January 2014 In This Issue: New Sound System for Mumbai Church TB Hospital Children s Home Widows Sunday Sarah Visa Problems Winter in India Prayer Requests You can reach Gary Crowe with any questions or comments at... Phone: 320-599-4399 Email:gcrowe@tds.net Website: www.hopeinthenight.com Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Psalm 82:3, NIV New Sound System for Mumbai Church Hope In The Night purchased a new sound system for the Mumbai Church. Since they do not have a permanent building, the sound system needed to be portable. For special events they rent a large auditorium and for normal Sunday services they rent a small auditorium. The sound system needs to be able to work in both settings. In any Indian Christian meeting/ service, there is a lot of music. Music is a great attraction to get people to come. From praise and worship to special songs, and even scripture dance, music is the #1 way for bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to the people of India.
The TB Hospital We completed the second ward in the TB Hospital and had our grand opening. 63 people from the Mumbai church were there, plus doctors and nursing staff from the hospital. Hope In The Night completely remodeled a large ward for post surgical women. This ward is directly across the hall from the childrens ward which Hope In The Night maintains. Remodeling in progress The completed post surgical womens ward Before the opening ceremony, we went throughout the hospital singing and playing instruments in all the wards. We also gave a bag of gifts to 800 patients, shook their hands and blessed them. Yes, you read it right 800 patients. Each bag had three packages of cookies and crackers. We saw lots of smiles and heard lots of thank yous. Handing out gift bags as we went through the wards singing and playing instruments. 2
Left: Ribbon cutting at the grand opening of the post surgical womens ward. Below: Some of the nursing staff with Gary at the grand opening. Preparing the gift bags Patients appreciated the gift bags given by Hope In The Night. 3
Children s Home The children are doing great, presently we have 46 children. The cost of food in India is the greatest concern we have now. An example would be an onion. Last year an average size onion was 15, today it is 50! Rice is still their main food, and I have instructed them to always have a 2-3 month supply of rice and oil on hand at all times. We are looking for a young Indian couple to come to the home as directors. Please be in prayer for this. Every time I go to India, I hear so many stories about the children some good, some not so good. Here is one story: One of our small boys was becoming an entrepreneur. Every morning when he went to school he would bring a Bible with him. On the way home he would try to sell it to someone on the street. He would then buy candy to share with his friends. Now, I know we are suppose to spread the Word, and it s good to share, but stealing Bibles is probably not the way it should be done. It is also hard to discipline him when you are laughing. Above: Getting ready for lunch. Left and below: Rice is still their main food in India. 4
Elementary children lining up to go to school. Our pastor bringing some of the boys to school on the motorcycle. Prayer Requests: Prayer for Visas for all who are going on the March 20, 2014 trip. Pray for continued access to the government TB Hospital to do ministry. Pray for a new director at the children s home. Pray for finances for the children s home. 5
Widows Sunday One Sunday was Widows Sunday. We gave 46 widows a new sari (ladies dress) and a gift bag of goodies. Lots of smiles, thank yous, and hugs from the widows. Something special happens when you bless a widow. It seems God opens up the heavens and blesses everything you do. Sarah Some of you may remember, years ago, when we were going door-to-door in the slums, we found an 18-year-old girl that was chained in her home. She had been there, chained or tied, since the age of two. Her parents tied her by the leg in the corner of their home because they both worked and they wanted to be sure that when they came home, she would still be there. It became an on-going thing. Her parents died of HIV Aids and her sisters raised her. Hope In The Night made arrangements many years ago so she would never be chained again. She is slow mentally, but has begun to talk and communicate quite well. She loves children and stays with her sister and cares for her sister s children. She is my special friend. Sarah loves American chocolate kisses. Every time I go to India she gets her chocolate kisses. 6
Visa Problems As many of you know, there were five other people going with me on this trip. Well, they all had problems with their Visas for the trip. Because we already had many projects planned, we could not cancel the trip, so I went by myself. It was a busy trip, but a good trip. We have rescheduled the trip for the five others to go on March 20th of this year. We already have most of the Visas OK d at this time. The Indian people were as disappointed as the people who were going to go with me. Please pray for this next trip. Pray that God pours out His blessings on this trip. A few of our plans are the Medical Clinics, blanket distribution, children s trip, TB Hospital treat distribution and more. Winter in India t is also winter I in India. The nights were getting down to 65 degrees, the children were not used to the cooler temperatures, and said they were freezing. By 8:00 p.m. they would have sweaters and stocking caps on, and they would sleep in them all night long. We purchased heavy blankets for them before I left. 7
PO Box 100 Pennock, MN 56279 In This Issue: New Sound System for Mumbai Church 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. TB Hospital Children s Home Widows Sunday Sarah Visa Problems Winter in India Prayer Requests Hope In The Night handed out gift bags at the TB Hospital. Completion of the womens post surgical ward remodeling project in the TB Hospital.