Dinesh & Shannon - India - 9/7/08

Thank you for all the prayers you are making on behalf of friends in Madhipura. We hear the Kosi River has found an outflow tract into the Ganga River, so waters aren’t supposed to rise anymore. In fact, they have receded some.

We hope you can open the picture we have attached. It shows the scene on the hospital campus as the boat is heading toward our home. The staff who have remained behind are paddling up to our veranda to do their cooking in a relatively dry place. The smiling man in the back of the boat is Sunita’s husband, Sonu. Other men in the boat include hospital staff who have stayed behind to help with relief work.

We spoke with Mahender. His family is okay but marooned in their home. His daughter-in-law delivered a baby in their home without any attending doctor or nurse a couple of days ago. We heard Sunita and her three children are staying in a relief camp. Pummi also called the other day and is safe but can’t move from her in-law’s home in a neighboring village. Still no word of whether Nayna’s family was able to find a boat or vehicle to reach safety outside Madhipura.

We are fine. Dinesh, Anna Grace and Joshua have all been sick the last ten days but mending now. We are still working on a short update to send out to give you a better picture of our life here.

Thank you for standing with us. Your friendship, prayers and support are a great encouragement to us, especially at this time of transition. We thank God for His kindness in letting us live and serve in this country. Please continue to pray those affected by the flood in Bihar might turn to God in repentance and experience His mercy and help spiritually and physically.