Subodh Jena Kumar has twice hosted The Eliah Challenge
The Lord is so good to us. Our Trip to Gundripanka was amazing and very fruitful as the Lord performed a great healing for a man named Pradeep, and through that family an entire village came to know Jesus.
Pradeep was in great need of healing as he was suffering from a severe sickness. We did not know each other, but still I wanted to go to minister to him there. I told him to call other sick people as well. He made arrangements from the outside and also encouraged people from his village to come. He informed me that the journey is one night by bus and then two hours on foot but it turned out to be a five hour trek.
Early in the morning we started our journey toward the mountain. The eight of us started to climb the first mountain. When we reached the second mountain we were very tired. We sat on a rock and rested for a few minutes. Again we started our climb up the third mountain where the village is situated. Our legs and toes swelled up and we were exhausted. But we forgot the pain when we saw the eagerness of the people.
Subodh on the right and Rosy at left
Rosy & Subodh at left
The mountaintop village of Gundripanka
Gundripanka is a small village on top of the mountain and the Kandha tribal people barely survive with no school, no roads, and no hospital. I asked a few people if somebody gets sick then what do they do? They replied that they take them to the nearest hospital on a cot. And several have died on the long trip to the hospital—a seventy kilometer walk from their village. They are very simple and innocent people and are also very receptive.
As our meeting started I asked how many people had heard the name of Jesus Christ. I saw the hands of a few youths go up; the others did not know His name. I was very touched that in this age of technology some people do not yet know the name of Jesus Christ.
Subodh sharing the gospel
Villagers accepting Jesus Christ
In that village there were forty families who were awaiting the healing of Brother Pradeep Kandha. The villagers knew the pain and agony from which he had suffered for the past few years. He was very sick and sometimes he would even fall to the ground unconscious while he was out walking. And neither could he sit for even twenty minutes. They knew that he had gone here and there for his treatment but was not healed, and he was becoming very weak.
When the villagers came to know about our ministry and that we were going to their village, they decided that if Pradeep was healed then surely they would believe in God and would worship Him. That is exactly what happened—Jesus touched Pradeep and forty families came to believe in Jesus. Praise God.
The meeting was conducted in his foyer where one hundred eighty people were gathered. For the first time Pradeep was able to sit for two hours without any problem. Not only was Pradeep healed, there were many other sick people who were healed from their diseases as well. Pradeep is testifying in the photos below.
Pradeep testifies
Sadananda was practically blind for two years. He had to use spectacles. When he took them off, he was not able to see anything. Almighty God touched him and he could see without spectacles.
Mina had a migraine headache and felt her body burning constantly, but she never went to a hospital for treatment because of finances. She believed that the Lord would heal her. Jesus touched her and she was healed.
Bulu had fallen from a mango tree and his leg was fractured. He was using Ayurvedic medicine but the pain was not relieved. And because of the pain he was not able to walk. God touched him and he was healed.
Manjula had a breathing problem. She used to feel very tired when she walked and worked longer. Because of that she never climbed the mountain or walked far. That day God touched her and she wept uncontrollably as the Lord touched her body. Praise God.
Jayachandra had suffered from chest pain for six months. Jesus touched him miraculously and he was healed.
The Gundipanka trip was very fruitful and memorable for us. There are thousands of villages situated on top of the mountain. Who will risk going there to preach the gospel? It is very important to send an evangelist there but it is better if we call the servants of God and equip them to shepherd the people there.
After the meeting we called a few children and gave them some chocolate. We asked the children what school and class they are attending, but almost all the children are not in school as it is so very far from them. I met with a few parents and asked them about their children’s schooling, and they said we do not have such a facility here so we can’t send them. After a few years the children will take care of the cow, the goat and will be used to help with for cultivation. They asked me if you know any children’s home or orphanage which uses the Oriya dialect, please help us. Rosy and I both were so sad to see them like that. We were thinking what will be their future, or will their next generation end up this way as well?
Please pray. If you come across with any mission agency which has a burden for children, we will help them with their schooling and their future.
Villagers bidding farewell to Subodh & Rosy and their party
Rosy & Johnson & Subodh & Nathan