Update on Orissa Visit

Last semester, Lauren and I had a friend name James Bennala, another student at Austin Grad. whose home was in India. During the semester, James requested prayers for Christians in India; he said that radical Hindus had begun destroying homes and churches and killing many Christians and preachers.

Recently, James sent Austin Grad. a letter and a few pictures by email that was shared with the students:

Dear venerable friend.
This is James Bennala from India.
I was so glad to return to Andhra Pradesh from Orissa. God has done a wonderful things in our visit to Orissa. During our visit to Orissa we were so scared to visit the persecuted Christians and villages.

Hindu radicals still threatening Christians in Orissa, also they are not allowing other Christians go and help them, if any body does this they are getting in big problem. Some Christians who went to help to the victims were beaten by these Hindu radicals. But we praise God for His marvelous guidance upon us, we did not face any problem. In fact we dressed up like tribals in Orissa and we mingled among the persecuted Christians, so the other Hindu people were unable to recognize us as strangers.

We are the first visitors to the Kandamal district where the persecution last for 6 months. Many christian leaders went there but they did not visit the persecuted Christians and have not visit their destroyed homes. When we went and visit their homes and christian families in relief camps they were so happy and they told us that no body came to them and comfort them. We were very happy when we heard this from them.

In Kandamal district whole villages up to 4000 villages were destroyed. 15000 people hiding in the forests and sheltering in relief camps, 400 churches have burnt, 86 preachers were slaughtered or choped to death and hundreds of people were killed in the persecution.

Hindu radicals looted every thing and destroyed what Christians has. These people have no a tip of compassion towards Christian children, Christians and pastors.

We have taken some pictures of destroyed Christian homes, churches and bones of the martyrs.

When we were there some Christians have oranged meeting in secret place, we have encouraged and comforted them with the God's word. I believe it is really good to work with Christians in Orissa, encouraging them in growing spiritually.

Orissa has lot of poverty and back ward state. It is not growing and developing state. People have no good facilities like transportation, schools, hospitals and etc. If some body is serious or at any emergency they needs to go to the cities like Bhuvaneshwer and Katak, these cities are far from the villages like 300 miles.

I am just giving the picture of Orissa and Christians.

I will give some more report after a while.

Thanks for praying for our trip to Orissa and our work in India.
Please do remember Orissa Christians in your prayers.

Thank you each and every one.

God Bless
James Bennala

(this is James in this picture)

Destroyed houses

Destroyed church building

Dead bodies

Burnt bones of Akbar Digal-Ponuel