New Life Leprosy Colony -2012

Volume 4 JULY 2012

Independent Church in India ANNUAL UPDATEANNUAL UPDATEANNUAL UPDATEANNUAL UPDATE

NEW LIFE LEPROSY COLONY

Residents waving goodResidents waving goodResidents waving goodResidents waving good----bye to the ICII Gospel team after visiting them.bye to the ICII Gospel team after visiting them.bye to the ICII Gospel team after visiting them.bye to the ICII Gospel team after visiting them.

Revival Revival Revival Revival continues continues continues continues at the New at the New at the New at the New Life Colony!Life Colony!Life Colony!Life Colony!

Changing lives from sadness Changing lives from sadness Changing lives from sadness Changing lives from sadness to joyfulness at New Life!to joyfulness at New Life!to joyfulness at New Life!to joyfulness at New Life!

Children who live at Children who live at Children who live at Children who live at New Life waving to the New Life waving to the New Life waving to the New Life waving to the ICII Gospel team.ICII Gospel team.ICII Gospel team.ICII Gospel team.

Flour for making Indian bread.Flour for making Indian bread.Flour for making Indian bread.Flour for making Indian bread.

ICII sponsors provide fruits and other healthy foods

each month for New Life Leprosy Colony.

It has now been over four years since Independent Church in India has been providing basic monthly

needs at the New Life Leprosy Colony. ICII and the New Life colony wants to thank all their sponsors

for making big differences in their lives. We give all the glory to Jesus for making this possible to bless these people every month with fruits, vegetables, flour, vitamins, oil, beans, eggs, and much more!

slithered away. I was in awe by the time she had finished her story, It was truly a remarkable miracle that she was standing be-fore us that day. And, at least twenty-three people reported that they had seen Jesus come to them in their dreams! Those peo-ple’s eyes lit up like candles when they had been asked about their dream. It was apparent that they had a forever unforgettable touch by Jesus. The residents also told us how they were worried when they heard about Hurricane Lee, and that they had been praying for America and their sponsors morning and night. I was so touched by hearing the concern expressed in their voices alone. That night of the hurricane, I had been scared as the water began to rise in our basement, but thankfully nothing important was damaged, I know now it was God answering their prayers! As my parents talked of heaven’s rewards, I noticed how one man was staring at something in the distance, with this light of joy in his eyes. I shifted my eyes in the same direction. There, on an old rugged pavilion stood bags of bright colorful fresh fruit! Fruit that our ministry had provided for them. My eyes lit up with the same joy that was in that little old man. It gave me happiness as I re-membered that someone had been so kind to give them a gift that they will both enjoy and benefit health-wise from. Personally ador-ing fruit myself, I am always amazed at its beauty and complexity. So many vitamins and minerals working together to form a pure and perfect gift that only could have been given from God. And if any one is lacking in vitamins and minerals, these people are, they deserve more than just one small fruit bag every month. They most definitely enjoy it. We then handed out their well anticipated

Christmas gift of saris and shirts, which were accepted by each person with a beautiful smile. It was obvious though, that they had less interest in the gift itself, than in the love behind it. Tears welled up in one man’s eyes as he prayed, thanking God for the kind people who loved him enough to give. After visiting them that day, I can only wonder how it must feel to live without love. But at the same time, I can only wonder how it must feel to live, knowing that I chose not to love, when I had the chance. Give me the first choice any day.

For the past four years, ICII has been providing through sponsorships food, rice, clothing, medical and other helps at a poor government colony we have renamed to New Life Leprosy Colony. Our daughter Kristen (age 14) wrote about her life-changing experience visiting New Life Leprosy Colony this past January.

Visiting New Life Leprosy Colony: ...by Kristen Smith

Replaying through some of the most gruesome photos I’ve seen, and most terrible stories told about leprosy victims, New Life Leprosy Colony always comes to mind. Whenever I’m told we are visiting them each year, I automatically begin to brace myself, imaging really terrible, horrific conditions like the very first visit. Now, after visiting them, I can’t help but wonder in amazement at how far they’ve come. Stepping out onto the grounds of the colony this year, we were immediately embraced with loving stub arms and fingerless hands. In the distance, more huge smiles approached to greet us. I couldn’t help but be joyful after being hugged by such smiley women and cute little old men! One man with an almost bursting smile welcomed my mom excitedly. Shaking her hands with a tight fingerless grip, he placed a Christmas card inside. I was touched. They probably spent the whole year saving money for that beautiful pop-up card! They kept stressing over and over, “come visit more!” and “We look forward to your visit the whole year!” They couldn’t have expressed their gratitude and happiness any more then they had… I could really feel that they were truly grateful. Glancing around, I could obviously see how desperate the conditions still were, dogs and cats no doubt have it more than ten times better in America. Dirty, unsanitary, windowless closets for houses, and a small fireplace outside to cook food whenever they have it. Garbage scattered everywhere in muddy mounds, the bathroom was apparently everywhere, which isn’t at all ideal for infected toes. But even though conditions were no way suited for these people’s needs, everyone still was thanking God, praying with intense sincerity. It convicted me on how I sometimes tend to take the small, and sometimes large things for granted. After everyone had gathered and finished worshiping together, we asked if any would like to share how God has been working in his or her life. Though several stood up to share with us. I thought the most awesome testimony was when one older woman shared how she had woken up one night to find an angry cobra on her stomach! Paralyzed by fear, as the cobra hissed above her, exposing its deadly fangs, she silently cried out to God in prayers. The other residents mentioned how helpless they had felt, unable to kill the snake without it striking at the woman first. So they also began to cry out to Jesus. Then finally, after two hours spent in prayer while battling the cobra, by Gods grace, the snake eventually lost interest and

Kristen Smith’s parents standing with the woman who

told the testimony about how the Lord delivered

her from the cobra snake.

The Smiths and Pastor Britto sitting with people at the New Life Colony who received clothing.

NEW LIFE LEPROSY COLONY 2012 ANNUAL NEWSLETTER 2NEW LIFE LEPROSY COLONY 2012 ANNUAL NEWSLETTER 2NEW LIFE LEPROSY COLONY 2012 ANNUAL NEWSLETTER 2NEW LIFE LEPROSY COLONY 2012 ANNUAL NEWSLETTER 2


Woman in desperate need Woman in desperate need Woman in desperate need Woman in desperate need

of new glasses.of new glasses.of new glasses.of new glasses.

Independent Church in India (ICII) continues to take fresh vegetables and fruits, rice, eggs, beans, flour, oil, and other necessary foods to New Life Leprosy Colony each month through your kind love and generous sup-port. Basic needs such as clothing was provided for Christmas gifts this past Christmas. Also medical helps and bandages, vitamins, and helps for the children are provided. The residents look forward for the ICII teams visit each month, not only to deliver the scrumptious fruits and vegetables but also for the fellowship of know-ing others care. The residents of New Life are very grateful for the foods and special attention they receive

from the ICII Gospel team. They are also growing vegetables in their garden each year ICII pro-vided for them.

Thank you for Providing Necessary Needs at New Life ColonyThank you for Providing Necessary Needs at New Life ColonyThank you for Providing Necessary Needs at New Life ColonyThank you for Providing Necessary Needs at New Life Colony

Residents of New Life Colony dividing up Residents of New Life Colony dividing up Residents of New Life Colony dividing up Residents of New Life Colony dividing up the food brought by ICII.the food brought by ICII.the food brought by ICII.the food brought by ICII.

Other needs that were pro-vided this year for the New

Life Colony were for an exterminator to kill the

blood-sucking bugs in the residents rooms and also

for all the residents to have their own chickens.

Residents are so grateful even for a small Residents are so grateful even for a small Residents are so grateful even for a small Residents are so grateful even for a small pack of oil so they can cook.pack of oil so they can cook.pack of oil so they can cook.pack of oil so they can cook.

Through the generous commitment of a Through the generous commitment of a Through the generous commitment of a Through the generous commitment of a sponsor, we were able to provide each sponsor, we were able to provide each sponsor, we were able to provide each sponsor, we were able to provide each resident with new sandals made just for resident with new sandals made just for resident with new sandals made just for resident with new sandals made just for

people with leprosy.people with leprosy.people with leprosy.people with leprosy.

ICII provides bandages and other ICII provides bandages and other ICII provides bandages and other ICII provides bandages and other medical supplies for New Life.medical supplies for New Life.medical supplies for New Life.medical supplies for New Life.

Providing Medical Needs Providing Medical Needs Providing Medical Needs Providing Medical Needs for Hurting Wounds...for Hurting Wounds...for Hurting Wounds...for Hurting Wounds...

Since the Tamil Nadu Indian gov-

ernment has stopped providing any kind of medicine or bandages for residents of government colo-nies like New Life, ICII helps to

provide medicines and bandages for their sore and hurting wounds. ICII also provides some medical tools such as scissors, gloves,

and other urgent needs. This year, ICII wants to provide

the residents who have cataracts or have bad eyesight to visit the

eye doctor to either receive cataract surgery or new glasses.

All the residents from New Life Colony

really appreciated the sandals they re-

ceived. This is what they shared with

thanksgiving; “We were desperately

waiting and praying for the sandals.

We have used the same old sandals for

many years. We feel so much honored.

You have treated us so special now. This

is the best gift for us because now we

can walk better. Whoever helped with

this should live a long life. We will pray

for them every day”.

One woman shared; “I got very sick and I thought I was going to die. Everyone was counting the days when I would die. I know that ICII and the residents of the colony were all praying for me. One night I had a dream of Jesus. He held out his healing hands to-wards me and told me to ‘fear not I will be with you’. The very next morning I was much better. I could even walk and eat again. Shortly after this I got water baptized and now I am following Jesus only, and I am praising him all the time!” New Life residents shared this; “Jesus, his name should be glorified! Because of your love (ICII supporters) towards us we will follow Jesus all the time. We will never turn back because he is our God. You made our life to glorify Jesus name! So thank you so much for helping us”. Independent Church in India and the residents of New Life want to deeply thank each one of you that is sponsoring their colony, or have sown seed into helping them in any way. Your diligent prayers and support have made life so much easier for these people. Best of all their lives have been totally changed by the love of Jesus Christ in whom most of them have made the Lord and Savior of their lives. We pray that you will continue to make a difference in the lives of these wonderful people who live at New Life Colony in the upcoming years. As all colo-nies in India, New Life Colony has many needs, but we would like to keep meeting as many of them as possible so we can continue to make a difference.

Testimonies from New Life Leprosy ColonyTestimonies from New Life Leprosy ColonyTestimonies from New Life Leprosy ColonyTestimonies from New Life Leprosy Colony Many residents of New Life gave amazing testimonies of how the Lord Jesus Christ is touching their lives; ICII Missionary Johnny shared; “I am going to the New Life Colony three to four times per week. I am teaching them the word of God and I am praying for them. One day when I got to New Life there was one woman who was rolling around on the floor in the colony because she had terrible pain that she could not bear. I prayed for her and when I returned the next day she was totally healed. She told me that if I had not come that day to pray for her she may have died”. A resident of New Life Colony tells this; “Every night I used to get the fever. But after I pray the chillness and fever will go away. Jesus is healing me each night of this”. A man named Ramasammy shares; “Four months ago I got in an accident. I got a bad fracture in my leg and I could not walk. I had to crawl everywhere. I was in a very bad situation. The Independent Church in India Gospel team prayed for me and the Lord healed me very quickly. Since then I am always praying to Jesus”. Another resident shared’ “One night I was sleeping and Jesus came to me and said; ‘I am your God you should follow me. I will always be with you’.”

ICII Missionary preaching the Word of God.ICII Missionary preaching the Word of God.ICII Missionary preaching the Word of God.ICII Missionary preaching the Word of God.


Lowell Smith sharing God’s Word to the residents of New Life.Lowell Smith sharing God’s Word to the residents of New Life.Lowell Smith sharing God’s Word to the residents of New Life.Lowell Smith sharing God’s Word to the residents of New Life.

Listening to God’s word.Listening to God’s word.Listening to God’s word.Listening to God’s word. Lowell Smith delivers a sari to a sickly woman Lowell Smith delivers a sari to a sickly woman Lowell Smith delivers a sari to a sickly woman Lowell Smith delivers a sari to a sickly woman

who could not attend the meeting.who could not attend the meeting.who could not attend the meeting.who could not attend the meeting.

ICII puts a smile on a face ICII puts a smile on a face ICII puts a smile on a face ICII puts a smile on a face of a woman when she of a woman when she of a woman when she of a woman when she receives a new sari.receives a new sari.receives a new sari.receives a new sari.

A man at New Life A man at New Life A man at New Life A man at New Life showing his new shirt he showing his new shirt he showing his new shirt he showing his new shirt he received for Christmas.received for Christmas.received for Christmas.received for Christmas.

New Life Leprosy Colony -2012

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