 Thanks so much for your prayers for us and for South Asia. The news is full of reports about how much the hospitals are overwhelmed, the shortage of medical oxygen and hospital beds for Covid patients. The people there are overwhelmed just reading their friend’s Facebook posts because of all the sadness and sickness around them.  We are in the process of sending help to our friends in India and Sri Lanka. Just like last year, the poor are hit the hardest because of strict lockdowns that prevent them from getting the daily wages that they normally live on. Many people cannot work and just need basic needs right now. Fortunately, our friends that have had covid and are recovering. A couple weeks ago, a friend had asked if we had any connections to get oxygen in Delhi, and because the hospital beds are full, people are having oxygen delivered to their homes. I called one family in north Delhi who was suffering from covid and already had oxygen delivered to their home. I called another friend in South Delhi and just found out yesterday that they also were suffering with covid and could not help me. Anyway, the friend in need did find some oxygen. We are calling on you to pray for India for God to have mercy on them. Deaths are under reported as crematoriums cannot keep up and many bodies have washed up from the rivers. Let’s pray that our friends can be the light and hold on to their faith no matter what is going on around them. Pastors are overwhelmed and trying to find ways to help the people around them with basic needs. People have to be so creative in reaching people by phone, or doing ministry in the few hours that they are allowed to leave the house during the strict lockdowns. God is at work and healing people even as people pray over the phone. Disciples are being made and houses are opening up for bible studies and fellowship. Here’s Shamim giving out food to a muslim community in North Delhi who are day laborers and needing basic needs. Muslims are a minority group who are marginalized and not helped by the government. We have been praying during Ramadan and felt it was also a good time to help Shamim as Muslims are seeking to hear from God during these days. Shamim was one of our Hindi teachers when we lived in Delhi and we were discipling him.  PRAYER POINTS- • Pray for early detection, intervention and treatment. • People to understand the seriousness of the situation and go for immediate consultation. • Help to reach people in times of need in physical, monetary and spiritual form. • Availability of medicines and equipment as well as oxygen. • Strengthening the system and the government and medical machinery. • Support to people who’ve lost their livelihood. • Curb the spread of the virus. • Pray for all who are front line workers. • Lack of facilities for last rites. Blessings to all of you, and let’s keep in touch, Ellen and Rick ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.’ Romans 15:13 |
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Rick and Ellen's Notes 