NUN BURNT ALIVE: A nun was burnt to death on 25th, Monday 2008, after an orphanage was torched in at Phutpali in Bargarh district in Orissa during a bandh called by Hindu nationalist parties. RASANANDA PRADHAN TORCHED ALIVE: Another person, Rasananda Pradhan, was burnt to death when his house was set ablaze at Rupa village in Kandhamal district. INFLAMMATORY SPEECHES TARGET CHRISTIANS: During the bandh inflammatory speeches spreading hatred against the Christian workers and the community were given by the VHP leaders. CHURCHES BURNT ALL ACROSS ORISSA STATE: Churches were attacked in various districts as also in the state capital, police sources said, adding 40 houses were set ablaze in Phulbani town. PRAY NOW FOR PERSECUTED INDIAN CHRISTIANS.

You may find it odd that I ended up in a former Soviet republic of Belarus from South India. But the story of how I got here is a testament to God’s bountiful grace and His communication of purpose for me . . . . As a mission leader, my father always encouraged young people to pursue God’s agenda and be willing to go to new places and bring others to the Lord Jesus Christ.  The will to go was certainly there, both in my parents and I. But the resources were not.  As a result, there was little money to draw from.  My dad had the answer: “You can go,” he said.  “But, your only resource will be faith in our living Saviour.  And he will provide.”  But the question of where the money would come from remained. My purpose was to become a “medical missionary” but God’s higher purpose was to make me a  “student missionary” first.