Hope you are doing well in the Lord. A lot has happened in India and in our lives. This brief report will shed light on the effect of Covid-19 that took place in India last two months back, New foreign funds policy by the government of India and its effect on Christian work and God’s provision to us as a family as we do our best to serve Him even in the midst of challenges.

LATEST COVID SITUATION IN INDIA

It breaks my heart to know that India has descended into a tragedy of unprecedented proportions. Almost 26 million cases have been registered according to the latest report. And 291.303 are reported dead. Hospitals across the country have filled to capacity and overloaded in every space of the hospital. The ambulance siren is heard all over, people are in panic and beating their chest to find some medical help to save their loved ones. Those who have money are able to secure the beds in the hospitals but those who can’t afford to pay for a bed and oxygen are advised to take their patience home…in other words left to die home.

Every day dead bodies are increasing in numbers and piling up all over the places. The cemeteries are full and crematoriums authorities are helpless even to cremate the dead since they run out of the wood. Due to no place to bury or cremate, the dead bodies are tossed into Ganges rivers. Such is the condition of India right now.

Also, it is sad to know that many of our missionaries have died due to no access to the hospitals, oxygen and ventilators. Most of them couldn’t afford to buy these medical necessities when needed most. Some are being treated mainly in the town and cities but some are still battling with life and death either at home or in hospitals. In the state of Andhra Pradesh 47 pastors died in two days.

Sadly, the government has done very little to redeem the situation. According to the quote:

“Leadership across the country did not adequately convey that this was an epidemic which had not gone away,” said K Srinath Reddy, president of the Public Health Foundation of India. While the unprecedented spread of the virus has been partly blamed on a more contagious variant that has emerged in India, Modi’s(Prime Minister of India) government has also been accused of failures of political leadership from the top, with lax attitudes emulated by state and local leaders from all parties and even health officials across the country, which led many to falsely believe in recent months that India had defeated Covid. Victory was declared prematurely and that ebullient mood was communicated across the country, especially by politicians who wanted to get the economy going and wanted to get back to campaigning. And that gave the virus the chance to rise again.”

Doctors on the frontline broke down, speaking of the deluge of dying Covid patients they had been unable to treat due to a lack of beds and inadequate state and central government preparation.

As the local doctor echoes, “There are people lined up outside the hospital trying to get in and every day we are getting calls every 30 seconds from someone trying to find a bed.” Most of these calls are from patients who are critically ill and do need hospital care but there just isn’t enough capacity and so there is a lot of mortality happening. Everyone has been stretched to their limit.” He further says, “this time the virus is much more aggressive and much more infectious” and is now predominately affecting young people. “Now it is people in their 20s and 30s who are coming in with very severe symptoms and there is a lot of mortality among young people.”

States such a Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh stand accused of covering up the true death toll from coronavirus, with the numbers of bodies stacking up in hospital morgues far outnumbering official fatality figures. Still, many fears that it is too little, too late. The seriousness of the situation should have been realized months ago but instead governments were in denial and gave out messages that the virus was not that dangerous.

Knowing the context, people all across are desperate for love, medical help, water and food, oxygen, ventilators, mask, Vitamin D and other medicine that will help them to survive.

On the other hand, it is very sad to hear that many of our missionaries succumbed to the diseased due to no immediate medical help. There is sorrow in and sadness among the bereaved family members. Their future seems to be uncertain as their husband or wives have passed away. Of course, they are promoted to the glory but a huge vacuum is created among their bereaved family members. The missionaries and their families are looking for comfort and compassion and sustenance for their future. We need to pray and work on doing relief work among these most needy people.

BLACK FUNGUS:
While the first and second phases of Covid is being dealt with, the ugly head of the third wave a variant of Covid-19 is attacking all over India. Many are already under attack and being treated and some have already dead. This Black Fungus is deadliest and the public health department is clueless and unprepared to tackle it. Combined Covid and black fungus together is proving more deadly and fast killing disease. The times are very difficult for our missionaries, mission leaders and believers all over India. We are doing whatever we can to help them remotely.

FOREIGN FUNDS RESTRICTIONS:
In the midst of that, the government of India took hard decision against the Christendom to stop foreign funds. Our partner organizations have suffered since then and even now they are suffering. In addition to that many Christians come under attacked from the Hindu mobs controlled by the local official. Due to these challenges many of our partners living under fear even now. We are praying for them and doing whatever we cand so that they are encouraged.

CONNECTING ZOOM MEETINGS:
Thank God for the technology. In the midst of all that is happening, I am able to connect with our partners at least over the Zoom every now and then. I am doing zoom meetings every day with our partners from South Asia. Then with the churches and individual donors in different states here in America updating them what is going on in India as well as in Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Bhutan. India is in the most serious condition and now slowly affecting Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. In spite of that the morale of our people is very high and trusting in the Lord not matter what. I am so happy that I am able to connect with some of them through theses means and fellowship and pray with each group. Since last month, I have started teaching Biblical Doctrinal topics to our missionaries in Bangladesh. The response just great. Everyone is enjoying the study more deeply.

OUR FAMILIES IN INDIA:
We are overwhelmed and worried for our loved ones in India. We can’t even visit them at this difficult time. But by the grace of God, they are fine so far but are under constant fear due to hundreds of deaths all around them. My mother is 82 years old and unable to walk much. She lives by herself and at times helpless. Due to curfews and lockdown for weeks no one can visit her and neither she can to anyone even if she wants to. But on the medical ground, she was taken to the hospital twice with the help of our local missionary but was denied vaccination and was told that senior citizens were not on their priority list for vaccination. In other words, either you pay a bribe and get vaccinated or you are left to die. I heard that the vaccines were and are sold in a black market and each one costs about $650 or more depending on availability. This is unfortunate.

On the other hand, the good news is that Catherine and Karen have graduated from Liberty University. Praise God! They also got temporary work visa just to stay in this country. However, their immigration status is always a challenge.

They have completed one year and asking the immigration to give them another a year extension. By the grace of God, they both got it. They both cannot live in this country permanently due to their student visa status. Immigration challenges for them are enormous…either study or leave this country. Please pray for them so that they can complete their remaining education and get their green card may be by 2022-23. They love the Lord and are a great witness for the Lord wherever they go. We are proud of them for the godly values they carry in them.

We want to thank each one of you from the bottom of hearts for all your support, love and prayers. You have been a great blessing to us.

Please know that you all are loved and prayed for. We humbly ask your continues prayers and ongoing support as we live by faith.

In His grace,
Kishor and Sikah Pandagade
Advancing Native Missions