By Das Maddimadugu
“ Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims PEACE. Celebrate your festivals, O Judah, and fulfill your vows.” Nahum 1:15
2008 has been a year of many blessings in the life our ministry. We rejoice and praise God for the following:
MAY:
MES conducted a children’s camp at Nagarjuna Sagar Lake in a Catholic retreat center. Forty-three children attended for five days. Most were from non-Christian backgrounds and were introduced to Christ by their Bindu Home friends. The retreat center would like us to conduct such camps every year.
On the third of May, we inaugurated and dedicated the twenty brand-new houses that Abundant Grace International Church (AGIF) of Shanghai, China, helped build. Brother Ezra Varghese from AGIF out-reach team, and who represents India on their missions committee, shared in the joy being with us for that event. “These houses are a monument to God’s glory,” he said,”and they stand as witnesses to the living presence of Christ in Muthaipalem, Bapatla, a coastal town in Andhra Pradesh.” About 100 huts were washed away during the December 2004 Tsunami devastation.
JUNE:
The construction of the Matilda school building had been discontinued two years ago for lack of funds. But the Schmidt Family Foundation (SFF) of Abbotsford B.C. resumed their support to complete the remaining construction work. The work continues, but the children enjoy the warmth and security of the completed class rooms. We are grateful for this provision.
OCTOBER:
Brother Wayne Lawton and Pastor Steve Huston of Michigan conducted village evangelism meetings in ten days in ten villages. This we call “quiet” evangelism; it is done without drawing attention from anti-Christian forces. During this time, Brother Lawton inaugurated the 25×45-foot church building at Gajinagar village. Pastor Adam reaches out from this center to eight tribal hamlets in the surrounding area.
NOVEMBER:
The Chinese Christian Dental Society (CCDS) and the Taipei International Church from Taiwan (TIC) conducted a nine-day dental camp in Mallepalli at the Matilda School campus. Six dentists, five dental assistants and five volunteers from TIC witnessed to the public through their services. Two members of the Chinese team professed Christ as their savior during this camp. Nearly 5,000 patients were treated, including school children, their parents, and villagers. Pastor Doug Street was in charge of the team.
We laid the foundation for a prayer-hall/pastoral-home building at Muthaipalem Bapatla. There are 100 secret Christians in the area who request a visible church. The Lord is drawing these anonymous Christians to identify with the living church.
A new library opened in the Mallepalli Matilda School funded by David Janzen and friends from Reba Place Church
DECEMBER
We poured a concrete slab for the prayer hall at Muthaipalem, Bapatla.
GENERAL:
There have been terrorist activities in major cities across India. Also Christian communities in the state of Orissa and elsewhere were targeted.
A group of evangelists were beaten and their equipment destroyed a by Hindu Youth cadre in Devarakonda, a town seven kilometers from Mallepalli. Two days later, the same group came demanding that we send our school children for their propaganda rally, threatening us of dire consequences if we didn’t co-operate.
MADDIMADUGU FAMILY:
Das and Doris turned sixty-four this fall and are keeping in good health. While Das is busy with pastoral care and the ten-acre farm which we cultivate for the benefit of the Bindu Home, Doris maintains accounts for Matilda schools and looks after the Bindu Home children.
We receive news from Esther and Brent from time to time. They make their home in Elkhart, IN.
Jessica and Jeramy Ens live in beautiful Okanagan Valley in B.C., Canada. We hope to spend time with them in April/May 2009. Our visit to the U.S. and Canada will also include friends, prayer partners and supporters of MES.
Nathan Anand is in charge of the Matilda schools in Devarkonda and Mallepalli. At present he lives on the Matilda school campus in Mallepalli.
PRAYER REQUESTS FOR 2009:
–We hope to build six churches (in addition to the existing four churches) in the next two years.
–A vision has emerged to build a summer camp for fifty children between 10-14 years. The camp grounds can be used throughout the year for other activities. A one-acre plot is available at Angadipet village for this purpose.
–Used/new books that can be sent for Matilda libraries at Mallepalli and Devarkonda schools.
–Two 45-seat school buses for schools at Mallepalli and Devarakonda to bring in rural children.
–A five-foot wall around Shalom Ashrama Church at Devarkonda to protect it from vandalism.
–The prayer hall/pastoral home at Muthaipalem needs funds to complete it.
–Requests have come in from 2004-Tsunami-affected Muthaipalem to build thirty more houses in addition to the twenty houses that we dedicated in the month of May this year.
–Doris and Das’s visit to North America in April-May for 45 days.
–Sponsorship for more Bindu Home children.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR:
–Many sponsors who came forward to sponsor a child at Bindu Home this year
–The provision of bunk beds for Bindu Home children
–The new libarary facilities at Matilda Schools
–Safety from snakes for the Matilda Devarakonda children
–Das and Doris’s health
A HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL.
from Das
for Matilda Education Society, Bindu Children’s Home, teachers, pastors and ministry workers
