Note from Valerie: Dr. Iris's update is in two parts this month. Below is her letter, in it she refers to another report by Mr. Laban soren - that part of the report will go out tomorrow night.
My Dear Prayer Partners,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
As I write this month report, I am reminded of 2 oft repeated verses of my husband [Dr. R. A. C. Paul]. For all our letterheads he chose the verse Matt 4:23. “Jesus went throughout ---- teaching ---- preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing all diseases and sickness among the people." It was his Dream that all the 1020 villages in the district of Malkangiri will hear the Name of Jesus at least once. God helped me and my children to continue the work after his death in 1986, and yet even today about 300 villages have not heard the Name of Jesus even once. To enhance this Dream to become a really a Malkangiri District Christian Munch [MDCM] (Munch in Oriya means Association) was formed. Please pray for Good co ordination among the many mission groups so that the Dream will become a Reality soon.
The oft repeated second verse of my husband is John 12:24. “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed But if it dies, it produces many seeds" Every time my husband repeated this I used to cry as it is means not only physical death BUT it also implies dying to "Self". This is indeed a very hard lesson to learn. Please pray that we the missionaries of Reaching Hand Society will be selfless and die to ourselves so that we can reach the thousands of people who yet do not Know Jesus Christ as Lord and saviour.
As I write this email Remo is in the hospital with multiple infections - cerebral Malaria / throat infection, he is undergoing many tests as he has been sick these last 5 days. He is on many High Antibiotics. Susan who is now in the 6th month of pregnancy is with him in the hospital and is very exhausted and tired. We will appreciate your prayers for Remo's miraculous full cure and strength as he has tons of work to be completed and for protection for Susan and the baby.
This month news circular is written by our missionary Mr. Laban Soren. Laban went to the Sports College in Delhi as he was good in Archery. Laban helps in the prison ministry and he is now RHS chief Accountant. He is very good in his work. Laban and his wife Sabita are good singers. RHS missionaries have composed many songs and put them to the local tribal rhythm. To make this into a CD, they all have to go to Jeypore for 4 days and the expense for all this around Rs 40,000/- If any of you are led of the Lord to contribute for this please do so. Sabita does Prison ministry and village ministry. Her parents and 3 sisters and their families are all strong Hindus. Please pray for a breakthrough in their families so that they may know that Jesus is the ONLY Saviour. Laban and Sabita have a beautiful 2 year old daughter Sumen. Laban's mother and sister are widows. Please uphold this family in your prayers.
Dec, Jan and Feb, God provided all our financial needs, BUT for March practically nothing has come in, so please pray and if possible contribute. You have to send your MO, DD or Cheque in the Name of "MALKANGIRI DEVELOPMENT PROJECT” and send this by post to
Dr. Iris G. R. Paul .
Founder Director ,
Reaching Hand Society,
MALKANGIRI. P.O. / Dt,
Orissa - 764045.
Thank you very much for standing with us in prayer and financial support.
Love and prayers,
Iris.