SERVE India

Hello epray friends,
We are really looking forward to John getting home within a few weeks now! Thanks for praying for the scheduling of his time in India. It worked out for him to wait on the trip to Sierra Leone. Please pray as we continue to seek the Lord’s leading in how to be involved with projects in S.L. and with the connections that we have there.
We also want to ask for prayer for the elections coming up in India early next month. We have a dear friend who is in the running for a seat in Parliament and if elected will act favorably for Christians. Please pray for him & for safe, peaceful campaigning & reactions to the election results. The government offices get very busy during this pre-election time and as a result have not been able to get to our land work, so they tell John. SO, we are still praying for that process and just trusting the Lord’s control of it all! J At least this has given John time to visit many of our SERVE India Pastors and further some development of our tribal area ministry. Praise the Lord for His great work among so many who are in such desperate need, praise Him for His provision. We are so grateful for His love and compassion for those who are not cared for and forgotten. He sees every one and we feel so thankful that we (including you through your prayer & giving!) have the privilege of showing His compassion & comfort in very tangible ways!
Some of those most destitute that we show compassion & comfort to are the widows we are caring for. The culture says they are ‘cursed’ but we get to tell them how much they are loved and valued! One of our team members from our last trip shares a great story in her thoughts below!

(Thoughts from Jean…)

Every year we visit the Widow’s Home in Visakhapatnam. The High School youth group and sponsors send special presents that we get the pleasure of giving to the Widows. This visit is usually on the last day of the trip. The time with the Widows is always the high point of the trip for me. I eagerly wait for this day all year.
These dear women hold a special place in my heart. It’s with pure joy that I walk up all those flights of stairs to their 3rd floor apartment. I love turning the corner into their rooms seeing the looks of surprise and happiness when they realize we’re back. There is a great deal of hugging and my cheeks get pinched several times.
The time this year with the Widows was especially precious. They had seen a movie about the Lord and had many questions. John asked Rick to explain the Gospel to them. The Women listened intently. When Rick was done John asked if any of them would like to pray for Him to come into their hearts. All of the women prayed with John. As they prayed, tears of joy streamed down my face.
One of the women prayed with great emotion. Later she asked for a Bible for herself and her friend. We gave all of the Women the Gospel of John. One of the SERVE India Pastors who lives in the area visits the Widow’s home often. It’s comforting to know that he will be there to help the women grow in their faith.
I’m so grateful that God blessed the team with the gift of being with these women as they entered into a whole new Life. It’s truly an answer to the prayers of so many of you who have been praying and sending support for these women for so many years. While you may not make the trip with the team we get our strength from knowing that you’re praying for us and the people we love so dearly. Your prayers make all the difference. Thank you for your faithfulness in supporting SERVE India.

Please pray for all of the dear women in that Home, for their faith to grow & be strengthened each day! We are so thankful! J Thanks so much for your part with us in this work the Lord is doing in India. We are so grateful for all of you!
In His joy & great love,
The Nanda’s