News From the Field
Good News India: News From the Field

Notes from Dr. Rahman

  

6 February 2012 

Sunday morning at one of our dream centers…. 105 kids… 30 minutes of tear filled deep-spirit worship followed by 30 minutes of explosive praise music to clapping and dancing. Offering. Then every child quoted at least two memory verses followed by a 45 minute preaching session from me… I was tired, but the kids wanted more…more… more… such a simple and deep hunger for God. I wish I could just stay in India and build more dream centers… but I have to head back to the USA tomorrow for fund raising. I am just so proud of all our dream centers… they shine at every turn.  

30 January 2012

Greetings from Malaysia… Great group of Pastors… and incredible amount of tasty food of every conceivable variety and dirt-cheap. We "fellowshipped" today at two different restaurants from 4 pm until 10 pm! Non-stop eating and gabbing. I need to do this more often!! Malays know how to "meet and eat". Wow. But the connections made for GNI are cemented for years to come. One of my personal life-mantra is to always make new and meaningful relationships… And I am doing that vigorously. Amazing how very different people converge with a single purpose around the foot of the Cross. 

27 January 2012 

Ganjam Beach… 5000+ people… first time ever, any group put on a full 2 hour Gospel and Patriotic music concert for India’s republic day…. the place exploded… people went crazy.. never had seen such caliber of dance and worship in movement from anyone before. Our kids were ablaze in colors and movement in classical and pop dance… Wow….will post pictures/videos soon. GNI made history in Ganjam. My acres of diamonds sparkled.

An additional delight… 110 kids from the Kandhmal Dream Center, kids that came out of the 2008 Persecution, also came to Ganjam.. most of them had never ever seen an ocean or held a sea-shell. The squeals of delight in discovering God’s Great Ocean were a joy to hear. Some things just cannot be measured in terms of costs!! And at the Beach …we may not be allowed to speak the Word, at some public venues, but no one can stop the power of Music and Arts… the Message of the Cross went out via Music and Dance. It was superb!
 

22 January 2012
 
‎21 Dream Centers visited, new building dedication at our Tihidi center with 5 dream center dance teams coming in to celebrate despite heavy rains, thousands of KM by train and auto, discovery and adoption of an abandoned leper colony with 10 older, desperate lepers, ground breaking for 2 new dream center buildings, expecting huge crowds at Ganjam Beach Republic day festival put on by GNI, 2400 healthy, happy, God-honoring kids…. yet miles to go before we sleep… miles to go before we sleep. 
Only Calvary can compel all this… His love amazes me…

 

16 January 2012  

More good news… we broke ground today at Sundergarh… a new dream center for 200 kids who know nothing but cattle herding, one meal, dead parents, and pain/loneliness, but now have big dreams — nurses, teachers and pastors. Their joy and exuberance are incredibly contagious. And my "discarded kids" are scoring first, second and third ranks in their entire class…. I am dizzy with pride and joy for them. These are my acres of diamonds. 

16 January 2012 

Our mission: to seek and to save that which was lost. I met 10 older lepers in an old abandoned building outside Deogarh town. 10 POWs who had been there for 30+ years… allowed into town only on weekends to beg and get scraps and rotten food. Their condition: pathetic, hated and forgotten.. but the good news.. they are now rescued and belong to GNI. They will live out the rest of their lives in hope, love and peace. Our group came away in tears and joy. We will take over that building and their lives This is life.

10 January 2012 
 
‎7 days thus far…9 American guests…whirlwind pace…1200 kids thus far… what love and excitement…tears at kids’ testimonies…thrill at their present/future prospects…His Presence in their lives…loud music and vigorous dance celebrations…long drives…little sleep…deep rural India that no one sees…crazy road adventures…delicious food…deep satisfaction… the whole thing? Priceless….. I love this ride!!
 

25 December 2011
 

From our 2400+ kids, 180+ full time staff members, 400+ lepers and their families, we wish you all a very MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A BRIGHT NEW YEAR. The best is yet to come. 

In these, whom I call the lost, the last and least, I have rediscovered the incarnation – IMMANUEL – God is with us. God invaded humanity in the starkness of poverty in a Bethlehem cattle stall. Wow…what an explosive story. With the wisemen, I worship Him.

20 November 2011 

For many of us, we head into a season of food, warmth, family, fun, gifts, laughter and countless other blessings… for many young girls in my world, they will be heading into a lifetime of pain, horror, ugly, brutal men, diseases, and deprivation. Nov 28, 29 I am meeting with dozens of Pastors in North Bengal to plan a long term rescue operation for these POWs of Satan. These girls need your help and I am a conduit for you to reach them. Will you? His Word says: "Deliver those who are being drawn towards death, and hold back those stumbling towards their slaughter." Remember, whatever you want the most, give it away!! 

24 October 2011 
 
Daniela Hreniuc – was at several of our dream centers this past Jan – March. Here are her reflections:….
 
When I was in India for 85 days, I could not wait to come home. All I could think about was eating a cheese burger, seeing my friends and family, actually sleeping in a comfortable bed and taking a real shower. I couldn’t wait to smell some fresh air and not be covered in mosquito bites. I …was so excited to sleep in a room that didn’t have spiders in every corner, lizards running all over the walls, and a rat in the air conditioning. I just wanted to be home.
 
Well, now I’m home and all I can think about is being there. All I want is to be with those kids. I miss waking up at 6am to the sound of their little voices singing worship songs, and I can’t get them out of my mind. 
Imagine the sweetest, most loving, serving, faithful child that you can possibly imagine. Now multiply that by ten and you have the children of Good News India. Never in my wildest dreams would I have been able to come up with a child that is as amazing as all of those kids are. I can’t even tell you how many cups of tea I had per day, just because they loved to bring it to me. Every single meal I had was brought to me by at least 3 girls. They wouldn’t let me carry my things up or down the stairs, or even think about washing my own clothes. All that they wanted to do was serve me. Before I left I was so excited to serve them, and give them everything- but just being there is enough for them. It was kind of a slap in the face to see these kids who have nothing giving me everything. 
Don’t get me wrong, these kids drove me INSANE. I was constantly taking their pictures, and had at least 4 of them hanging on my arms at all times. All day I heard “Auntie! Auntie! Photo!” But now that I am home, I would give anything to have that back. 
All I can say is that I will forever be saving up my money to go back to India to see those precious little faces again, and again, and again…

 

To further add to my post on what Daniela Hreniuc wrote… These kids are my cause, my passion, my reason to live. And it is all because of Calvary. Because He came to bring abundant life, that is what I can offer them… not just shelter and education, but full, meaningful life. I sense His presence the strongest when I am with these tribal kids and the lepers… because Jesus walks among them. A GNI tour is life-changing because of these kids… nothing else.

 
 
 
11 June 2011

Gajapati Dream Center… 100+ talented and beautiful dancers… 13 Dream Centers… vibrant music and tons of energy… preparing for a huge concert tomorrow night… I pray it does not rain.. monsoons have set in… but kids are so excited to be at this Classical Dance Camp… O what joy…

6 June 2011

Back in India…heading up to Kalimpong to see Joy, our USA team and the High Risk girls….. our super-fast tour begins….the highlights… Our Dance Camp – 110 kids from 13 projects learning Indian classical dancing. When they dance to worship music, I believe the angels stop and watch with envy…we also dedicate our new building at Jharsuguda. All for the glory of God.

2 June 2011

Two young men, Matt and Johnny are bicycling from the West Coast to the East Coast starting this week to raise money for a GNI Dream Center. Please pray for strength and endurance for them. 21 year old Matt has already built one dream Center for GNI and his goal is 7 Dream Centers….hallelujah… may his tribe increase!

4 June 2011

Finishing up Family Camp at an extremely vibrant church in Southern Malaysia… What a super time with these on-fire Christians. They pull out the preacher in you!! God has his people all over the world. Heading back to India in a couple of days…. Made some life-long friendships among these beautiful Malaysian believers. They will partner with GNI… Hallelujah….

27 May 2011

Just finished a full staff retreat with all directors and their wives/kids. I have a great bunch of guys who work against tough odds and daunting conditions to bring His Kingdom on earth. The power of the Lord was present… Pressing on to some more work before heading to Singapore/Malaysia next week. Then back to India… Thank you for lifting up GNI and our mission to rescue darling kids.

21 May 2011 ‎

Four nights in India … total of 10 hours of sleep…. yet I feel energized… it’s the promise of Isa 40:31 – He renews our strength and makes us to rise up as eagles. Here, there is no conflict between faith and works…. you have to go full speed at both levels… but the thrill is indescribable. I totally feed off the love and innocence of my tribal kids… acres of diamonds.

19 May 2011

Just got to New Delhi… and delighted to be back in the fray of fighting the good fight.. rescuing children, expanding their dreams, bringing hope to lepers and their families, growing our staff and doing battle in the trenches… Hallelujah… what a joy to serve a Risen Savior.

20 April 2011

One of my darling girls named Swapna, meaning dreams, age 11. Died yesterday. Cause: poverty & illiteracy: she went to her remote village for a wedding feast, got food poisoning and because the doctors were too far, her relatives gave her roots/herbs which shut her liver. I cannot stop my grief. This is why I will work till I drop dead. God give me a 1000 girls to replace her. She loved Jesus and is in Heaven.

19 April 2011

This is resurrection week celebration. People ask me why I am a Christian? One word: Jesus… My heart is at peace in Him. Jesus is all the world to me. After 42 years of serving Him, I "find no fault in him." What a Savior!

7 April 2011

Waiting at Delhi airport for a flight to the beauty and comforts of Phoenix to family and friends. Yet I am so torn between the two worlds i live in. I am reviewing dozens of applications from very desperate tribal children deep in the forests where there are NO options to beg, steal or work. No child should live in such pain. We will take them in. I believe Jesus would. He loves them far more than I ever could.

5 April 2011

Spent the day with our Tihidi kids in South Orissa… these are my heroes…. they withstood a siege for 17 days against a mob of 200, two years ago during the big Orissa persecution. These 6 – 16 year old kids prayed heaven down. And they were willing to die for the Cross rather than renounce their faith. They lift up my faith. I have known them since 1999. and I love them deeply. They are my acres of diamonds.

4 April 2011

Just got word that all our Lodha tribe kids – (a whole primitive culture of violent, and savage dacoits) have totally excelled at and now dominate their local School system. This is community transformation. Their world was destined to follow their parents until the Good News touched their lives. I spent several hours with them yesterday and their eyes sparkle with hopes and dreams.

3 April 2011

Four Dream Centers..700 kids…. all in one day. Nothing but laughter, worship, celebration dancing, and O yes… innocence…. these kids are eager sponges… and I am fighting their parents/guardians/culture/alcoholism, so that they will stay and fulfill their dreams. My 7 guests today were amazed and simply exclaimed: FANTASTIC. It’s those kids…they kill with their infectious and abundant life. I love them…

17 February 2011

Heading to Toronto, Canada for the weekend. New doors, new challenges, new frontiers. I press on to link resources with hurting people. To win for the Lord, the rewards of His suffering. The stakes are very high. In the words of the old song: "Lest I forget Gethsemane, lest I forget thy agony, lest I forget thy love for me, lead me to Calvary."

11 February 2011

Sitting at Delhi airport… been on the road already since 4:00 AM when I left my darling kiddos at Ganjam Dream Center…. Train to major city, flight to Delhi and now the long hop on Continental to Newark then to Phx. 30 days… of sheer energy and roller coaster adventures. These interior tribal children… they must get one chance to succeed in life… They are too beautiful to leave forgotten…Jesus cares.

7 February 2011

Attending the World AG Conference in Chennai. Meeting a lot of Pastors from the past where we held Youth Conferences… they all said that nothing had come even close to the depth and scope of Youth Conventions such those put on by GNI. I will get back to doing Youth Conferences. Will look for preachers with substance rather than style, depth rather than platitudes, expositors rather than opinions, communicators rather than showmen..

5 February 2011

Had a ground breaking ceremony today for our new dream Center at Jharsuguda, Am sitting at a railway platform and it is 2:00 AM. delayed train! Pressing on with the King’s business. Going to look at some property/house on Thursday that a Christian man is donating to us in Kandhamal – area of persecution. Others opted out for fear. I will take it and raise 200 kids there to love Jesus and his abundant, joyful life.

2 February 2011

I am back in the Bengal Dream Centers… getting our new School at the Leper City of Refuge organized. I gave out $4.00 watches to all the kids who are in Grade 9 and up… for holding on to their dream to get an education and break out of their cycle of poverty. O! What delight and gratitude among my kids – Christmas in Feb!!… Heading to 5 more Dream Centers…. I am a dreamer…

28 January 2011

Bidding farewell to my USA team tonight…. 1800 kids, 1300 patients, dozens of teeth pulled, $30,000 worth of medicines/vitamins distributed to needy people; 9000 KM of travel; roads and motels that defy description; ending up at the grandeur of Jaipur, Rajasthan; the thrill and satisfaction is indescribable. I go back into the pits with a couple of young students who have chosen to stay back. This is life…

19 January 2011

Dedication of our new School for children of lepers… now they won’t be ostracized at School. We had 800+ lepers and general population show up at our Leper colony Medical Camp (many with great physical needs) and we broke any hesitation the community may have had about a GNI leper colony in that area. I love these kids from Leper homes… some of the finest kids in all of creation, but totally beaten down by Society…. until they get touched by the love of Jesus.

News From the Field

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