LEAD: Bringing Hope to Students in Northern India

Dear Friends,

This month we are thankful to be able to share our first LEAD story from northern India. You probably know by now that since May 2023 there has been ongoing tribal/government tension, yet, amid the challenges, our team leader, Muan, and others continue to seek daily opportunities to share God’s love and the Gospel. Sports Outreach has been able to provide education classes to help students with English, grammar, mathematics, and other subjects while their schools have been closed. Many families continue to be on alert for possible evacuation. For a recent article on the situation in Manipur go to https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/India-s- northeastern-Manipur-marks-6-months-of-deadly-conflict.

Below is the update provided by Muan, with some edits for clarity.

One of our local students, Suangouding, was attending school with his younger sister and brother (Zamkholnem and Mangliankhup), but due to the ongoing ethnic cleansing in Manipur we cannot live normally. His mother is a housewife, and his father earns their livelihood from daily wages. His father is the sole bread winner for the family, and he could not continue his regular work—they could barely provide their daily bread. Since work could not continue as usual, they did not have enough money to pay a tuition teacher so they could keep up with studies while the schools remain closed, so Sports Outreach provided tuition for them. Having this tuition help has not only impacted their studies, but we could also reach out to them at home and have a Bible study and seminar for two consecutive nights. During our home visit, Suangouding’s father and one of his sisters were sick and bedridden. We prayed for their health and the family’s well-being. His mother expressed her gratitude saying that if there was no free tuition, her children would not be able to keep up with their studies. It is a real blessing for them. She also feels blessed by the Word of God shared during the seminar.

During this month of Thanksgiving, we want to thank you for your prayers and support for the Sports Outreach LEAD program. It is making such a difference in children’s lives and restoring hope to so many!

Story from November 2023