Greetings in Jesus' Name.
Today is the 1st Jan 2007, as I sit and type this letter I really am at a loss of words as to where to start and where to end. The year 2006 was a great year with its share of joys and sorrows, triumphs and failures, with moments of lacking followed by God's amazing provision in the nick of time. RHS staff got married, children were born into the family and new opportunities for ministry were opened in villages and prisons in Koraput.
I will start with the message at the service last night. The speaker for the night spoke from the 3rd Chapter of Joshua, where the Israelites were faced with the river Jordan in front of them before their entry into the Promised Land. The lessons he drew from this chapter were
1. The year 2007 will have its share of problems
2. We need to move forward and step into the problem and then see how the Lord works
3. We need to look to God at all times and
4. We need to draw inspiration from the Word of God
In doing these we will see how the Lord leads us through new pastures despite the problems and trials that we will face in the year ahead.
Now it is difficult to look at Year 2007 as an year of problems, but what is reassuring is knowledge that the Lord will be there as we enter into the problem to walk as through as He did for the Israelites through Jordan.
Something very exciting happened in November 2006. I was in Singapore for an international youth planning meeting and from there I was able to make a side trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia. I was there visiting Kent and Mang. Kent was a participant at the Advanced Missions Leadership Training in 2005 where I was facilitating a few sessions. Kent is from Nagaland and Mang is from Manipur. They are there as pioneering missionaries. This year and the most of next year they will spend learning the local language and also exploring the ministry opportunities. The two options that they are considering are
1. Work among the youth or
2. Start a business in the booming and thriving tourism industry in Siem Reap and be a witness through the business
Their assured monthly support is USD 100. They probably do get some gifts once in a while, but surviving on just USD 100 in a foreign land sure called for total trust in the Lord. Siem reap is a few hours by road to Vietnam, Thailand and Laos (all of these are no access countries). They are strategically placed to penetrate these countries (Cambodia is relatively open). As I spent time with them for a couple of days, I was very strongly reminded of early pioneering days of my parents in Malkangiri. It was an awesome experience.
Please join with me in praying as Kent and Mang labour for the Lord in a foreign land.
This trip has set my mind thinking as to whether we at RHS need to start thinking beyond the boundaries of India. Now I know that work here is not over and we have loads of issues unresolved here in India itself, but this visit has had a very compelling effect. I do not know as to what trials and problems this new horizon beyond India holds, but am sure that the Lord that enabled the Israelites to cross Jordan into the Promised Land will enable RHS to venture into this new horizon beyond India.
Our brothers Kent and Mang in Cambodia are desperately in need of a computer and a motorcycle and if you are interested to partner with this venture please do get in touch with me at remopaul@gmail.com
Now for some personal news:
Susan and I completed our first year of being married on the 29th Dec 2006. We are now expecting our first child in mid July 2007. Susan has just recovered from a sever bout of fever and laryngitis.
Mary has been able to complete here 1st semester in College with a first class and she enjoys her course.
David graduates in April 2007 and wants to start working.
Mano, Sangeetha and L'il Reuben are doing well and mummy is spending time with them taking care of Reuben.
Now some news from the various fields:
Mundiguda centre:
Praise God for
Sanayakguda, Guru Kamudi who was not keeping for a long time and Padma Kamudi used to visit and pray for him. And he was healed and now a Sunday prayer is being conducted in his house and also coming for the fasting prayer. Sanayakguda is 23 km west of Mundiguda center.
Hanna is completely healed from the injury that she was hurt when she fell down from the bike.
Padma Kamudi use to feel giddiness and eyes used to become red often, but now he is keeping well.
Pray for
Saita Hial healing from diabetes. Some time back she was not even able to see and recognize people but now she is able to see. She is the sister of our evangelist Sukhdevo Hial of village Sitapari and its 16 km north of Mundiguda center.
Mohan Anugulia of village Mecca to heal soon as he has been bed ridden for a long time. He is the father of Ananta Anugulia working in police department. He has been suffering from back pain and was in the bed for long time. His younger Son was very active in the youth committee in the village and has threatened Padma Kamudi not come to village for preaching, but now his younger son has called Padma and requested him to Pray for his father for his healing and has even told Padma that if his father heals, then they will become Christian.
Trinath Khora to accept Christ of village Khadimati. It is 16 Km from Mundiguda center. He has been not keeping well for a long time. So Evangelist Paul Mattam used to visit and pray for him. But now he has become well and wanted to become Christian. But as he has seen the earlier persecution of Balram Khora of the same village, that he should not be frighten.
Malkangiri Center:
Praise God for
Sanyasiguda Adult and Children are coming with great interest and are learning drama and action song for the Christmas Programme.
Sapan's son Emmanuel and Christian for having got good marks in the exam.
Malathy's health after delivery become very weak and is now improving well.
Jyoti's daughter Moon was having cough and now she is now well.
Narayanguda and Kadabal people are interested to do Christmas Programme in the their village. Narayanguda is 15 Km west of Malkangiri and Kadabal is 3 Km east of Malkangiri.
In Malkangiri Prison ladies are learning embroidery.
Pray for
The new ladies prisoner those have come to know about Christ and for Prison evangelism work to go well among the Bengali prisoners.
The finance to come in time for Christmas Programme.
Shanti's grandmother who is suffering from cancer and for Minothi's father who is ill
Rabaguda Center
Praise God for
The literacy Programme in Rabaguda and Masaguda is going on very well.
The door-to-door prayer is going on very well and we are sharing gospel to the people.
The protection from opposition.
Pray for
The Literacy class to continue well Rabaguda and Masaguda.
The Christmas Programme arrangement and Christmas celebration at Rabaguda.
The people of Rabaguda to accept Christ.
Thank you very much for your continued prayers and support in the year 2006 and we look forward to your continued support in the year 2007. Thank you very much for standing with us.
Wishing you a wonderful and Christ centred 2007.
With prayers
Remo and the RHS Team