January 2009
Newsletter
NEWSLETTER ARTICLES
Tuesday, January 6th marked the beginning of our sixth mission trip to India. We traveled with a team of five other people from our church. This was truly a team ordained by God. Although all of our previous trips have been wonderful, there was something different about this one. The team that God assembled for this trip flowed in perfect unity. Because of that unity, we saw God move mightily. The team consisted of us (Cindy, Terry and Angie), our Pastor Chad Everett, Sue Dismang, Peggy Sisco, Linda Klingle and Mona Schwartz. We experienced a supernatuaral favor of the Lord on this trip like none of us have ever experienced before. From the time we left the airport in Evansville to the time we arrived back home, God hand was upon us, blessing us every step of the way! It was awesome!
WOMEN'S CONFERENCE AND PASTOR'S CONFERENCE
We started out this trip as we do all of the trips, with a Pastor's Conference and a Women's Conference. Pastor Chad and Linda Klingle conducted the Pastor's Conference with over 200 pastors from various surrounding villages in attendance. We conducted the Women's Conference at the same time with each woman on the team (besides Linda who was speaking to the pastors) bringing a message of encouragement to the 200 women in attendence. The women we ministered to were the Pastor's wives, and teachers. Both conferences were a great success with God ministering to both the men and the women. The conferences lasted for two days with the Pastor's conference being held in the church at Christ Fellowship Ministries and the women's conference being held on the roof of Pastor Joseph's House! Angie was praying, "Oh God, let this roof hold!" when 200 women started jumping up and down on the roof during praise and worship!
Terry dressed like a chicken ( yes, I said a chicken) to deliver her message to the women. All of the women loved it! It was good for the women to laugh, and boy did they laugh! God moved mightily in the services and lives were touched, refreshed, and changed. We are always tremendously blessed when we minister to these women.
Click thumbnails to view photos of women's conference.
JAHNAVI'S HEART ORPHANAGE
WOW! The children of the orphanage are thriving! We had such fun with them this year! Our friend and sister in the Lord, Sue Dismang brought them Camp Warhorse again this year. The prayer focus this year was the American Indians! The children were fascinated to find out that America also had Indians!
Camp Warhorse is a prayer camp for children which teaches them to pray the scriptures! The Camp is divided into four stations and the children travel from station to station doing crafts and games that incorporate prayer. It is a wonderful ministry that impacts the lives of all the children involved - those who are learning to pray and those being prayed for. It was a great camp this year!
Click Here to view more pictures of Camp Warhorse India, 2009
We also had a carnival for the children of Jahnavi's Heart Orphanage. We shipped boxes of prizes over early and then set up booths when we arrived. The children had a blast! In fact, they had almost as much fun as we did! We had a Duck Pond Booth, a Fishing Booth, a Balloon Pop Booth, a Floating Ring Toss Booth, a Lollie Pop Tree Booth, a Tattoo Booth, and a Decorate a Sun Visor Booth. We let the children run from booth to booth as often as they wanted to until we ran out of prizes. Words can't describe the scene of excitement - and chaos! It was great! Even the adults started doing the games! They were fishing, and sitting on balloons! It was so much fun. We are already planning on doing one for next year!
All of the children are doing wonderfully. They are happy and healthy and very thankful to all of their supporters. We can see the love and care they are getting from Pastor Joseph and Sony along with all of the helpers. The children are also doing well with their studies at school. Plans are in the works to build on the rooms above the Grandma's House (the widow's home) to provide more space for the children to grow. Please keep Jahnavi's Heart Orphanage and the staff in your prayers. They are raising mighty men and women of God who will one day minister to their own people in the name of Jesus.
We also learned right before our visit that three children had been removed from Jahnavi's Heart Orphanage. It seems a rumor was started that we were coming to take the children to America. The chief of the village from where the children had come from came along with others from the village, and took the children out of the orphanage. Pastor Joseph tried to convince them that we were coming to bless the children and not take the children, but they would not believe him. We hoped and prayed that when they saw that we did not take any children, they would bring them back to the orphanage. Pastor Joseph told us the children were taken to work in the fields and would not be back.
We also learned that thieves have come onto Pastor Joseph's property and tried to steal Jahnavi's Heart Orphanage's ducks and firewood! They have had to hire a man to sleep outside on the porch of the orphanage for protection. Pastor Joseph has ask us to come into agreement with him and pray for the finances to put a securtiy fence around his property. They are concerned for the safety of the children.
Click here for more carnival pictures.
Click thumbnails to view carnival pictures.
NEEDS OF JAHNAVI'S HEART ORPHANAGE
While the children continue to thrive at Jahnavi's Heart Orphanage, we realized that some changes are going to have to be made. The size of the orphanage is growing along with the size of the children. Sponsorship is currently $24.00 a month and it is no longer covering the cost to raise the children and operate the orphanage. Their needs are greater and more staff has had to be added to care for the children properly. We are also going to have to close in the kitchen due to the growing monkey problem ( yes, I said monkey problem). We deal with squirrels and they deal with monkeys - many monkeys living in the trees around the orphanage. The kitchen needs to be closed in and a concrete slab placed on top. This way we will be able to to keep monkey out of the kitchen and build another room for the children to live in above the kitchen. They are quickly running out of space.
We see the need for a second sponsor for each child. This will ensure that all the children continue to receive exceptional care and provide finances for the everyday operation of the orphanage. Sponsorship will still be $24.00 a month with each child having two sponsors sending that amount. We will take the responsibility of finding a second sponsor for your child. If you have a friend or family member who would like to co-sponsor your child, please contact us ASAP.
It was also brought to our attention that each child is in need of a new, large metal box for them to keep their belongings in. They currently have little boxes, but they are packed tight with their personal things. Pastor Joseph asked if we could provide bigger boxes for them. The boxes cost $15.00 each. Contact us if you would like to send your child a new large box.
Click thumbnail to view the small boxes currently being used by the children and the monkeys that now live in the trees at the orphanage.
GRANDMA'S HOUSE
The widows of Grandma's House are also doing well. There is a definite bond that can been seen and felt between the children of Jahnavi's Heart Orphanage and the grandmas. The children eagerly help the elderly ladies with their needs which is exciting to see since this was a vision to begin with. The children call the widow's Grandma and it is one big happy family. There are currently 10 widows living at Grandma's House. These ladies all have sponsors. While we were there, Pastor Joseph brought us 23 other widows who need care. We have taken their pictures and he is sending us their profiles. These poor old women are homeless and weak. If any one would like to sponsor a widow, please contact us and we will get you started. Sponsorship for one widow is $48.00 a month. This provides shelter, food, clothing and medical attention. It is also possible to co-sponsor a widow for $24.00 a month.
Last year, three of the widows of Grandma's House went home to be with the Lord. The good news is that while they were at Grandma's House, they received Jesus as their Lord and Savior! New widows were brought in to replace the ones who passed on. News is quickly spreading of Grandma's House and elderly widows with no one to care for them are lining up, hoping for a sponsor so they too can live out the rest of their days with food, clothes, a roof over their head, and someone who loves them.
This is a wonderful ministry to be a part of. The widow's of Grandma's House send their love and thanks to their sponsors!
Click here to view more pictures of the widows.
HATS HATS, AND MORE HATS!
Thanks to many of you who are reading this, we had some hats to pass out while we were there. Several different individuals and groups around the area hand crocheted hats for the widows and the orphans. We also had enough to hand out to other village ladies that were around. It was wonderful. Everyone who received a hat was thrilled. It was such a success that we are asking you to keep them coming! We had several that we left with Pastor Joseph. He is going to use them as a witnessing tool when he gives them out in the villages. If you would like information on making hats for widows, orphans and villagers in India, contact us and we can get you started. They are very simple to make, and a great ministry for those who know how to crochet.
BAPTISM IN THE BAY OF BENGAL
Last year on our trip the Lord blessed us by allowing us to actually ride in a fishing boat in the Bay of Bengal! It was incredible and we loved every second of it. This year part of the team was once again in the Bay of Bengal, but this time without a boat. Cindy, our Pastor Chad and Mona got to go out into the water with Pastor Joseph and baptize some new believers. It was pretty awesome. The waded out to about knee deep and then the believer would get down on his or her knees. The team would pray over them, then as a wave came in it would envelope the believer. This was definitely another first for Only Believe Ministries and what a blessing it was to get to be a part of it! God is so good to us!
INDIA PRAISE AND WORSHIP CD
We were blessed this year with a wonderful gift from Sudarshan. This is Pastor Joseph's Brother. Sudarshan sings and is the praise and worship leader for Christ Fellowship Ministries. For years now, we have had the privledge of hearing his beautiful voice each time we visit them. He is very talented. He not only sings beautifully, but has also written many worship songs. Since we have known him, it has been the desire of his heart to record a professional CD of his praise and worship songs. Last year, Sudarshan's dream came to pass and he was able to record his first CD. He gifted each member of the team with a CD. There are 10 songs on the CD. To hear one our favorite songs, click the play button below.
Enjoy!
If you would be interested in owing one of Sudarshan's CD's, contact us for information.
INDIA PRAISE AND WORSHIP CD
We were blessed this year with a wonderful gift from Sudarshan. This is Pastor Joseph's Brother. Sudarshan sings and is the praise and worship leader for Christ Fellowship Ministries. For years now, we have had the privledge of hearing his beautiful voice each time we visit them. He is very talented. He not only sings beautifully, but has also written many worship songs. Since we have known him, it has been the desire of his heart to record a professional CD of his praise and worship songs. Last year, Sudarshan's dream came to pass and he was able to record his first CD. He gifted each member of the team with a CD. There are 10 songs on the CD. To hear one our favorite songs, click the play button below.
Enjoy!
If you would be interested in owing one of Sudarshan's CD's, contact us for information.
SENDING GIFTS TO THE CHILDREN
We have had several people wanting to know if they can send gifts to the children and what would be good to send. We talked to Sony about this while we were there. We were told that the children love to get gifts from America. However, the gifts must be small because of the lack of storage pace per child. Sonly said that personal hygene gifts are good such as combs, hairbrushes, toothbrushes, etc. Also the girls love to get hair bow and bright rubberbands or pretty headbands. Underwear is also always needed. The boys like to get small cars, like Hot Wheels. They also like small (beanie baby size) stuffed animals. All gifts can be sent to :
Christ Fellowship Ministries
Rev. Joseph Matcha
Post Box 129
Kakinada, East Godavari Dist.
A.P. South India - 533001
A PERSONAL MESSAGE TO THE SPONSORS, FROM THE CHILDREN OF JAHNAVI'S HEART ORPHANAGE!! (Warning, Kleenex may be needed!)
Each year the children bless us with a program. This year was no different. We are seated in the church building and the children come in and sing and dance for us. We have some very talented children! This year, Sony informed us that she and the children had written a song for you, their sponsors. Below are the words to that song. They sang it for us and asks us to give you the words to it. They wanted to make sure that we shared it with you so here it is. It was very touching. The way it is written is the way they sang it.
Jahnavi's Heart Orphanage
A Special Song by JHO Children
I never cry - I never cry.
My heart is rejoicing - I got a sweet home.
Jesus brought me here - We thank all of you.
Ah.... Ah.... Oh.....Oh......
I had no father.
I had no mother.
I had no anyone
That I can say my own - (sang two times)
But I have only one everlasting Father
More loveable than my own mother - (sang two times)
My Jesus My Father - My Jesus My Hero
I will be a doctor.
I will be an engineer.
I will be a preacher.
Yes - I will be something one day.
I thank everyone - my parents in America
Who have love at me - than anyone else.
My mom and dad - we love you.
My mom and dad - I love you.
The children sang this song with all of their hearts while we sat and cried like babies. After it was over, Si Kumar, one of the little boys came up to Angie and said, "Mom, did you like my song?" Angie said, "It was wonderful and beautiful, Si. I loved it!" He threw his arms around her and gave her a big hug and a kiss. If nothing else had happened on that trip, that would have been enough!
We, Cindy, Terry, and Angie want to thank all of you for your prayers, love and support. You are sowing seed that will be producing fruit for years and years to come. The lives of these children have been saved and changed and God is doing a great and mighty work at Jahnavi's Heart Orphanage and Grandma's House. May He open the widows of heaven and pour out blessings upon all of you that are so great they connot be contained. That is our prayer for each and everyone of you.
God Bless you all,
Cindy blackburn, Terry Kielhorn, and Angie Hoffman
Click photo to enlarge
