In these challenging times LCA hopes and prays that this finds you and your family safe and well.
Our thoughts have very much been with our partners in India facing so many difficulties with the spread of the virus, and the effects of the lockdown on the communities, especially amongst the poor and underprivileged.
Government help and support is limited, and pressure has been put on Christian charities to help finance the Government’s Relief fund, adding to the stress of managing their own situations.
Thank God our partners trust, and hope is in the Lord.
New Life Disabled Ministries
Usually in April or May, 10 young people are prepared for their operations in Visakhapatnam. With the present situation Sujatha has had to defer these until later in the year or even until next year.
There are 15 staff for Sujatha to support through this pandemic along with concerns for her congregation. Many of them are daily labourers, whilst others are migrants from nearby states, and without a residential identity card cannot get essential food rations from Government State sources. Nearby there are also several disabled orphans which Sujatha has a burden for.
With all Churches closed, and not knowing when they will be able to start up again, it is very difficult to manage even their basic needs.
Nevertheless, when possible, Sujatha and the team are trying their best to provide cooked food to those in desperate need in the community.
Bens School
Up to the middle of March the school curriculum was as normal, with the children starting to prepare for their annual year end exams in April. The very sudden lockdown caused quite a lot of panic in Nellore as it did over the whole country. Paul & Anitha managed to quickly give some holiday homework to the children. Schools usually have their summer holidays from around the end of April to the beginning of June.
With many parents not being able to give all the school fees it has been quite hard to pay both rent for the school building and the teachers’ salaries. They are hopeful that the Government may allow schools to reopen in June soon after the holidays end.
Carmel Ministries
Despite the challenges, Pastor Ebenezer has informed us that by God’s grace all have been protected during these weeks. The Bible College students were able to successfully complete their academic year but were not able to return to their villages due to the sudden lockdown imposed. They are organising study times in their library, helping with the cooking, and keeping the campus clean. One or two have been assisting at the Children’s Home giving lessons and teaching new songs. With 40 children it has been quite a challenge to keep them occupied and safe, but good to report all have kept well.
There has been concern for the pastors, and their families with no source of income and the situations in their underdeveloped villages. Pastor Ebenezer has been doing his best to support not only the pastors attached to Carmel Ministries but in his local town Eluru. He has also been under pressure by the Government to help provide lunch packs for 600 health workers, food provisions for 500 migrant and daily workers, and donate 1000 masks along with 300 sanitizers to those living in the nearby slums.
Praise God that our pastors, partners and all their staff are safe from the virus.
LCA is grateful for the continued support received to enable us to assist in the work of our partners in Andhra Pradesh & Telangana.
At our recent Board meeting it was agreed that funds will be sent to help our partners during this difficult situation, and to provide relief to people in desperate need of food supplies.
Pray that finances will reach safely as we have some hurdles to get through with banks at both ends.
Pray for God’s continued protection over LCA’s partners, and wisdom for their staff who interact with the many who reach out to them for help, advice, and support.
Pray for LCA in the challenges of these days, and the months ahead that we may know God’s guidance in all the decisions to be made.
Your prayers and support are much appreciated, especially in these very hard times.
