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2023 Hosanna Update

First, let me apologize that it has taken me this long to report on my trip to India in October. It has definitely NOT been because I have nothing to report! The trip was hugely successful. The widow ministry has exploded! It is trying to spread far and wide in spite of me. I am in touch with the Indian team daily. We are working in both states Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan now. Pastor is planning a mission trip into Gujarat soon. His contact there is a Bishop over 300 villages who is eager to partner with him. I don’t know the Bishop’s heart, but I know Chandrapal’s, so it can bring good news to the people. I will leave that in God’s hands. I am so grateful for the committed monthly support Hosanna receives that makes our participation in what the Lord is doing possible. The Lord is able to accomplish His plans with or without me, but it is a blessing to be included! 

Because pastor Chandrapal is so very busy and mission minded, I hired a young woman to oversee the widow’s ministry. Her name is Pooja, and she is 27 years old. She is educated and left her teaching job to do this because she wants to serve the Lord. I spent 3 weeks there with her and I believe she understands my vision for changing the way churches see widow ministry. Pastor had his eyes opened to the helpfulness of using women volunteers in the churches for this women’s outreach. Especially as it enriches and brings happiness to the volunteers themselves. He even noticed how happy it made his own wife to be involved! I had planned to get the few widows who actually live at our ashram basic medical exams. I checked their blood pressure and blood sugar with my own equipment I had brought, and found 2 of them who needed to see a doctor promptly. They started on medicine and I told them the diet changes that had to be made (if they only knew!). We checked dozens of widows right there in the village and we did our mini medical camp when we visited a couple of churches in Rajasthan (the next state). It is just a screening. In one remote tribal church after the service we screened 41 people and identified 5 people in great need of visiting a doctor. While there, a real doctor from the next village heard we were there and he came to see what was happening. He watched for a while, which made me a little nervous, then gave us his blessing and said it was a very good thing we were doing. We also gave out some cough medicine, pain reliever, and eye drops, etc. 

Pooja learned how to use the machines properly and she is training the volunteers. She was a little nervous about the responsibility. I told them to start with only 5 villages, and when that starts going smoothly, to add 5 more, and so on. In January they had a 2 day volunteer training program held at the ashram that was amazing. There was a nurse who taught them how to share the gospel one on one and they even did a craft project. They practiced on each other with the BP machine and checking blood sugar. Lunch and tea was provided and everyone had a good time. We have provided the volunteers in each village with an automatic BP machine, a glucose monitor, and a Pulse/Ox meter, and a supply of basic OTC meds. I say OTC for your own clarification. Essentially, anything and everything, can be had “OTC” in India if you know the name of it, but I tried to explain to pastor that following the rules and respecting the medical community will bring respect from them for our work. Also to understand the dangers involved.

A few years ago on a previous visit, we had a training program for local midwives and pregnant women. Those who can’t afford to have their baby at a hospital, rely on the village midwife. A woman inherits the job of midwife from her mother, and grandmother. They are the lowest caste in the village because dealing with blood and cutting the cord is beneath everyone else. They are the sweepers and uneducated. They are taught the job from their mothers. Their practices are the cause of much tragedy. I don’t imagine they made many changes, but my nurse friend Karen and I tried. I bring this up because I was blessed this trip by coming across a woman who had been at the training and recognized me. We had to wade through a garbage dump to reach her house. I shared Jesus with her and she accepted. Pooja continues to call on her and pray for her. Her name is Prem.

We made many other sweet friends. Perspectives were changed, and doors opened. We are at the front end of seeing how far this can spread. I recognize that to make this kind of ministry spread as far as it possibly can, including to other areas of the country, it needs to become self-supporting. For now, it would help to double the Hosanna budget. Please consider a regular monthly donation of any amount that is comfortable. $10 or $20 adds up if enough people do it. I also am collecting ideas on how they can raise money. The ashram is in an area of high tourism so the possibilities are endless, but some villages are remote and far away. Each situation will have to be tailored to opportunities. Don’t hesitate to brainstorm with me. Please! 

My email:

cynthia.roberts60@yahoo.com

My phone is 479-236-0215. The first time you reach out needs to be a text because my phone blocks unfamiliar numbers.

Love,

Cynthia