Love and Compassion Summer Update 2020

As you can imagine the last 3 months have been very difficult and challenging for our partners in India. With Covid-19 cases continuing to significantly rise, and Andhra Pradesh having the 3rd highest number of cases of all the states in India, it has been a very trying & testing time for all concerned.

LCA has been adapting & adjusting its support to help meet the needs of our partners, their communities, and the most vulnerable families during this pandemic.

How have our partners been managing?

CARMEL MINISTRIES

These are uncertain times for Pastor Ebenezer & the ministry but he is grateful to God for bringing him and his family through the effects of the virus.

Pastor David urgently needed hospital admission with a ventilator but before that was possible, he very sadly died leaving a wife and family.

Encouraging news for Pastor Joseph who LCA support. He was able to get hospital treatment when breathing problems started and is now home and recovering.

For many weeks they have been in lockdown due to the high number of Covid-19 cases in the immediate surrounding area & town (Eluru). Limited supplies of food, medical aid & hospital facilities have made life a struggle for the Pastors working in the interior villages, but through the support from LCA, Pastor Ebenezer has provided rice, provisions, and some medical aid.

Consequently, Pastor Ebenezer had to make the very hard decision of sending all the 40 children in the Home to a safer place in Odisha, the state just north of them. After a day’s journey by bus the children arrived safely where they are being cared for by 2 Carmel Ministries Pastors.

At present Carmel Ministries don’t know when it will be possible to open the Vocational training centre, Theological College or School which would have normally seen the start of the new academic year in June.

BENS SCHOOL

Anitha (headmistress) has started online classes (e-learning) in accordance with the government rules. Extra equipment was needed for the recordings, books ordered for the new curriculum, and parents to be informed of what is going on. Some parents are finding it difficult to purchase what is needed which puts a burden on the school finances. The LCA supported children are all in good health, have been promoted to the next class, received new books, & necessary stationary.

Andhra Pradesh state government is tentatively suggesting September 5th to be the date they announce when schools can reopen again. In the meantime, the teachers at Bens school are trying their best to keep their children’s education going.

NEW LIFE DISABLED MINISTRIES

Sujatha writes “The current coronavirus situation here where we live in the community of Medchal, near Hyderabad, Telangana, is very pathetic as no-one is ready to confront the present situation. Day by day positive cases are increasing greatly. In these circumstances we are surviving all because of God’s grace and LCA’s assistance. Your support towards New Life Ministries is very appreciated, especially in this coronavirus time. If LCA had not supported us we would have been in helpless and hopeless state, so from our church members team members, and myself a very heartful thanks to all LCA supporters.

We distributed food for the migrants up to July, and after that we stopped because the migrants had gone back to their native places. So those who are poor in our church are getting monthly rations and some essential needs. The disabled people are receiving financial help towards medical needs.

“We distributed food for the migrants up to July, and after that we stopped because the migrants had gone back to their native places. So those who are poor in our church are getting monthly rations and some essential needs. The disabled people are receiving financial help towards medical needs.”

“Mahesh & his wife Kalpana are both suffering from polio disabilities. Unfortunately, Mahesh met with an accident and both legs were broken. He had no one to support him so New Life disabled Ministries came forward to help Mahesh for his operation and it was done successful. Presently he is getting better and they are so thankful to LCA for their support.”

“I would like to share with you a couple of testimonies regarding Vijay and Chandu, non-believers suffering from fever and cough. They went for COVID-19 test and were positive so immediately the Government kept them in-home quarantine for fourteen days. One of their relatives gave my contact number to them and they called me to pray. As I prayed for them the Holy Spirit touched them and gave instant relief. Whilst praying they both testified that some kind of stress and weakness went off from their bodies so the next day again they went for COVID 19 test, and the report was negative. They have called back and informed me that they are absolutely alright now, and they are testifying to their families and friends that Jesus healed them.

All glory to God. He is a miracle-working God.”