9-13-08

Tarun asked that we continue to pray for the people being persecuted and those in the refugee centers.

The situation is not the best in the refugee centers.  The government in Orissa is a lot of talk with very little action.

Srikant Mallick was buried outside of Kalinga yesterday with a small
service performed by a Vision India pastor in Tarun's absence.  I am
grateful that in his short life he had the opportunity to learn of
Jesus.  The other child in the hospital is improving.

If you would like to stand with your brothers and sisters in India you
can go to the following link to write India's ambassador to the US.  I
would encourage you to do this.  In the article at the link you will
see a link to send a email to Ambassador Sen.

http://www.opendoorsusa.org/content/view/734

9-03-08  

Tarun is still not able to return home.  His name is on a Hindu hit list and three of his minister friends have been murdered.  I was unable to get much more information due to a poor connection.  He did say that his family, the House of Hope children, and staff were still safe at the refugee center, but there is still violence in villages and Christians are  hiding in the jungle.  Tarun said he will let me know before he returns home so we can cover him with prayer. 

Please continue to keep these dear people in your prayers.

Tarun (Director of House of Hope) has brought the children back to House of Hope for a few hours to get food and clothing, but will return back to the mountain for safety later in the morning.  There is a large group of Christians also hiding with him.  The government has brought in troops and there is a curfew.  Troops have been ordered to shoot on sight after curfew.  Tarun sounded exhausted, keep him in your prayers.  The village that Tarun was raised in has been totally destroyed.  It was a Christian village.  Tarun said the violence continues and the children from House of Hope are afraid.  Please keep them in your prayers. More later...

    (8-29-08) UPDATE:

  Randy spoke with Tarun tonight and he said that at the present he is safe. He left Kalinga and went to a friend's home in Berhumpur yesterday because he had received word that the Hindus were going to try to kill him. He said that He has been in touch with his wife and the House of Hope children are safe at the refugee camp . There was no damage to property last night for which we praise God . Three Christians were murdered yesterday because they would not renounce Christ    and return to Hinduism. He said the pastors/evangelists and the believers they work with are hiding in the jungle until the violence subsides. Please keep Tarun, his family, the orphans, the workers and the believers in your prayers. I will update again as I receive more information.

(8-30-08)

     We rejoiced that all are still safe and God has continued to protect the House of Hope and the property in Kalinga.  Tarun is still out of the area and will remain there until the government is able to gain control which they have been unable to do.  More troops have been sent in but the rioting and burning of homes continues.  Radical Hindus continue to try to convert the Christians back to Hinduism, but the believers are standing true to Jesus - some even giving their lives.  The House of Hope children, staff, and Tarun's family remain at one of the two area refugee camps.  There over 5000 in one camp and over 3000 in the other.  Tarun said the government is providing food but there is not much.  There is only one well per camp which makes it difficult to get water and there are sanitation problems.  The people have no housing or tents and as Tarun said are "under the stars" or rain clouds.  Most of the believers in the villages are still hiding in the mountains.  Please continue to remember these precious people in your prayers.  Below is a news email I received today.



NEW DELHI, August 29 (Compass Direct News) – Sources in the government of Orissa said in an India media report today that they believe that Christians were not behind the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) leader Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his disciples on Saturday (August 23). The death toll in “retributive” attacks against Christians today stood at 36, according to the Global Council of Indian Christians. A private news channel, NDTV 24X7, reported unnamed government sources as saying that their assessment was that Christians had no role in the killing, and that the probe was leading to Maoist (extreme Marxist) culprits. Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) Manmohan Praharaj had on Wednesday told The Indian Express newspaper that evidence available to police was “consistent with the Maoist stamp in the kind of operation they undertake.” A Christian delegation from across various denominations yesterday met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who called the Orissa violence a “national shame.”

(9-02-08)

Tarun contacted Randy tonight using a new cell phone because he believes that the radical Hindus have been able to tap and record his old line.  He said that the violence is increasing and expanding to neighboring districts.  Villages continue to be burned and Christians are having to flee to the jungle with only the clothing on their backs and have nothing to return to as their homes have been burned.  When things settle down we will try to help with relief efforts.

Tarun's family and the children from House of Hope are still safe at the refugee center.  Tarun said that he believes it will be 10 to 15 days before he will be able to rejoin his family due to the increase in violence. 

Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in India.  K P Yohannan, Gospel for Asia, said this is the worst violence in India he has seen in 20 years of ministry.