VIVERT & NEELAM LALL
NEWSLETTER
October 2008
We want to thank everyone for their prayers for the situation in the State of Orissa. We have been sending updates about the situation and are grateful for your response and for the prayers and support.
We have been in regular touch with the evangelists working in different areas where the persecution is taking place. Some of them have been here to Damoh and we have been helping them in their needs that they expressed to us. To some families we have provided help for their clothes, blankets and household needs and books and school supplies. Some families are left with nothing and we have helped them so they will have enough to eat and have things to wear. There were houses where extremists have gone and blamed new Christians that they are sending their kids to schools and educating them and this is the reason that they are turning away from their traditional religion. These people have taken everything out of their homes including books and Bibles and have burnt it. People are also threatened by them and they have asked not to send their kids to school for education. We are having challenging time to do relief work in affected areas. So, we are working out strategy to do relief work from the neighboring state of Chhattisgarh. We plan to do relief efforts in these coming two months.
Brother keshav Rai is working with the mission at Lohar Gaon, in Sagar area in the state of Madhya Pradesh. On the 7th of October, when he was returning after one of evangelistic trips, some people stopped him on the way, beat him up and threaten him not to evangelize people in future. They snatched away his Bible and broke his spectacles.
Brother Yohan Raj who works with the mission in Delhi is having some opposition there as well. Regular services are being held at a home in Shalimar Garden area. Some people in the neighborhood have been opposing these services; perhaps we may have to change location.
At Pasana in Mandla area in the state of Madhya Pradesh, Brother Dhruv Kumar is working with the mission. Five new families have accepted Christ during the last month.
At Midnapur, in the state of Maharashtra, Brother Anand Prasad and Brother Bahadur Prasad hold regular services on every Mondays. Six new families have started attending the services regularly. Of these, three have expressed their willingness to accept our Lord. The evangelist there has started to work on the necessary paperwork involved.
Mission had purchased a plot of 11 acres, which is about 4 kilometers from the Main office. The legal formalities to start the construction there have been completed and we have obtained permission from the Government to construct building there. Now the construction work is in progress. Please pray for campus "ACTS".
We were honored to have with us Brother David McAnally and Brother Riley Shelton. They visited the mission from the 16th to the 19th of October. Their visit was an encouragement to all at the mission. A nine-member team from Savannah Christian Church, Georgia visited the mission from the 17th to the 23rd of October. This team led by brother Jarred included brother Ghuman, Brother Austin, Mrs. Austin, sister McGinnis, sister Hedemark sister Baggett, brother Simmons and sister Jefferson. They visited and appreciated the mission's work in the states of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. It was our privilege to have them with us. They encouraged the evangelists and mission co-workers doing Lord's work amidst adversaries in different areas.
On the 22nd of October, over 100 visually impaired children presented different programs for the visiting team from Savannah, GA, at the Mission's Outreach Center/Prayer Hall. During the function, almost 5 feet long cobra came out and was at the main entrance of the building. Our son Lae was playing with the children in front of the entrance. Salil, who is one of mission's co-worker, his mother saw the snake and also Lae running in that direction without noticing the snake. She shouted just in time for Lae to leap over the snake. Cobra is one of the most poisonous snakes found in India and it strikes very swiftly. The snake was killed. We are thankful to God that it could not harm anyone.
NEEDS
In the months of November and December, we plan to continue our efforts of relief for the victims and their families who are facing persecution. Some of you have asked if you could still contribute towards this. Yes, your contribution will be very much appreciated. The need is large and a lot need to be done.
For Security Fence for mission's new campus in Damoh - $ 31,650. (We have $ 5,000 towards this need, the balance now that we need for this purpose is $ 26,650)
For van for the mission's Satellite Center at Bilaspur - $ 6,667.
For generators set $ 7,500. (There is six and a half hours of scheduled power cut everyday, there is unscheduled one also.)
