In This Issue: WOW! What a Trip!

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1 march 2017 In This Issue: WOW! What a Trip! Messages from: Bob and Kris Poe, Lowell and Marcia Schwitters, Dawn Marcus, Willis Wubben, Jennifer and Abigail Goetzman Kyle Wynja and Dale Wubben Prayer Requests You can reach Gary Crowe with any questions or comments at... Phone: gary@mnscreenprint.com Website: Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:12-13 WOW! What a Trip! Ijust returned from India with ten other people. Bob and Kris Poe, Lowell and Marcia Schwitters, Dawn Marcus, Willis Wubben, and Jennifer and Abigail Goetzman, all from Minnesota. Kyle Wynja from Colorado and Dale Wubben from Washington also came along on this trip. This was the largest group that Hope In The Night has ever hosted in India. I was definitely concerned about having such a big group. Because most of the ministry that is done is with families or single people in small settings. Thankfully after the first day, I knew everything was going to work out great. Every one of this team are a number 10 in my book. Each person has their own gifts of ministry. When we were planning this trip, I told the group, You can sleep when we get home, because we are going to go out to minister day and night. And that s just what we did. We prayed with, consoled, L to R, Back row: Gary Crowe, Dale Wubben, Kyle Wynja, Willis Wubben, Bob Poe Front row: Lowell & Marcia Schwitters, Dawn Marcus, Abigail & Jennifer Goetzman, Kris Poe and blessed hundreds of people. I have asked each one of them to write about their trip and also one special time that they were ministered too. I have called this trip The Magnificent 10. God surely used each of them. Gary and Jennifer praying for people in their homes.

2 Message from Bob and Kris Poe fter seven days in India with Hope in the Night, A I discovered: - From Willmar, Minnesota it takes 28 hours to get to the YMCA (housing) in Mumbai. - Compared to Mumbai, the U.S. has no traffic jams. - A family of four can live in a space the size of my laundry room. - Street traffic includes a horse, cow, bicycle, car, bus, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, push cart, pull cart, motorized ricksha, bike ricksha and double-decker bus, but they have one thing in common - The Right of Way!! My highlight of many hours and varied mission activities was visiting people from a local church who live in the slums. Our purpose was to encourage them in their Christian walk and bless them in prayer. As we went from one dwelling area to the next, it became evident the blessing went both ways! The love and life of Christ was evident in their hospitality, smiles and bright eyes. The Indian believers embodied the children s chorus we all sang as kids This Little Light of Mine, I m Gonna Let it Shine! Hope in the Night is truly the gospel at work and lives are being changed for eternity! Bob (in blue shirt) laying blankets on street people. Heavy traffic, Bob Poe Just take a little bit off the top. Bringing joy to the patients at the TB Hospital. People waiting outside Medical Camp. 2 continued

3 Message from Bob and Kris Poe continued he free medical camp was an awesome T experience. Irine got the permissions necessary to do it, which was quite a process. The church had a tent set up the night before on a sidewalk just outside of a slum area. Hope In The Night hired 3 doctors to see the people, and Gavert organized the doctors and supplies. For about 4 hours, we ministered to the people in so many ways and on so many different levels. First the people registered with the reception desk, so they each had a paper with their name, address, phone, and symptoms. Then our team took their blood pressure, and did a blood sugar check for diabetes. Bob got really good at pricking fingers for a drop of blood for the test! Of course, he got a lot of people to laugh and relax. They were nervous Then the people would be seen by a doctor, and receive medicine they needed. Some of our team did the preliminary tests, and some interacted with the people as they waited. Dawn was so good at entertaining the children with songs and games. Jennifer and Abigail did blood pressure checks for awhile, and then started giving neck massages just to bless the people as they waited. We saw over 250 people. God used us to bless them by addressing their physical needs, and their spirits. The church people now have an open door of opportunity to follow up with their spiritual needs as well. It was a very rewarding day. We brought a lot of joy and hope to many people. Matthew 25:35-40 sums up the trip for me. For when I was hungry, you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you took me in, naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me...inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me. Kris Poe Bob and Kris drawing blood for blood sugar test. Bringing comfort at TB Hospital. Laying blankets on the homeless. Marcia and Kris with the children at a daycare. 3 Kris watches the children at the computer school.

4 Memorable Moments from Lowell and Marcia Schwitters fter the approximately two nine-hour flights, A we arrived at the YMCA in Mumbai, India at 1:30 a.m. India time. We were greeted at the airport by the late pastor Arthur D Souza s wife, Irine, his daughter, Rebecca and his son, Adhishek. Together they put a flower lei around each of our necks and placed a personal welcome greeting in our room. This extra effort made us feel truly welcome in India after the long travel experience. This was now Saturday and we walked around our location some, watched the unbelieveable traffic, honking of horns and the amount of people everywhere. The circumstances were different to us, but that is the way life is in India. The people seemed kind and supportive as we walked along on the sidewalks, giving us the feeling that they were good with Americans visiting their city. The next stop was the TB Hospital where we were able to visit four children who were suffering from TB. Gary showed the children some different tricks that they laughed at and enjoyed. The attending staff appreciated our being there to help cheer up the children. The Saturday continued with a stop at the waterfront which was beautiful in the sunshine. We went back to the room for a short rest. Later Saturday night, about 1:00 a.m., we boarded our van and went to the street people who at this time were sleeping on the sidewalks, some without any covering except the clothes they wore. We distributed about 300 blankets that were purchased by Hope In The Night from a lady in the church. Most of the people did not wake up. Seeing 2 and 3 year-old children laying Getting ready to distribute blankets. on the sidewalk in approximately 60 degree temperatures was another memorable time for us. We returned to the Y about 3:30 a.m. to rest for church on Sunday morning. The service was joyful, quite loud with music from the instruments, fun. Gary gave a meaningful message on the parable of the mustard seed, while people distributed very small glass jars with mustard seeds in them to remind us to grow our faith and trust in the Lord to do great things for the Kingdom of God. After the service our team prayed for individuals who had health problems and family problems that were explained to us through an interpreter. Very memorable. The Sunday lunch was great. Our team then Visiting the children s ward. Gary entertaining children with tricks. Lowell greeting patient at the TB Hospital. 4 continued

5 Memorable Moments from Lowell and Marcia Schwitters continued went back to the TB Hospital to distribute gifts to all those who were staying there while other members of the team sang Christian songs in the hallways. As we gave the gifts, we shook many of the hands of those people to help them know that we truly cared for them. Another memorable experience. On Monday we visited a preschool room with about 45 children who were all dressed identical. They were extraordinarily well behaved, quite hard to believe that all those children acted so well as we watched a short little program prepared for us. They were given a meal and after that they left for their homes. In the afternoon a boat cruise on the waterfront, which is part of the port of Mumbai, the largest commercial port of India. Very interesting. We went to visit a Hope In The Night sponsored computer school class of about 10 students, very well done. In the evening we went to visit church families. We split our team and each visited about six families. The families, through an interpreter, mentioned prayer requests and we prayed for them and talked briefly with them. Each family felt they had to give us either tea, Coke or water. So touching and memorable. Tuesday took us to the Taj Mahal. It was a very long, but enjoyable day, as the Mausoleum is one of the wonders of the world. Wednesday brought us to the largest laundry unit in the world, nearly a city block in size with a system that returns the clothing to the rightful owners consistently. When observing it, we can t understand how they do it, but it happens. The Hanging Gardens are located over a huge man-made water storage area on a hill in Mumbai. We visited this beautiful location in the more wealthy section of the city. We were favored with a lunch invitation by Irine D Souza, it was more like a Thanksgiving dinner, which we all felt it was. Another memorable moment. In the late evening we went back to the slums to visit and pray with more families. Marcia bringing comfort to patients at the TB Hospital. Children learning to pray at preschool. The following day, we were part of a Medical Camp. The Poes and Schwitters took blood sugar tests and Willis Wubben, Dale Wubben and Kyle Wynja took blood pressure checks for 250 people. Doctors were available to talk to the people that the testing revealed had health problems. All of this while Dawn Marcus, Jennifer and Abigail Goetzman did massages for anyone who wished, as well as entertaining the many children that were present. A very fulfilling day. Friday we again spent a short time at the TB Hospital handing out more blankets. We also did some shopping and had a fine dinner which was done in true Indian fashion. Saturday at 2:45 a.m. we left the airport homeward bound. Thank you Gary for a delightful opportunity to serve. Lowell and Marcia Schwitters Distributing gifts at TB Hospital. Sometimes there are patients in one ward. 5

6 Message from Dawn Marcus hat a blessing and privilege it was for me W to travel with a ministry team to India with Gary Crowe of Hope In The Night Ministries. The week was busy with many crazy bus rides to the hospital, slum home visits, placing blankets on the homeless and so much more. I couldn t help but feel overwhelmed with the abject poverty and overcrowded population everywhere I looked. Several days into our trip, Gary asked me what I thought of our trip with Hope In The Night. I questioned Gary, asking where do you even start to make a difference on a 7 day mission trip? All I could think about was, how can I make any impact when I m only one small drip in a vast sea of so much poverty and despair? This trip to India had me looking through the eyes as a first time missionary to Mumbai. I ve been to Ukraine 24 times, a ministry dear to my heart. I know the value and see the benefits of maintaining and building meaningful relationships with our church people in Ukraine with each trip I take. I kept asking myself, How does handing a small piece of candy to the people in the slums or putting a blanket on a sleeping person in Mumbai, make any bit of difference? Again, I m just one drip. Throughout the week in India, I clearly could see the fruits of Gary s passion and dedication to the people in Mumbai, as well as the church that Hope In The Night partners with. With over 60 trips and almost 30 years later, God has chosen Gary and Hope In The Night Ministry as a vessel to share His love and redemption to the people in India. Relationships don t grow and develop with just one trip. It takes passion and dedication. Drip Drip..Drip. Later that evening, I was thinking about my comment to Gary about how I wondered if one drip can make a difference in Mumbai or anywhere the Lord has me. Our shower head in our room at the YMCA had a small leak and was dripping all day. In the morning we placed a bucket to catch the drips. At the end of the day I noticed that the bucket was completely full!! One drop, turned into two drops and on and on! God was showing me that everything works for His glory starting one drip at a time! Dawn with group of new friends. 6 The week following my trip to India, I had planned to spend a week in Ukraine on my way home. The day I arrived, I was asked to share about my trip to India with the church in Drabiv. It was the Dawn praying with Indian woman. first time that they personally knew anyone who was on a mission trip to India. I showed them all the pictures and videos. During my talk, Pastor Leonid asked me how much the blankets cost. (I remembered Gary had told us that they were $1.90 a piece.) I continued my talk not thinking about why he asked that question. At the end of the evening, he stood up and asked the congregation if they would be willing to help purchase 10 blankets for the street people in Mumbai. Some of these people make $14 a month on pension, so to buy 10 blankets Dawn giving sweets to Indian women at the hospital. was a financial stretch for many. After I shared about my experience in India, many realized that even though life in Ukraine is extremely difficult, someone, somewhere has it worse than they do! The following Sunday, I was presented an envelope from the Drabiv church family to give to Hope In The Night Ministries. I was expecting $20 dollars or so for 10 blankets. I was shocked to see over $50 dollars in the envelope. What a surprise!! I was honored that God was using me to touch the hearts of my church friends in Ukraine to reach the people of Mumbai! It was a very special mission trip for me. An amazing time in India followed by an amazing week in Ukraine. I m so happy that the Lord has chosen a Drip like me to continue His work in Mumbai India, Drabiv Ukraine and right here in Willmar, Minnesota! Dawn Marcus

7 Message from Willis Wubben have very mixed feelings of what I saw while I there. The traffic is always congested, the driving is always risky. The pedestrian has no rights on the roads. The cycles and scooters risk life every time they take to the roads The slums are a community in action. Life never seems to shut down completely even at night. The Free Enterprise system is alive and well even among the poorest. Countless small (some very, very small) business are what the people survive on. The housing in the slums is an eye opening experience. A family of four has a maybe an 8 x8 area to cook, eat and sleep. Alcohol is a problem for many men in the slums. If they have work and receive their pay it is often spent on drink before the man gets back to his house penniless. However there is real joy in the faces, especially among the young children. One often sees the children very actively playing games together. There is stark contrast between poor and rich, the haves and have nots. The trip to the Taj Mahal a bit of a disappointment. Yes, the size, the quality of workmanship, the wealth it took to build it, the condition of the memorial (white marble everywhere), the dedication of the king to honor his favorite wife is both awesome and troubling. The most troubling for me is that it seems to have become a Muslim shrine. Shoes off or bags fitted over the shoes, no pictures or filming in the shrine, the ooing and ahing of the man made structure all the while giving no glory to God who not only allowed it to be built but also gave man the knowledge to build it. That honor was non existent throughout the tour The most touching and sobering part of this trip was the giving and handing 650 gifts to the patients at the TB hospital. We visited that hospital three times. We were there along with members from the New Life Fellowship church that we were at on Sunday morning. I was so impressed as to how the event took place. Members of the church leading the way singing choruses in the halls all the while we from the USA were being handed gifts by others from the church to give the patients. There could be no doubt of who we represented as we gave the small packaged gifts of cookies and candies put together by volunteers from the church. I did not see even one package given by the church member. They made sure that WE had gifts in hand to give to those whose lives were being ravished by TB. We were encouraged to pray with the patients and were often asked for prayer. The memories are haunting, Children, teenagers, adults, young and old, all suffering with the disease at various stages with wasted bodies, most waiting for death without hope of recovery. The staring eyes, some mouthing thank you, some putting their hands in a praying position, an occasional praise the Lord, arms and legs with no muscle, just 7 The Indian people were amazed at the size of Willis hands. skin and bones. It was a haunting experience. I am tearing up writing this as I did a few times at the hospital. I can visualize walking through that hospital with Jesus and seeing Him healing those who currently have no hope and witnessing the leaping and dancing and boundless joy of the healed. What an awesome thought. The last day we were there, two year-old girls were going home after a 5-6 month stay at the hospital. The numbers of adults and children sleeping on the side walks and other places that provided a level area, was disheartening. Sometimes even 1-3 yearolds without the warmth of a blanket for covering. We walked and covered some 300 people with blankets. Again, with the help of some 40 people from the church, allowing us to share the blankets making sure that we were given opportunity to minister to those in need. All in all it was an awesome, eye opening, sobering trip. I can honestly say that I am glad that God has allowed me the privilege of coming back home here to the U.S. My advice is to never ever take for granted what God has given us in this country. Willis Wubben TB patient being blessed by Willis.

8 Message from Jennifer Goetzman n Philippians 4:12-13, Paul writes, I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have I plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. The LORD, Jesus Christ is giving strength to His children in India, just like he does here in the USA. It was a privilege to work alongside the church in Mumbai through Hope In The Night Ministries. This trip makes me realize that people across the globe are all dealing with the same situations: The loss of a loved one, finding a job, getting married, having children, living with health issues, abuse of alcohol and having peace in the home. Visiting the church members in their homes helped me to see how we are all the same, people created in God s image. An elderly lady shared through her tears how she appreciated us coming to her neighborhood to pray. This reemphasized how critical prayer is in our daily lives. Personally, God showed me His peace in the midst of fear. He reassured me that He will never leave me and I am in His hands. He is my strength. The answer to all these situations is the LORD, Jesus Christ. God is the secret to being content in this life. Thank you Gary Crowe, for your obedience and letting God use you through Hope In The Night Ministries, Jennifer Goetzman L to R: Abigail, Jennifer and Dawn drumming up business. Jennifer and Abigail taking blood pressure of Indian woman. Mother & daughter team. Making the rounds at the TB Hospital. What a great medical team! 8

9 Message from Abigail Goetzman he trip to India was such a great experience; Hope In The Night T has an amazing ministry over there. One of my favorite parts of the trip was working with the New Life Fellowship Hindi Church. At midnight, we went out and distributed blankets to the homeless, and there were forty young adults from the church who went with us. Another time, we went to the tuberculosis hospital to give out gift bags and to pray for the patients. A group of people from the church came with us, singing praise songs as we walked down the halls of the hospital. It was great to see a group of young adults who are so happy and willing to spend their free time ministering to others. Helping out with the medical camp was also quite memorable. I had never experienced anything like that, so I didn t know what to expect. Handing out gifts to over 650 patients at the hospital It turned out to be one of my favorite parts of the trip! We had areas for checking blood pressure and diabetes and an area to see the doctor. There were so many people in such a small area. Most of the people helping at the medical camp were church members, and most of the patients were other people who lived in the slums. Even though we could not talk with most of the people, we would smile and try to communicate as best we could. During breaks, we would play catch or sing songs with the kids, rub the ladies backs (they really enjoyed that), or just talk with them. It was cool to just take a step back, and look around. Americans, Indians, Christians, and non-christians all gathered together, laughing, sweating, singing. Even though it was a medical camp, most of the people were quite happy. Abigail Goetzman Blessing the people on the street. The girl in pink was discharged that day, after six months in the children s ward. Very excited about getting a blanket. 9 Abigail assisting at Medical Camp.

10 Message from Kyle Wynja ow to sum up what the mission trip to India meant H to me? Upon my return, many friends, family and co-workers start with well, how was it? I found myself answering that it has provided a new life perspective. One of the first things you notice is the volume of people in the city. I live in a major metropolitan area, so it s not like I m not used to seeing a bustling city life with lots of people. India however has some things that were totally unique compared to my reality. I don t ever see a family of four riding on their motorcycle where I live. I don t ever see a family of six living in a 100 square foot house. I see homeless people in Denver on occasion but I don t ever see literally thousands of people sleeping on the Typical home in the slums. sidewalks at night because they have no home. After a few days of witnessing the surface living conditions and having a sense of pity for the people, I found my perspective changing. I realized generally the children who were dirt poor had smiles on their faces. The parents that we visited weren t seemingly wallowing in self-pity at their lack of material possessions. They were busy going about the tasks of the day. It might look a little different than our daily routine, but in the end they are raising children, working and striving for a better life. Sound familiar? I concluded that the mission primarily served to teach me two things: How much of what we do and have is excessive? Dare I say, even sinful. Secondly, the real mission is not to improve their standard of living. It is to reach them with the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. In a primarily Hindu and Muslim nation, the real tragedy is not a small living room, but a small chance of becoming born again!...then he said unto his disciples, the harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few. Matthew 9:37 Kyle Wynja Homeless on the streets of Mumbai. Kyle and his young helper. Kyle passing out gifts at the TB Hospital. 10

11 Message from Dale Wubben y trip to Mumbai in February 2017 was both M heartbreaking and inspirational. I had never imagined third world poverty so starkly contrasted against a first world skyline. But the quiet dignity of the people we met living in the slums was entirely different than what I d expected. The week was full of experiences that will stay with me for a lifetime. Gary was our guide around the city, making sure our days were full and varied. The first day we settled into our hotel rooms at the YMCA, which had nice air conditioned rooms and great meals. We toured the city on a small bus, and I was amazed at the amount of people walking, driving and riding motorcycles and scooters. I have never seen such chaos, but we didn t witness a single traffic accident. Guardian angels must work overtime in Mumbai. The first night we headed out very late to deliver blankets to people sleeping on the sidewalks, along with several members of a local New Life Church. I was shocked to see entire families huddled together. Some had just months old babies at their sides. We tried to cover them without waking anyone, but the ones that did were clearly thankful for our small act. Everywhere we went there were people sleeping out on the streets and we distributed over 300 blankets. It was a stark reminder of the brokenness of our world. Our visit to a local TB hospital was surreal. We are so blessed in our country to have top notch medical facilities, but these patients were relegated to a dank, dreary building with peeling paint and cats walking around inside. Gary told us the adults were for the most part beyond help and would never leave the hospital. We handed out small care packages to five floors of patients. We met several children who, with the help of Gary and his ministry, were being treated with better medicines and would hopefully get well enough to rejoin their families. Indeed, one young lady who had been there for five months was packing up that day! The children s room was noticeably cheerier due to additions made by Hope in the Night Ministries. Our visits to the slums were incredible. It was Dale with slum children in their home. uplifting to see people just like you and me, caring for their families and their community. Even though their homes were small, they were clean and well kept and the church members we visited were very honored to have us visit their homes. We prayed with them all and I was blessed by their hospitality. We also saw another part of Hope In The Night s ministry in the slums when we visited a one room preschool filled with uniformed kids eager to demonstrate what they were learning. Gary also runs a small school teaching older children computer skills. Our last day there, we helped with a medical tent set up at the edge of a slum district. The response was overwhelming. Hundreds of people showed up seeking medical assistance. My initial thought upon seeing the overwhelming poverty in Mumbai was how can any one person make a difference? But Hope In The Night Ministries is doing just that. I saw firsthand how many lives Gary has touched, and will always be grateful for the opportunity to help with his passion for showing God s love to the Indian people. Dale taking vitals at Medical Camp. Dale Wubben Delivering gifts at the TB Hospital. Happy children in the slums. 11

12 PO Box 100 Pennock, MN In This Issue: This newsletter has been sent to you because you have expressed an interest in Hope In The Night Ministries. We want to be financially responsible if you do not wish to receive this newsletter, please let us know. WOW! What a Trip! Messages from: Bob and Kris Poe, Lowell and Marcia Schwitters, Dawn Marcus, Willis Wubben, Jennifer and Abigail Goetzman Kyle Wynja and Dale Wubben Gary and children at the TB Hospital. Prayer Requests The world s largest laundry. Waiting in line at the Medical Camp. Dawn giving massages Number 131, only 119 to go! Prayer Requests Please pray for: Ukraine church donates money to purchase blankets for India. TB Hospital patients that we are ministering too. Continued healing for Irine and her children after losing her husband and the children s father, Pastor Arthur D Souza. Decisions regarding the children s home in Vijayawada. Continued finances to come in.