked as volunteers during this time, along with EFICOR staff. On 18th Sep the 2nd warning from the Government has come for Kunta area for a second flood situation. The Poteru Bridge was over flowing on 18th. The river runs 60 feet below the bridge during non-rainy season. A fear is gripping many. We need your prayers. I have taken credits to buy medicines for all medical centres. There is now a pending loan of Rs 15000 in the medical shop. My thanks to those who sent money to clear bills up to Rs 22,000 so far. This is beside the Rs 25000 that came for purchase of immediate medical relief for flood and rain relief areas. Thanks a ton for all who stood with us in this time of crisis.
My heart felt thanks to 3 volunteers from Canada who came for a week in this flood affected time, with every thing wet, infections at its peak and were willing to trek with me to the most interior areas though mud and infected water. They do not know anything about me, they just heard of the work here and came all of a sudden. They were a Great encouragement to missionaries and the people here. To me they were like 3 angles to minister to me when I was passing through a period of utter despair and depression. Praise God that He loves me still to minister to my inner most spiritual needs.
I will not be involved in any Administrative work form Oct 1st. Remo and our missionaries Laban, Jyothi and Romesh will handle administration.
Praise God for:
1. EFICOR, which did an awesome job during the recent flood and rain crisis. 2. For the gift of baby boy for Prabathy wife of missionary Niranjan Kuldeep on 17th Oct. 3.For missionaries Niranjan Kuldeep, Niranjan Goroda, Dilip and Prakash who helped EFICOR in the flood relief as volunteers and who were kept well during the whole month as they went to most affected areas. 4. Helping me to teach Godly Leadership in the Haggai Seminar at Berhampur. 5. For the good response among the prisoners for the literacy and evangelistic work for the inmates. Missionaries Jyoti, Sabitha, Laban, Romesh and Sewpan are involved in the prisoners rehabilitation programme. 6. The invitation form the collector of Koraput to start work among the inmates in Koraput Jail and the invitation form the Jail superintendent of Jeypore to start work among the inmates in the Jeypore Jail. 7. Mary has obtained her eligibility certificate for college education form Delhi (this needs to be confirmed by the Madras University). 8. For the 3 volunteers form Canada who came for a week in this time of crisis to help us.
Please Pray for:
1. Shanti under treatment at Andhra for repeated urinary infection. 2.The need for Rs 71,000 to pay the allowance for Sep 2006. 3.The need of Rs 15,000 to clear the pending medical bills. 4. The Koya people of Rhabhaguda to take baptism. 5, For strength for all missionaries to face the constant day-to-day opposition. 6. This month many prisoners are being sentenced to life imprisonment and shifted to Koraput main Jail and so there is much fear among the prisoners. Please pray for them. 7. For the need of Rs. 10,000 each month for 4 missionaries to go and train volunteers and start work for the inmates in Koraput and Jeypore Jail. 8. Halima the sister of our missionary Dilip to find a bridegroom soon. 9. Our missionaries - Romesh, Niranjan Goroda and Dilip request prayer for their marriage to be fixed with in this year. 10. Mary's eligibility certificate to come form Madras University by 30th of Sep to continue her BA course.
Thank you for standing with us in prayer and finance,
Love and Prayers,
Iris