SHARING IN ANDHRA STATE

It is wonderful to have friends and colleagues in ministry who can help, encourage and motivate. Our closest friends in ministry in India are EMRYS and USHA REES. We recently spent a day at their place in the neighboring state of ANDHRA. On July 19, the David and Lois Rees Memorial Hospital, located in a small village called YERPEDU, honored the late Lois Rees with a full day preaching meeting. The hospital staff planned and conducted the entire program beautifully. The emphasis was on God's love and how Lois Rees lived and practised His love. I was the guest speaker and Pam and I had a great time of fellowship and sharing and returned to Chennai uplifted and blessed.

The Reeses work concentrates on providing care, cure and relief to those afflicted by HIV/AIDS which is highly prevalent in the region for multiple reasons. The Rees' hospital has a multi-dimensional ministry geared to combat this devastating problem. Searching out those afflicted with HIV /AIDS is quite a task due to culture. Then comes testing by authorised people, followed by treatment and counselling. However, the most moving images we saw were those of little children - lovable innocent children who contracted HIV/AIDS through their parents. What a glorious work! What a day of sharing with hospital staff and HIV/AIDS patients! More power to Emrys and Usha as they labor in love amongst these people.



Why do we count Emrys and Usha Rees as such close friends and colleagues? Well, we have all been together in ministry for years. Emrys was a foundational help as we began the Madras School of Evangelism in the Seventies. They understand the intricacies and problems we face in ministry, for they too share similar situations. They always - ALWAYS - encourage us and our families have spent a lot of time together. Our children grew up with each other and we thank God for the close friendship they share. The Rees Family - We are blessed to have them as friends.

Leonard