 December is a very happy month for the community at Muranpur - much excitement, joy, happy faces, singing and dancing. The monotonous life of this village brightens up at Christmas. Jesus birth 2000 years ago brings life to a strongly superstitious, poverty-stricken village community of
Muranpur.
18th December and the Christmas program in the village brought the villagers together in front of our ancestral home. The children were candle dancing to Christian music, reading the passages of Jesus birth and a nativity skit, all enacted by Hindu children who love Jesus and who are part of our church in
Muranpur. Parents and children sat in silence watching the children act and dance.
Parents were so proud of their children's achievements and abilities. After listening to the Christmas message the faces of the children were beaming with expectation and joy as each one received a gift of clothes.
Then more jubilance as all the villagers sat in rows on the open dirt floor to have their special Christmas dinner- fried rice and chicken curry. Christmas had brought children together, elders together, fellowshipping together.
 Where idolatry rules the simple and gullible people, it blind beliefs and worship of demons is rampant. But the Light of the gospel dispels the darkness. God was at work. He is still working.
22nd December - another very important day for the St. Peter's School, Muranpur. A new stage had been constructed and parents and elders from four surrounding villages had come to the School premises in
Muranpur. The program began around 6.00PM. They all sat on some chairs or tables and some on the dirt floor. The little children danced or sang or read Bible verses. The high-caste children were reading Bible verses and enacting skits.
 The program ended with food for all. No discrimination. Christmas meant Jesus had come into this world and barriers of caste (high caste and low caste at loggerheads normally) were slowly crumbling down. The divisions of rich and poor were also crumbling down. Jesus’ birth celebrated in this village was creating ripples of transformation in this village rife with innumerable bondages. Christmas 2005 had made its landmark in the lives of villagers.
Some names and progress
Mallya, who lives in a home in Bangalore, can speak a few words now. He dresses well now. He too received a new uniform from the Neerekshe family at Christmas. He is supported by an Indian friend in
Bangalore.
Ningamma has grown taller and loves Jesus. The Christian atmosphere in the "Home of Love" at Vellore(18 hours by train one way ) where she lives has helped her a great deal. Her father travels this long distance to bring her home and also drops her back after the school vacations are over.
 Budeamma is another miracle in this village. Not long ago she had to take the animals to graze, but now sits in St. Peter's School and dresses well and studies well; she enjoys learning English. She even brings other children to the school from the village. She loves Jesus and demonstrates it by wearing a locket of the "cross" around her neck.
Sidda and Marraya. These two kids are coming regularly to the school, both used to eat mud. We were able to buy Calcium Tablets, which were suggested for them, and they are growing well. They look and behave much better than before and we praise God for their development.
Hampanna Gowda, who belongs to high caste, is a one month old baby who lost his mother due to jaundice, was almost dying due to malnourishment and lack of care. On New Year's day we rushed this baby to Raichur Hospital where immediate treatment started. The whole village started saying, "what the high-caste community could not do for its own Christian people have done." God has different ways of speaking to people. This baby needs a mother and love.
Rahul was the boy whose parents left him at the doorstep. After one year, he has started to see the light at a very young age. We praise God for the way God led him to Neerekshe, the first child at the House of Hope.
Bheemaraya: - Recently was able to get his crutches from another NGO. But he is still working at his legs to keep them straight and bend his knees. Asha is taking extra time to teach him. There is a sure change in his life. Keep his family in your prayers.
Cow -Shed Church is growing. The children love to sing to Jesus, and praise Him by sharing testimonies of God's goodness. One little boy (8 year old ) named Mahesh is unstoppable. He says, “Jesus helped me to study maths when I asked Him for help”. Another, Chenna said, “I had to bring hay for the animals in the morning, but I also wanted to attend the Church service on New Year's day and God helped me to find hay quickly, and now I am happy to worship Jesus this morning.” He too wears a " locket of Jesus" around his neck. The church is growing day by day. Another distinctive feature was when a high-caste boy, 6 year old
(Basawaraj) came quietly and sat on the floor incognito inside the church. Everybody was surprised to see this " first time comer" into our church. The high-caste too are worshipping Jesus.
 Tuition classes (Neerekshe Training Program)
Every evening about 15 regular children from Muranpur come along for special classes in Mathematics, Science and English. The Children are improving in their studies. Along with that we teach them many songs, the children are slowly turning to the lord. The way the Gospel is brought out is a Blessing.
Sweaters
One morning, Bassamma’s Father came and asked for a sweater, after much thought we gave him one. But later we decided that we would give all the children of Muranpur sweaters, so we got 24 sweaters. Just after we bought them, the temperature dropped in the night to 14 degrees. This was really cold! We praise God for the sweaters.
The Development and Maintenance Projects
Over the last year we have had many small projects:
Making sure that when the rains come again the water won’t come and destroy the property.
We were able to Plant 60 Teak Wood Trees and in July we were able to plant 5 varieties of plants. Most of them are coming up well. We built a small tank in the Garden and connected the Bore well pipe to it, so that we can water the plants everyday.
.
With the help of Simi from Germany we were able to build the stage in front of the School.
Agriculture
Last year after selling the cotton we were in a loss. We do hope this year’s profit will be good, but we’re not sure.
Industrial Training
We were able to buy a welding machine, Moses who is trained in that was able to teach some of us. it was very helpful to fix many things.
This year we were able to buy, a compressor and mercury flood lights used for the Christmas Programs, and a 3 inch water pump so we could drain the water from the hospital. We also got a hand drilling machine.
Hospital
We continue with this project, although the floods caused a lot of trouble. We will be starting the work again on 13th January.
School
We were able to finish the school building and the classes are running, but the electrical and flooring work isn’t finished yet. There are 4 rooms two are used for the school and one has been used for the Card and craft Project, and one for the volunteers to stay. We have been given 4 tables and 15 chairs, but they need repairing.
Electrical lines
At Neerekshe we are putting more lights everywhere. Recently we got permission for a 3 Phase electrical line connection. The Transformer has to be fixed on a proper base. The electricity company officers came and gave us a connection of 5
K.V. We praise God for the connection.
Some prayer requests---
· Those who heard the Christmas message will find enlightenment. The Holy Spirit to work in their hearts.
· Children to keep growing spiritually. Some want to go to a Bible college in the coming year.
· Asha and Sangster- as they need protection while staying on the Neerekshe land and also for wisdom in handling all the challenges of the work there. They would also like a jeep to cope with the rugh roads.
· A new School Bus is needed. The present one is small and under constant repairs.
· Pray for the completion of Hospital building, which is in its final stages, and the Parish Centre building. Pray that God may provide for its staffing and equipment.
· Vacation Bible School 2006 will be held in April.
Please also pray towards the vision for…
· A residential Home for the children to be started on Neerekshe land.(HOUSE OF HOPE)
· A full-time Pastor is needed for this growing congregation for deeper nurture.
We appreciate and praise God for all he is doing.
Praise the lord
Love
Sangster & Asha, Shadrach & Gladys and all the Neerekshe Family.
|