E-Pray July 2015
Dear Epray Friends,
We are so grateful for our summer so far, with John home, and all the boys home, too! We know that this may not happen very often now that they are all getting older and living in different cities. We are so thankful that it worked out that all of them were able to get jobs, with near full time hours, around Hudson this summer!
John talked with some of the Pastors this week and was reminded of how much appreciation the communities felt, and still feel, who were helped this past January by the relief given after the hurricane damage they had experienced. They wanted to say thanks to you, again, for the help given. Our team visited them with the relief aid of rice bags, clothes, blankets and medicines. These relief efforts helped show the compassion felt for the 2 fishing villages, Makkam and Hope Island. The villages noticed something different about us. One man on Hope Island said, ‘I don’t know why you care about us and encourage us and love us this way.’ We told them it was love not just from our lives but because of our Lord’s love in us. More than the physical relief our message can bring hope and a better future for their lives. Please continue to pray for these communities, and that they will all come to also know the Life we have.
One of our Pastors, Pastor Yesurutnam, met a beggar, who is a leprosy patient, and whose life as an outcast has been filled with poverty and discrimination. As Pastor Yesurutnam is eager to touch as many lives as he can he soon met 30 other leprosy victims who lived nearby. Their whole lives are affected by the disease and no one wants them around. He began reaching them one by one. Now, by the grace of God, there has been healing from some of the suffering of the disease. They rejoice in salvation and fellowship with the Lord! Please pray for them and their families and for continued encouragement through the whole community.
This summer season has been very hot in Andhra Pradesh yet some have still taken time to conduct their VBS activities in many of our churches. The new school year will begin later this month or in August. Please pray for all of the children who were able to participate in VBS this year, that all of the Truth that they learned will continue to grow in their lives.
One more prayer request we have is to pray overall for the Christians in India in light of the political party that was newly elected to power. This party has never hidden its agenda as a Hindu nationalistic party. The churches are remaining optimistic that they will continue their work without government interference. Recently, John was in touch with our Pastors inquiring about the situation. They said that no matter what comes, they are committed to sharing the good news in their villages because it is the only message that brings salvation. They said that they received their mandate from our Lord and they will go forward with what He has called them to. Please pray for protection and provision for these 200+ indigenous Pastors that are loving and serving the people in many villages and for all of the work going forward all over India.
Thank you, as always, for all that you do for us and for the work of SERVE India. We are so thankful to share in the joy with you!
His joy, Love,
The Nanda’s