Hello Everyone! This
is the first time greeting you in 2008.
I trust this will be a happy year for you all, and I hope it will be a really Good time with Great blessing from our Gracious Lord and Saviour, whose 1st Advent (into this world, as a Babe in Bethlehem), we have just celebrated. Now we look expectantly for His 2nd Advent, as a Glorious King. How wonderful that will be!
We have enjoyed times of glad remembrance and rejoicing with one another in various ways, and this was certainly so with the family at the 3 Hs.
Here, in the first picture you can see some of the Seniors in their attractive dresses, dancing and singing a Welcome Song, in the Hostel Christmas Special Meeting, and their joyous greeting is passed on to us.
There was an excellent Program with the girls and staff taking part in songs, dramas, dances and mimes, with a special message given by Mr.Shalom Israel from Vizag (from Jeeva Jalamu (Living Waters) Telugu Radio Ministry). You can see him speaking, in the 2nd picture. Shalom is a very dedicated and energetic worker with a cheerful disposition. (I met him when I was in India). He moved to Vizag when the complete office and work of Living Waters moved there from Narsapur some months ago.
There were over 1,000 present at the Christmas Program including girls' relatives, and friends, local tradespeople and other visitors, so we praise God that they heard the clear Gospel message presented then in different ways.
After all the excitement of the Christmas celebrations, with picnics, feasts, prizes and presents, carol services and meetings, the little girls of Hermon School went home for their Vacation on Dec. 22, while the High School girls and College Students stayed on, and about 80 were there for the actual Christmas days, thoroughly enjoying themselves. On January 11, the rest of the girls had holiday for the important Hindu Festival of Pongal or Sankranti (similar to our Christmas and New Year holiday). The staff also took their turns and all returned on Jan. 21.
Before Christmas there was another important event in Hebron Hostel! Recently the dining hall has been extended, and now another extension is necessary to the Assembly Hall, to accommodate the increased number of students. The present Assembly Hall is no longer big enough for all, especially when visitors come. After much prayer and thought, with plans and preparation, a plot of land adjoining the dining hall was found to be sufficient and suitable for this building. You can see the large area marked out in the picture, with the girls lined up around the edge, ready for the foundation ceremony. All are delighted to watch and take part in songs of praise in these special events.
At that time in November, two friends (also sponsors) from Australia were visiting, and were able to take part in the brick-laying ceremony for the foundation. Glenys and David Hambleton have made regular visits to Hebron, (almost annually) and are always welcome. I have met them on several occasions, so we were very pleased to have their presence and assistance at this time. In the picture Glenys is laying a brick with David, Jenny Grace and the mason watching! Now Jennie tells me that the building is 'going up fine", and 2 of the Committee members are helping to get materials required.
This Hall will meet a great need, and it will be in continual use for morning and evening devotions, Prayer sessions, Sunday School Classes, Bible Studies, and various programs for welcomes, anniversaries, and special events. It is also wonderful to see that the Lord has set His seal upon this project, for just at the time of the foundation ceremony, we received a large gift sent anonymously. So we praise God fix this. We can also testify that we have proved God's abundant provision for our needs in all areas of His work at the 3 Hs.
OTHER EVENTS. On January 26 - Republic Day, all went down to the next big bungalow on the canal road (Beracah) and had songs, games, and a lovely picnic, in the spacious grounds, under the coconut trees. Then all the girls will be having Exams this term. Please pray much for the High School girls and College students, taking important final Government Exams in March, so will be studying hard. The Results will decide their future training and further education.
As many leave the Hostel in April, there will be special classes and retreats before that, and the next one planned is in mid - February, with the same team led by Suvarthamma from the jungle area, who came before. All the girls and staff as well as the team have enjoyed these visits so we pray for great things this time too.
We wish you all God's Rich Blessing as you also engage in various activities - thank you most sincerely for all your help in 2007, and request your earnest prayers and continued interest in 3 H's for 2008.
Joyce Harding
I trust this will be a happy year for you all, and I hope it will be a really Good time with Great blessing from our Gracious Lord and Saviour, whose 1st Advent (into this world, as a Babe in Bethlehem), we have just celebrated. Now we look expectantly for His 2nd Advent, as a Glorious King. How wonderful that will be!
We have enjoyed times of glad remembrance and rejoicing with one another in various ways, and this was certainly so with the family at the 3 Hs.
Here, in the first picture you can see some of the Seniors in their attractive dresses, dancing and singing a Welcome Song, in the Hostel Christmas Special Meeting, and their joyous greeting is passed on to us.
There was an excellent Program with the girls and staff taking part in songs, dramas, dances and mimes, with a special message given by Mr.Shalom Israel from Vizag (from Jeeva Jalamu (Living Waters) Telugu Radio Ministry). You can see him speaking, in the 2nd picture. Shalom is a very dedicated and energetic worker with a cheerful disposition. (I met him when I was in India). He moved to Vizag when the complete office and work of Living Waters moved there from Narsapur some months ago.
There were over 1,000 present at the Christmas Program including girls' relatives, and friends, local tradespeople and other visitors, so we praise God that they heard the clear Gospel message presented then in different ways.
After all the excitement of the Christmas celebrations, with picnics, feasts, prizes and presents, carol services and meetings, the little girls of Hermon School went home for their Vacation on Dec. 22, while the High School girls and College Students stayed on, and about 80 were there for the actual Christmas days, thoroughly enjoying themselves. On January 11, the rest of the girls had holiday for the important Hindu Festival of Pongal or Sankranti (similar to our Christmas and New Year holiday). The staff also took their turns and all returned on Jan. 21.
Before Christmas there was another important event in Hebron Hostel! Recently the dining hall has been extended, and now another extension is necessary to the Assembly Hall, to accommodate the increased number of students. The present Assembly Hall is no longer big enough for all, especially when visitors come. After much prayer and thought, with plans and preparation, a plot of land adjoining the dining hall was found to be sufficient and suitable for this building. You can see the large area marked out in the picture, with the girls lined up around the edge, ready for the foundation ceremony. All are delighted to watch and take part in songs of praise in these special events.
At that time in November, two friends (also sponsors) from Australia were visiting, and were able to take part in the brick-laying ceremony for the foundation. Glenys and David Hambleton have made regular visits to Hebron, (almost annually) and are always welcome. I have met them on several occasions, so we were very pleased to have their presence and assistance at this time. In the picture Glenys is laying a brick with David, Jenny Grace and the mason watching! Now Jennie tells me that the building is 'going up fine", and 2 of the Committee members are helping to get materials required.
This Hall will meet a great need, and it will be in continual use for morning and evening devotions, Prayer sessions, Sunday School Classes, Bible Studies, and various programs for welcomes, anniversaries, and special events. It is also wonderful to see that the Lord has set His seal upon this project, for just at the time of the foundation ceremony, we received a large gift sent anonymously. So we praise God fix this. We can also testify that we have proved God's abundant provision for our needs in all areas of His work at the 3 Hs.
OTHER EVENTS. On January 26 - Republic Day, all went down to the next big bungalow on the canal road (Beracah) and had songs, games, and a lovely picnic, in the spacious grounds, under the coconut trees. Then all the girls will be having Exams this term. Please pray much for the High School girls and College students, taking important final Government Exams in March, so will be studying hard. The Results will decide their future training and further education.
As many leave the Hostel in April, there will be special classes and retreats before that, and the next one planned is in mid - February, with the same team led by Suvarthamma from the jungle area, who came before. All the girls and staff as well as the team have enjoyed these visits so we pray for great things this time too.
We wish you all God's Rich Blessing as you also engage in various activities - thank you most sincerely for all your help in 2007, and request your earnest prayers and continued interest in 3 H's for 2008.
Joyce Harding