Manara Ministries June 2015 Newsletter
Dear Friends,
Here is the most recent update from our friends in Jordan. Over the past year, more than 7000 Christian Iraqi refugees have entered Jordan seeking refuge and peace from all the horrific crimes they witnessed in Iraq. Being a refugee causes stress and hopelessness to many. They have suffered for their faith in Jesus Christ and we, as their brothers and sisters in Christ worldwide need to step up and care for them. All they want is to live an honorable and peaceful life, and watch their children grow up without the terror of war haunting them.
Dinner for Christian Iraqis
This month, Manara was able to provide over 275 people with a hot meal; rice, sauce and meat, with a drink. They were invited to gather in a large church hall and enjoy eating their meal without worry.
During the meal, a young boy about 5 years old, hesitantly walked up to the serving table and shyly stood there and asked “Can I have another piece of meat, just one?” A heart breaking scene, as many people in the world today do not need to think twice about having another piece of meat or chicken.
Gilead Summer camps have started!
The first summer camp of this year has started with great excitement and a lot of preparation. There are around 120 campers who are attending the camp and 35 volunteers who are able to serve the campers and lead them in these five days. The influence of Camp Gilead cannot be overestimated for during these summer weeks many Middle Eastern young people commit to following the Lord Jesus.
The five days of camp are full of different activities, ranging from sports, team building games, seminars, sermons and praise and worship times. For many campers this will be the first time they hear about Jesus in such a life changing way. They will be able ask questions and engage in discussions about any topic regarding the Christian faith. We pray that in this short time the campers will be able to experience the unconditional love of Jesus Christ and may they know Him as Lord and Savior. One of the wonderful facilities in Gilead camp this year is a new play ground recently built to accommodate more campers than ever before.
Our partners at Manara International are working on various projects that aim to comfort and support as many Christian refugees as possible. Thank you for your compassion and for your friendship. You are a constant encouragement to all those working with Manara and the people that they serve.
If the Lord leads you to share a special gift today to help in the covering some of the operational costs of the camps and the costs of the new court that was built that would be a great help. These gifts will support them as they minister to the campers and demonstrate his love. Gifts can be sent to Hope Builders at PO Box 91359, Austin, TX 78709 or given on the HBI contribution page.
We recently received this report from our ministry partners in Nepal who are working in the quake areas. Your gifts are making a difference as GLOW is able to reach out to many through your help. Many hundreds of their church members like the woman shown here have lost homes in the devastating quakes. Even now ministry workers are trekking into difficult areas to bring aid, and are also reaching out to those in their immediate areas. 
The women at GLOW (God’s Love for Orphans and Widows), shown here, are a few of those who have been working long hours to make clothing for those who have lost everything. These women are among the widows and single women who have been trained in GLOW’s sewing classes in part through help from Hope Builders. Most people in the quake areas lost everything they owned when their houses collapsed in the earthquake’s aftermath. After the earthquake GLOW immediately began providing emergency food aid, water and tarps that were used to put up tent like protective structures. You can see their gladness in the picture below as they received the tarps. 
The short-term and long-term effects of the disaster are difficult to fully comprehend. Hundreds of thousands of families are without homes as the monsoon season looms, and the quakes and subsequent landslides and avalanches have undercut the country’s two primary sources of livelihood, agriculture and tourism. A leader of an indigenous ministry working in Dolakha District, where most of the casualties of the second earthquake occurred, said that 70,000 of the 75,000 houses there were destroyed. Another ministry leader said most survivors are living in the open air and need tents, food, water and medical assistance. Most aid that is being sent worldwide goes through government hands and is very slow to reach those most in need. That’s why we are so blessed to be able to work directly with Nepalis like Resham and Sita who can use sent funds to buy and prepare the kinds of goods that will bring relief to the hurting as well as love and comfort in the name of Christ. Clothing for a woman costs $10 and clothing for a child costs $5 to produce. Sita is pictured, on the left, with some of the GLOW center women and a sample of the clothes they have produced. 
We are very happy to share this news with you! We were recently able to open a mobile clinic in Erbil. The mobile clinic has been opened this month and is ready to serve everyone who is in need of medical attention and cannot afford it. This mobile clinic contains five different medical specializations, general doctor, gynecology, pharmacy, lab and dentist. It is located near to one building where refugees are living in Erbil, Northern Iraq.
We thank God for his provision and we pray this clinic will be a source of comfort for those who are in desperate need.
This month, we were able to visit two different centers where a large number of Christian Iraqi refugees reside. They received a hot meal, food parcels, shoes, boots, warm winter jackets and toys for the children. Each child also received a special bag filled with various kinds of snacks.
