Dear Friends,

Just this month we helped fund the smuggling of food for 45 families (about 200 people) inside North Korea. As a result, we received the following letter that was secretly carried back out of the country, written by one of those blessed by your compassion. Here is the actual letter with the translation following….

Our life on this side is like going deeper and deeper into a mountain range: we live expecting it will be better every year, but faced with ever harsher reality, it cannot be explained with anything. Such a boundless misery, the whole population is suffering from starvation. That is, there is no compensation for struggle no matter how great; there is no profit in doing business. Consequently, beggars continue to increase in number on the street.

Occasionally, homes are empty overnight, and rumor goes around saying the occupants ran away somewhere. It is now common everywhere to disregard a person lying dead on the street and for no one to care. It is because such things happen too often. So, in the midst of this, it became possible not only for us to overcome this hardship, but also to share with those who are suffering around us.

Indeed, if God hadn’t helped us, we’d have become beggars now. We do not know how to repay your favors. We can only tell and pray to Him. We have experienced God’s marvelous works here. Truly we thank you.

Thanks for praying and giving to feed our suffering North Korean brothers and sisters in Christ through the North Korean Christians Fund.

On their behalf,

Elisabeth Servant
Director, North Korean Christians Fund

Dear Friends,

Over the weekend I received an urgent request for prayer from Khmu believers facing persecution in the communist nation of Laos. I want to pass it on to friends like you who care deeply for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world.

Please pray for 11 orphans in the city of Luang Prabang. The principal of their government-run school is trying to force them to stop going to church and renounce their faith.

The Christian orphans were called into his office on Friday, August 19. He has told them many times to stop going to church, but this time he escalated his threats against them. The orphans, all teenagers, currently have their needs provided by the government through its orphan-care program. They would likely lose all support or face prison sentences if they do not comply with the principal’s demands.

Over the weekend, seven succumbed to the pressure, promising that they would not go to church anymore—but they have not renounced their faith. (If you want to pray for them by name, they are Lieuth, Seuk, Nay Song Hmong, Lawh Hmong, Ko Lee Hmong, Tao Mua Hmong and Khamla.)

Four stood strong and said they would not renounce their faith and that they would keep going to church. (Their names are Sinuan, Aben, Sang and David.)

Please pray that all their hearts will be encouraged so that they can resist these pressures and be true to their faith, no matter what happens. We also pray that they would know that their provision and protection are from the Lord, trusting that He will make a way for them. On their behalf, thank you.

Together with Him,

Carole J. Collins
Director, Persecuted Christians Fund

Josephine Kangachi and pastor Ivin Ochieng

Dear Friends,

I want to tell you another great story of how God is using bicycles to change lives.

At only 34 years of age, Josephine Kangachi contracted an acute case of both tuberculosis and malaria. To make matters worse, she lived in a rural part of Kenya, and had no means of transportation to get to the nearest hospital, which was 15 miles away. When pastor Ivin Ochieng heard about her need, however, he sat her on his bike and pushed her all the way to the hospital!

Ivin is one of the church-planting pastors in Kenya who recently received a bicycle through Heaven’s Family’s Mobilize a Minister Fund. He had been praying for ways to use his new bicycle to further God’s kingdom.

After Josephine was well enough to leave the hospital, Ivin returned and walked her all the way to her home on his bike. It was then that Josephine asked Ivin why he was being so kind to her. He shared the gospel and she responded. Josephine then asked Ivin to start a church in her house! Ivin told us that he was so excited…he could hardly believe the doors God was opening because of his bicycle!

Thanks so much for going the extra mile to help build God’s kingdom through your gifts to the Mobilize a Minister Fund!

Ivin with believers from one of his new house churches

Blessings,

Karin Trotter
Director, Mobilize a Minister Fund

The children, all who have parents affected by leprosy, got to attend summer camp as a reward for their hard work at school

Dear Friends,

You probably remember hearing about the school we started back in February for 35 children of leprosy-affected families in Hyderabad, India. These children do not have leprosy, but have been barred from public schools because of their parents’ leprosy. Without an education, these children faced a bleak future with little hope of rising above a life of begging, one of the few means of survival available for lepers—or their children—in Indian society.

In June our ministry partner, Joab Lohara, held a special summer camp for these children. Here is his report:

We hired an elementary school in town for two days. All the children were brought in here. Pastor Paul connected with some teachers who specialized in child care ministry. Three teachers came and helped during this camp.

There was a time for Bible lessons. The child learnt action songs, colored pictures, and played games. They also did a skit on the last day.

Special food and ice cream was served. We gave away Christian story books to each child. Off from their school, away from the hostel, the children enjoyed every moment of it. Praised be the Lord!

The children are showing interest in the things of Jesus. They are catching up with their studies. Please pray that soon they all will come to the saving knowledge. Thank you for your partnership.

Left: Learning from Christian storybooks; Right: a well-deserved feast

We now have sponsors for 18 of these 35 children (see www.heavensfamily.org/lepers-child) to attend the Dicku Memorial School, and we also continue to provide monthly food, medicine, clothing and blankets for the parents who have been affected by leprosy. Thank you so very much for your generosity in making assistance like this possible for these leprosy-affected families who hold such a special place in the Lord’s heart. To sponsor one or more of the 17 children who are not yet sponsored, click here.

My husband and I will be visiting these children during our visit to India at the end of October. We are very excited to finally be getting the opportunity to meet these precious children face to face. I’ll have more stories and photos to share when I get back!

Together in His service,

Carole J. Collins
Director, Lepers Fund

Dear Friends,

I returned from cyclone-ravaged Rakhine State in Myanmar back in April, but the work of Heaven’s Family has continued in the months since through our partners.

We have continued to provide rice for the most needy, and have also helped more families rebuild their homes, even supplying many with metal roofing sheets—a real blessing over palm branches!

Most important, however, is the spiritual harvest that has been reaped. The Jesus film has been shown, the gospel has been preached in word and deed, and many have responded—even whole villages!

I want to share with you just a few of the photos taken these past three months to let you know that your gifts have been storing up lots of treasure in heaven. The photos speak for themselves, so I didn’t feel captions were necessary.

Thank you again for helping “Jesus” in His time of need.

For Jesus’ sake,

Jeff Trotter
Director, Disaster Relief Fund