Right Hand Ministries
RHM: PO Box 12385 Oklahoma City, OK 73157 rhmhope1@gmail.com
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Our Father's Heart
October Update
Dear RHM Friends,
Greetings, always in the Precious Name of our Lord JESUS.
Normally we try to get this update out by around the 10th or 12th of each month. So you can understand how busy ministry is these days. Pray the Lord will grant me His Mind in regard to how much time He wants me to spend with Him, with the children, doing record keeping and other admin duties, doing hands-on ministry, etc. Not here to please myself or other people, but only Him. As long as we know He is happy, then we can be at peace about all the busyness of life. 2 Thessalonians 3:16
"Our Father's Heart" in a nutshell:
"This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our GOD and Father: to visit the orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." James 1:27
RHM is primarily about helping needy children and needy widows/elderly here in India. There's the sharing of His Word, Sunday School programs, and other things we're involved with, but the needy children and elderly remain at the forefront of His Heart for this ministry. To my amazement at times, we still have very few regular donors, but the Lord has always provided. In the midst of all our Christian activities, let us never forget what He Himself calls "pure and undefiled religion" in His own eyes. Surely His blessing will be upon anyone who unites him or herself with the greatest desires of His own Heart. Pray about joining us in His endeavor to reach out to truly needy people here in India.
It may seem a little early to talk about Christmas, but for us, it helps immensely with the planning of special programs and outreach if we have some idea of how much money we have to work with. Usually, year after year, we move forward by faith, purchasing clothes for the HOPE children and elderly, gifts for the village children, and scheduling several Christmas programs in various villages, before we know for sure there are funds. But He has always been faithful. Pray and participate as He leads you. A few dollars can go a long ways here in the lives of the poor.
Bless you!! Many thanks to those who are joining with us to extend His love to others.
Brother Dan
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ABOVE: One of the multitude of Hindu "gods", welcoming people into a village (or scaring them away?) as we were traveling to minister to some widows and other believers.
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ABOVE: HOPE Manna Program widows (2 of them were never married, including the younger women who also is mentally handicapped) with new blankets and sweaters recently given to them at HOPE. So thankful for His provision!
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ABOVE: Brother Emmanuel has been doing ministry among the HOPE widows for several years now. Here he is giving a new sweater and blanket to Mariamma, who has been mostly bedridden for more than one year. We thank the Lord for giving her a good grandson (Naveen), who has been physically taking care of her during this time of her life.
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ABOVE: Another HMP widow, Vimalamma. Sadly, she doesn't have the same care as the above sister, Mariamma, has. When we walked onto her verandah (porch), she was only half covered, just lying on the cot with many flies. Emmanuel scolded her daughter, son, whatever relatives were there, for not watching over her properly. She is not able to move much on her own, but her mind is still in good shape. She was very thankful to see us. Pray for the Lord's peace and comfort upon her during her last days here on earth.
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ABOVE: Another welcoming committee into the village of Bangarakkapalem, where we were going to meet with the widows in the below photo. It wouldn't be surprising if this temple was built to try and insure good drinking water from that water tower, or if the water tower was purposely built next to the temple for the same purpose. Folks, it's a very sad thing to see the blindness over the minds of the multitudes here in India. Even some of the most educated will FIGHT over the rights of a cow, to make sure no one harms them or uses them to eat. Other similar issues abound, to illustrate the darkness of their minds.
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ABOVE: Five believing widows who receive monthly support from the widows/elderly ministry, these from Bangarakkapalem (same village as above photo). Another widow is receiving support, bedridden for the last 7 years because of a spinal problem.
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ABOVE: Each month we are now trying to meet at least twice with all the widows and elderly who are getting support through this ministry. Once is for the distribution of funds; the other time just to be able to minister to them and try to get to know them better. There are close to 15 villages to go to, and some are in remote places. This meeting was held this last week in Thunagunta, where we have 13 receiving support: 8 widows, 1 widower, and two husband and wife couples. Happy to see a good number of other villagers come to the meeting.
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ABOVE: One of the widows coming for her support money (most of them also receive a small amount to help with their medical needs) in the village of Valetivaripalem. There are 19 elderly receiving support here (17 of them widows), coming from 3 different villages.
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ABOVE: Brother Prashanth, in front of the prayer house (church) in Betapudi. Prashanth helps to oversee the widows/elderly ministry in the Bapatla area. HOPE also is in Bapatla, having 19 elderly in what they call the HOPE Manna Program, receiving support via HOPE funds. None of our other widows/elderly ministry is actually located in Bapatla, but the recipients are scattered among at least 12 villages in the surrounding area.
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ABOVE: Nine of the 10 elderly receiving support in the village of Alluru. Six are widows, one a widower (far right), one husband and wife couple (next to each other on bottom row), and one woman has a husband, but he is mostly blind and unable to work.
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ABOVE: We are no longer using names for this ministry, as there are many enemies trying to harm the believers in this area of India. Sadly, some of these enemies profess to be Christians. This brother and his wife (far right) are caring for these 11 girls. If any of you feel led to give financially, they are in need of a new girls home. They have a few thousand dollars for this project, but need more. Designate your gift as "Helping Persecuted Christians" and send us an email, clarifying that it is for a new girls home.
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ABOVE: Widows who are receiving monthly support in this same area as mentioned above. Nineteen of 21 widows had their husbands killed or die due to persecution.
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ABOVE: Brother Wesley, who also oversees part of our widows/elderly ministry, is here sharing a message during a pastors meeting. The same brother who is watching over the girls home there (a couple of photos above) is translating.
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ABOVE: Brother Wesley (also a pastor) helping to distribute Bibles to the pastors. We had nothing to do with providing these Bibles, as they were all donated by someone in India.
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ABOVE: HOPE girl Mary (13) was the leader of the Sunday School in a tribal village called Devuni Manyam a couple of Sundays ago. Here she's sharing a story with the children.
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ABOVE: Sweet HOPE girls at the train station. They and Sister Buelah were seeing me off as Wesley and I were leaving on a recent ministry trip. Left to right (all studying in the 4th grade): Hepsiba, Veni, Sravani, Siri, Reshma, Keerthana.
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"Whatever you do, do all things to the glory of GOD." 1 Corinthians 10:31 |
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