A Back to School in Nepal Update

News from God Loves Orphans and Widows

Warm greetings to you from Nepal and the GLOW family,

We all are doing well and pray that you are also in good health. The COVID19 pandemic lockdown has caused a lot of problems in our country.  The lockdown has left many without jobs and made daily living and even survival for many difficult. We are near the beginning of the school calendar here in Nepal. The financial situation of the families of the children we had been supporting with school supplies and educational materials is even worse due to the lockdown. Due to that the children are in greater need of the school supplies and stationery support than ever. We are planning to distribute educational materials and school supplies to 80 to 100 students varying from grade one to twelve.

The parents of the students receiving the supplies work as daily laborers either on construction sites or in other types of manual work. Most of them have been out of work since the Covid19 lockdown started. Your support will allow students to continue their studies despite their families financial situation. Here is a story about one of our supported students:

I am studying in grade seven. Here is a picture of me receiving supplies last year from GLOW. I have gotten school support from GLOW for several years. My parents work in construction as daily laborers. Their income is barely enough for us to survive, let alone sending us to school. This annual package of school supplies support has helped me continue and perform well at school. Thank you for all your help to me and the other students. We want to make a difference in our country.

The cost breakdown for the students we want to help is as follows:

  •  Students in junior school:  $50/student Total of 50 students: $2500
  •  Students in middle school: $80/student Total of 30 students: $2400
  •  Students in high school: $100/student Total of 20 students: $2000

We urge you to partner with us in providing this much needed material support. Here is a picture of our team presenting school supplies.   

With love in Christ,

The Glow Staff 

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Nepal Covid-19 Report

Dear Friends.

Many of you are wondering how our overseas friends are coping with the pandemic crisis. Here is a beautiful report that we received from Nepal that describes how your gifts impact lives in the midst of a very difficult time.

Lance & Christie Thollander

Greetings from Nepal,

We hope and pray you all are doing well. We have been under a complete lockdown for 40 days. The lockdown has shut many businesses and daily laborers are laid off work. During this time, thanks to support we have received, we were able to distribute food rations to 200 families and 150 families in Lalitpur and Pokhara respectively.

Each family received rice, flour, lentils, masala, cooking oil, salt, sugar, beaten rice, and soap. Distributions to the families went really well and we had the full support of the local government authority. We are planning for a second phase of ration distribution and ask you to remember us in your prayers for guidance and provision. Here is a story from one person whose life has been changed through GLOW’s recent help:

Anita

My name is Anita. Let me share a little bit with you of my history. I come from a poor family, it was difficult for us to meet even the basic needs. My mother and father both did daily labor work to raise us. After grade 7 my family could no longer afford to pay for my studies so I quit school and started helping my family by also working as a day laborer.

I got married and we eventually had 2 kids. I no longer could work so my husband worked while I stayed at home. My husband’s income wasn’t enough to raise the kids and provide for their education and other needs. One day I heard from a neighbor about an organization called “GLOW,” God Loves Orphans and Widows, providing free tailoring classes to poor women like myself. I started attending these classes and getting tailoring training from GLOW. After completing my training, I found a shop to work in near my home and have been working there ever since. Due to the training I received from
Glow I have been able to provide the extra needed for my kids.

But now my tailoring shop has been closed due to the pandemic and I do not have another source of income. As my family doesn’t have savings to provide for ourselves during such a crisis we
were in serious trouble. How were we going to provide food for us and our kids?

Then I got a call from GLOW. When I saw GLOW on my phone, I had a glow in my face. They asked me how I was doing and if I needed any help? I told them that I was unable to run my business and it was hard for me and my family to provide for our daily needs. They told me that GLOW was distributing relief packages.

Tears started rolling from my eyes … GLOW had come to my rescue yet again! They helped me in the past by providing me free tailoring training and now they are providing me with relief when I need it the most. I can’t express how thankful I am towards GLOW. When I and others like me were helpless, GLOW came to wipe our tears and lend us a helping hand. When all seemed to be lost GLOW showed me the light. I am forever indebted and grateful. I pray to God to bless GLOW and its efforts to provide relief to those in need.

 

Our mailing address is: Hope Builders International, P O Box 91359 Austin,
TX 78709 USA. When you send gifts, please mention CFO on the memo line.

Thank you and God bless you in Christ.

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A Message of Faith

Click on the image below to download a PDF of this newsletter.


Dear Friends of Manara,

Warm greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, from all of us at Manara Ministries.

We would like to share with you our latest update, kindly find it in the above attachment, as we hold onto our faith and hope in Jesus in the midst of the current situation. Since after writing this report and sending it, Jordan has declared a mandatory curfew started this morning at 7:00AM until further notice.

“But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect – life in its fullness until you overflow!” John 10:10 (TPT)

Thank you for your friendship, prayers and support at such a time as this.

God bless and protect you and your ministries.

In Christ,

Manara Team

Standing In Faith Against the Coronavirus

“A thief has only one thing in mind – he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect – life in its fullness until you overflow!”

–John 10:10

King Abdullah has approved a national defense law to help combat the coronavirus pandemic. The royal decree issued on Tuesday in an effort to curb coronavirus in Jordan. Measures taken in recent days have closed schools and public transport, and prayers have been banned in mosques, while most public and private sector employees have been asked to stay at home.

Jordan announced a lockdown beginning on Wednesday, ordering all citizens to stay in their homes apart from emergencies and banning travel between provinces, to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

Jordan has closed land and sea border crossings with Syria, Iraq, Egypt, and Israel, and suspended all incoming and outgoing flights since Tuesday. Only cargo flights and commercial overland shipments are entering or leaving the country.

The country has quarantined more than 5,000 people who have recently arrived from abroad. Jordan recorded 85 confirmed cases of coronavirus on Friday the 20th of March, 2020.

“And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

–Esther 4:14

For Such a Time As This

It’s the time for us to take a stand a gainst the spread of the coronavirus, it’s time for the Church to rise up and cry out to God for mercy; as when Esther went before the king, we stand as the Ekklesia before the King of Glory! Let us stretch out His rod of authority out of Zion and rebuke the Coronavirus in united corporate agreement, believing in faith that the storm will abate, and 2020 will go down as the year of the historic harvest and missions worldwide.

Our Role as Manara

We have a big role to play at this time, starting with sharing a message of hope and encouragement to our brothers and sisters within our circles of ministry and support. Using what we have of resources to help as many people as we can during this turbulent time. As for the Youth Ministry, the various teams are working as planned for 2020 calendar with an eye open on the current local situation and progress. The Lord has been leading us to focus on digital ministry platform to spread The Gospel and extend discipleship to the young generation, in light of the recent developments we are accelerating these platforms. We are currently working on an App that offers opportunities to engage with the Gospel, ask questions, grow and join communities using Manara’s extensive experience with the local communities within Jordan and the region. Keep us in your prayers and support as the Lord guides you. If the Lord put on your hearts to support and contribute in any of what He entrusted us in this nation, kindly contact us at: project@manarainternational.org

“The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.”

–Psalm 33:11

 

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THE STORY OF YOUTH

A glimpse on the Youth Work & Ministry in Jordan

Manara Youth Ministry – Gilead Camp

RUNNING SUMMER CAMPS FOR KIDS AND TEENS HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUR PASSION SINCE 1985.

We have received 105 campers  ages 8 to 10  at the 3,4,and 5 grade camp  and 99 campers ages 11 & 12  at the 6, and 7 grade camp, with around 50 counselors and staff members serving and helping at each camp.

For over 30 years, thousands of campers have experienced Gilead Summer Camps programs; helping raise generations of kids and teenagers. We are happy to share our passion with our campers and to welcome them back to our summer camps year after year, from generation to generation.

Gilead Camp is an annual summer youth camps providing a healthy, enjoyable, enriching and life changing experience for kids and teens aged 8 – 18 years; there is something for all ages at Gilead Camp, which through worthwhile games, indoor and outdoor activities, music, leisure, bible study and educational activities makes a constructive contribution to the personal development of our Campers. They develop a sense of responsibility and an awareness of their potential and an opportunity to discover what it means to be a Christian in the 21st Century.

Many campers come back several years in a row, and it doesn’t end there! After turning 18 a good number of campers become counselors. The majority of our counselors have had camper experience themselves and carry on sharing it with new generations.

It is with great pleasure that we repeatedly see the transformation and friendships formed during the campers’ stay at camp extend to later in life.

Lifetime transformation, lifetime memories and lifetime friends as a result of Gilead Camps!

Camp Gilead receives 700 campers annually, 500 of them are new campers, which are separated according to age and grade into 5 different camps. Each year our camp includes a theme and a message we want the youth to learn. Camps are currently geared towards nominal Christians and thankfully over the years many have come to know Christ!

Camp Gilead had and continues to have a tremendous impact on the church of Jordan. Many of our current church leaders came to know Christ in this camp. They are now leading churches, preaching and leading their own church camps.

Pray with us for Manara Youth Ministry

Pray for those youths who do not yet know Him that they would be convicted of their need of a Savior during the 5 camps starting of June 4th until June 30th, so that they may come to faith through the word of God and the witness of their friends and these youth fellowships and ministries.

Pray for our Lord to protect them from the wiles of the enemy who would seek to undermine their trust in Him but rather equip each one to look to Jesus rather than to the things of the world. May they grow in grace and become an effective witness to friends and family, not only in what they say but in the godly way that they behave.

Pray for our Lord to draw each one closer to Himself and they may grow spiritually.

Thank you for your compassion and for your friendship. You are a constant encouragement to all of us at Manara International. May the God of peace be with you and those you love.

Lift up Manara Youth Ministry, that the Lord will lead and guide those that are in leadership positions seeking to share the Love of the Father and His truth about the identity of each camper from the different age groups. Pray that God will give them more of His passion and compassion for the younger generations.

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MANARA YOUTH MINISTRY

We give thanks and praise for the past two camps

“THE LORD HAS DONE GREAT THINGS FOR US, AND WE ARE FILLED WITH JOY.” ~ PSALMS 126:3 NIV

What a joy it is to witness the mighty work of our Father and Lord in the campers’ lives at the first two of this summer’s camps. Our hearts are full of joy and gratitude.

We have received 105 campers  ages 8 to 10  at the 3,4,and 5 grade camp  and 99 campers ages 11 & 12  at the 6, and 7 grade camp, with around 50 counselors and staff members serving and helping at each camp.

We will not stop praising and worshiping our Lord, the only true God, especially in moments when seeing these precious children singing from their hearts with joy and expressing their faith by testimonies such as: “Now, I know Jesus in a different way” or “I am closer to Jesus.” Also, when the parents of the first campers (3,4,5) tell us that their kids have not stopped singing the songs they learned at Gilead in their homes and then gave them no option on Friday except to come again to Gilead on visiting day and spend time altogether again in worship, fellowship and hearing the word of God, all we can say is, “The work is WORTH IT ALL. THANK YOU, JESUS.”

Pray that many will come to know the Lord and those that know Him will be strengthened in their faith to testify about His love and be witnesses. Keep the counselors and the campers in your prayers over the upcoming weeks (Wednesday evening – Sunday noon).

“I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME” ~ PHIL 4:13 KJV

Musa’s Great Adventure

Opening the door of God’s Kingdom to the Mankidias of India

When Pastor D. B. Hrudaya of Orissa, India, first heard of the Mankidia people group, they were among the most nomadic and illiterate peoples of northern India. They were known as “monkey hunters” and forest dwellers. There were no believers in Christ among them. They worshiped evil forest spirits. Their culture was rampant with oppression and hopelessness. They could boast of no high school graduates, medical knowledge or social graces.

Two such examples were Arun Mankidia and his wife Salomi. They lived in a primitive hut made of branches in the remote Dengam jungle. They suffered with severe depression due to the influence of the evil spirits that they worshipped. They had to walk 25 miles through the jungle to sell the hand made rope that they wove from the forest vines at the nearest market. They were without God and without hope in the world.

Into this picture, stepped a man named Musu Marandi. He is one of Pastor Hrudaya’s field staff. Hrudaya and his team had been praying for an opening among the Mankidia people for over 10 years but with no breakthrough. They had reached the point where some of Hrudaya’s workers had learned the Mankidia language. With some outside support, the ministry was able to send Musu into the jungle areas where they lived. Finally, on one of the weekly market days, Arun met Musu in the market. After a lengthy conversation where Musu shared the good news of Christ with him, Arun decided he wanted to know more about the wonderful person of Jesus.

Arun went home and shared what he had learned with Salomi. She had just miscarried a baby for the third time. The hopelessness of her married life was at its greatest height. But on that wonderful day she received new hope. The news of forgiveness and a new life in Christ was a revelation to her. God had begun His good work in her and Arun’s hearts.
Arun and Salomi visited Musu at his home. He fully explained the plan of salvation to them in their language. On that day, Musu led them to Jesus Christ. Their lives were forever changed. They immediately began sharing the news of Jesus with other Mankidias. A new work was born!

Not long thereafter, both Arun and Salomi came to Pastor Hrudaya’s training center in Balasore, Orissa, for Biblical training and church planting training. In 2014, they graduated and went back to work among their own communities. Starting in their own village and reaching out from there, they now have spread the Gospel into 13 villages. So far, about 2000 Mankidias have come to Christ. Today, they have developed a small outreach team focusing on reaching the remaining Mankidias for Christ.

Though funding has been very limited for this wonderful project, much has been done to raise the living conditions of the Mankidias. Efficient farming techniques have been introduced, land for growing crops has been provided to them, medical clinics have been held and literacy centers have been established. The first Christian Mankidia marriages have been celebrated. The Mankidia project, initiated in 2014 in order to introduce the Mankidias to the God who made them, loves them and died for them, has developed them in every way. The included pictures bear testimony to that reality.
But this is still just the beginning. With the provision of strategic funding, the project can touch many more lives.

Here is what is needed to bring the Mankidia work into fuller effectiveness:

1. The provision of regular support for 5 workers at $100 per month
2. Funding for four Medical Camps at $800 per camp
3. The establishment of literacy centers among the not yet reached villages of the Mankidias. These cost about $300 to set up and $150 a month to maintain.
4. One motorbike at $1000 for a regional worker to travel among the villages.
5. Establishment of a Mankidia Goat project. This effective project works as follows: A family is given 3 goats at a cost of $50. The family cares for the goats for two years in which time their small herd normally grows to 10. After that, the additional goats can be sold in the market. Past project experience shows this will provide an annual income of over $600 to the family. Pastor Hrudaya wants to start this project with 60 Mankidia families so is seeking $3000 to get it launched.

Will you help us provide new support for this fruitful work among the Mankidia people? There are many Arun’s and Salomi’s out there who will become wonderful ambassadors of the love of Christ to their fellow Mankidias.

With deep thanks,
Lance Thollander for HBI, Pastor Hrudaya and the Mankidia people

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