update one

8/14/2019 update one

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Some of you who have read my earlier letters on Kandhamal have requested for anupdate on the present situation. I thank God for your concern and pray that this update

will enable you to understand and pray for the people of Kandhamal.

The BackgroundKandhamal district in Orissa was home to more than150,000 Christians. In August 2008, following theassassination of Swami Laxamananda by Maoists.Hindu fundamentalists unleashed an unprecedentedwave of violence against the Christians which sawthousands of Christians driven away from their homes,churches vandalized, shops and businesses destroyedand many pastors and believers killed and burnt. TheBJP-BJD government aided and abetted this atrocity.

Even after a year and two months the situation is farfrom normal.

KandhamalOrissa

SwamiLaxmanananda

The Present scenario

The Maoists have admitted to the killing of Swami Laxmanananda absolving theChristians of the wrongful allegation

The BJD-BJP parties which were political allies during the riots have parted ways. The Home Minister of India visited Kandhamal and assured Christians of all support and

help

Fast track courts have been set up to try the cases of atrocities against the Christians Government has provided some monetary relief to some of the affected people Major Relief camps have been dismantled and people sent back to their respective

villages to mini relief camps

Has normalcy returned to Kandhamal ?

The ChurchesThe churches still remain in the same condition even today

.

We can say normalcy has returned to Kandhamal only when the vandalised churchesare repaired and people are able to worship without fear but today that seems to be adistant dream.


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The Relief CampsThe major relief camps atG Udaigiri, Raikia, Mondakia andTikabali have been dismantledand people have been sent back totheir villages. Here they havepitched small tents and live in

them. They are still unable torebuild their homes and move intothem because of the oppositionfrom Hindus and due to financialconstraints. In some villages policeprotection is being given to thepeople.

Camp at GUdaigiri in Jan09 Mini camp at Pisarama in front ofthe church

In my first letter I wroteabout Goliath from Bakingia

village who used to live inthe Mondakia camp. He hasgone back to his village tolive in a tent not far from thishouse. He and many likehim continue to struggle

Goliath and myself in front of hishouse (Jan 09)

Women at Mondasar campwho still live there

More than 50 Christian families who used to live in Betikola near Tiangia are unable togo back to their village even to set up a Mini camp. The local Hindus resist their return,

so the government has accommodated them in a camp near a place called Nandagiriwhich is between Kalinga and G Udaigiri. There are many villages where Christiancannot enter even today.

The PastorsIn my first letter I had mentioned about pastors who were killed in the violence.

Pastor Akbar was killed and burnt andhis bones were lying in the open whenI visited Totamaha in Jan 09.A Fast Track Court found 5 personsguilty of the murder and has

convicted them and awarded Lifesentence and a fine of Rs 5000/-The once happy family has beenscattered. His son lives with hiscousins in North India, his wife livesalone in Kandhamal. There are manyfamilies which have been affected likethis

Pastor Akbarsfamily

Ashes and bones ofPastor Akbar

His son andwife


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Pastor Samuel Nayak and Gapan Nayak

Gapan Nayak waskilled near this churchand body burnt withthe beams of thechurch

Calcified blood at the spot wherePastor Samuel was killed

Pastor Samuel and his motherwere killed by the same mobwhich killed Pastor Akbar.The killers managed to escapeconviction in Samuels case butwere found guilty in Akbarscase.

Spot where Gapan wasburnt

Pastor Samuels wife (right)Mrs Gapan Nayak (left)

They live in a Care home forwidows and orphans inBhubaneswar run by my friends.They spend much time inpraying and comforting otherswho have lost their dear ones

Two visits and Two lettersDuring my previous visit I was moved by the plight of the widows of the martyrs. Afriend who accompanied me came forward to setup a Care home in Bhubaneswarwhere widows could stay in safety and comfort. Today with the help of other friends weare maintaining this home

The Care Home at BhubaneswarWidows and Orphans from Kandhamal live here

Urmila (left) with her sons Ajay and RahulRevathi (right) lost her husband in the first riots inDec 07

Urmila Mamitha, Kadamful, Shanthi Lata, Revathi Savithri, Ranchi Montu, Dharmendra, Rakesh, Sanathan, Mukesh,Ajay, Ayuba, Nehemiah, Sudhanshu,


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StudentsI was moved by plight of High school students in Kandhamal In March they werelooking for someone who could sponsor their admission fees. With the help of somefriends we were able to admit 140 students into the High schools. Here are the photosof a few of them

Madhusmita Nayak

8th

StdTiangia

SubhranjaliDigal

10th

stdMurudipang

a

SeshmaDigal

9th

StdDigi

AlexanderNayak8 Std

Mlahupanga

AbhayaNayak8

thStd

Tiangia

Susana Digal9

thStd

Mondasaru

PrthyashaNayak10

thstd

Tiangia

Roji Paricha8

thStd

Kilakia

An young couple from my church were moved by the plight of Chandramma andAparijitha after reading about them in my earlier letter. They came forward to sponsortheir education on a long term basis and provide cycles and other facilities to help themcontinue their education.

Chandrama & Arparijithaduring my previous visit to

their tent where they still live

Chandramma with the giftedcycle, books etc

Aparijitha on her way tocollege

The Malkangiri StoryMr Kirubakaran Samuel started corresponding with me after reading my letters. He tookefforts to get 25 children from Kandhamal to get accommodation at the IMS (IndianMissionary Society) Hostel at Malkangiri. Now 21 of them are staying there

Boys from Kandhamalat Malkangiri

Girls from Kandhamalat Malkangiri

Mr Kirubakaran with students whenhe visited Malkangiri IMS Hostel


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Ruupagaun reliefWhile we were returning from our previous visit we heard about a village calledRupagaun in which 20 Christian families were near starvation as no relief agency wasreaching rations for them.

People from Rupagaun Provisions being distributed

So we arranged rations to that village for a month and had it distributed through ourfriends. Since this village is in a very sensitive area they were called out and theprovisions were distributed. I also brought this to the notice of relief agencies which aregiving rations in Kandhamal. Last week I heard that one Delhi based agency was

arranging rations for the families at Rupagaun

The People who fled Kandhamal

We have Worship Center in Bhubaneswar for peoplewho fled Kandhamal to meet and worship every Sunday.Pastors who also fled, do odd jobs and supportthemselves. The maintenance of this center has beenpossible through the help of some friends.

Care Home at Berhamapurtook care of 12 people fromAduskupa for 6 months. Nowthey have been put up atRaikia

Dear friendsThis letter is not only an update but also a testimony to what God has done with myvery small contribution of two visits and two letters. With the help of less than twenty

friends we have made a difference in the lives of people you see in the pictures aboveand it is the Lords doing. I also acknowledge the help and cooperation of my trustedfriends on the ground in Kandhamal, Berhampur and Bhubaneswar

The changes that are taking place are answers to your prayers. I am sure that you arealso hearing from the people through whom you may be supporting the relief workthere. I sincerely request you to continue to pray and support the people of Kandhamalsince they need your long term cooperation in rebuilding their lives.


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Though the pace of change may seem to be slow, I see Gods hand at work, I see thesteadfast faith of the believers who are standing firm in spite of the struggles, I see yourlove and concern when I read your replies. That makes me hopeful, hopeful of that daywhen I can bring you pictures of our brothers and sisters in Kandhamal living in theirhomes, worshiping in their churches, working, studying and supporting their familiesand living without the fear of discrimination but until then please continue to pray forthem and reach out to them

A little effort and prayer submitted in Gods mighty hand will make a big difference, solet us not cease praying and reaching out to His precious children who are in crisis.Please forward this mail to others who are concerned about the people of Kandhamaland encourage them to pray for them.

If you want to read my two previous letters please mail me [email protected] and if you want a copy of my video presentation onKandhamal I would be glad to send it to you anywhere in India or you can arrangesomeone to pick it up from my residence in Bangalore.

Come, let us join hands and make a difference together. May His name be glorified inall that we do.

Yours in His serviceMalcolm Athishtam.

(I am an Engineer working as Regional Manager for a Private InstrumentationCompany. I am not working for any Relief Agency or Church. The visits and myendeavors are purely based on my personal conviction that if One member suffers allsuffer together (1 Cor 12:26) and whatever you do for the least of my brethren you doit for Me).

update one

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