Manipur Report

Hemanth Vadlapudi had the opportunity in January to accompany a team to visit and provide aid to 11 relief camps in Manipur. Hemanth is currently enrolled at ASU and finishing his Masters in Computer Science. He also serves as an Oasis intern with the Leadership Training Institute at the Tempe Church of Christ. Hemanth is coordinating another aid mission to Manipur. The team he went with will return to Manipur in April and provide the supplies we are able to donate to families in the relief camps. Below is his report of their mission trip in January.

Upon entering the Manipur border, we faced stringent security checks with multiple questions. Eventually, we were granted permission (ILP) with several restrictions. Despite the military presence every 2 miles, the conflict and firing persist, causing the loss of lives and homes. We entered Manipur state and started visiting affected villages in the Kangpokpi district.

We went to a recent mass burial site for 21 people and offered our prayers. It was heartbreaking to see young lives lost in the conflict and firings. Later, we visited a Wall of Remembrance for the 148 people who lost their lives in this tragedy.

On the 2nd day we reached Churachandpur safely by crossing 7 high-secured military security camps with lots of checking this morning. Churachandpur is totally under the control of violent Meiteis. We visited Pastor David's home. Pastor David was beheaded by Meiteis in the month of July. Since David passed away, his cousin has been caring for David's father in her modest home. Unfortunately, her father has cancer and is currently hospitalized, adding to their difficulties. Today, we provided additional financial support.

Before evening that day, we reached a place in Churachandpur where four lives were lost to senseless firing and violence by radical Meiteis. The violence suffered here has created a terrifying situation in this district.

By God's grace two of my team members were able to meet the two women who were abused brutally in that conflict and their family members. (https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/in-manipur-horror-2-women-paraded-naked-on-camera-allegedly-gang-raped-4223105/amp/1) The young woman and her mother were in shock and continuosly crying when they met with my team members. Before this incident the young woman was engaged to get married. The young man, with lots of good nature, married her after this incident without telling his parents. But his parents came and forcibly took him away, forbidding their marriage. And the middle-aged woman is in shock as well and not willing to speak. It was so heart-breaking and a very new experience for me to see the great losses they have suffered. They lost everything and the young woman’s brother and father were killed and her husband was forced to leave her. We gave strengthening messages, prayed for them, and we promised the young lady that we will stand with you forever. She got some relief after all the prayers and promise. They need our prayers.

We purchased essential items and notebooks for children who cannot get to school and are living in relief camps. Then we visited our 1st relief camp in Churachandpur.

We also went to a place where recently families made a mass burial for more than 80 of their beloved ones and offered our prayers.

Over the next two days, we visited nine more relief camps, distributing essential items, books, and pencils to children. In previous visits, Faith in Action Ministries (FIAM) teams distributed blankets, mats, mattresses, clothes, children's coats, household items, food, and crucial medicines. This time, the FIAM Team extended support by distributing nutritional food items including eggs, as well as children's toys, and offering financial assistance for maintaining relief camps. As our resources ran out, we visited one camp with empty hands. We saw their dire situation and prayed. Touched by the Holy Spirit, we decided to take action. We wrote a promissory note, accompanied by my personal cheque, and provided the shop owner with a cheque instead of funds to purchase necessary items like milk powder, tea, oil, dal, and more. The recipients were overwhelmed with joy upon receiving the supplies, offering heartfelt praises to God and Jesus Christ. It was an inspiring thing of God's wonders. Due to our depleted resources, we couldn't visit two additional relief camps belonging to Manipuri pastors and their families.

In each of the 11 relief camps we visited, 35 to 70 children are primary school age. Some are infants and toddlers. Seventeen women gave birth in relief camps without medical assistance and medicine. Unfortunately, a young woman faced lots of problems during delivery; the mother died, but the baby's life was saved. Now the baby is 5 months old, and the father is looking after her in the relief camp.

The small children and mothers are critically troubled by the cold weather and lack of sufficient food. Primary school-age children and young children have lost their education, becoming like careless street children. They need education and nutritional food. We are praying for their better future. Please pray with us.

In the relief camps, there are also many older people who are also struggling with the cold weather and lack of sufficient food and shelter. People in the relief camps located in forest areas, face a big problem of snakes. Pray for their protection and future.

All these people are farmers, and now their farming lands and houses are occupied by violent Meiteis. It seems like they will never get them back. Many of them don't know anything other than farming. Pray for these people's lives and needs.

When visiting the relief camps, I was so impressed that these Christian brothers and sisters converted their relief camps into churches and worshiped God every Sunday. They immediately began praising God after we helped them. When we started praying, these individuals began kneeling down and joining us in prayer.

Those 11 relief camps have a total of 1462 adults, 476 children, and 153 children less than 2 years old. The total number of lives is 2091. We visited these people, prayed for them, and supported them. Prayers are needed for these people, David’s family, and the two women who were sexually assaulted and exploited.

While visiting relief camps and places and families my heart cried so many times but I always gave strengthening messages and offered a smiling face when I was with them. It was so hard and my eyes are still full of tears for them. Please pray for them and encourage your friends and family members to also pray for them.

Immediate and self-sustaining provisions are crucial for their survival during this challenging period.

Blessings,

Hemanth & Team | FIAM

January 2024 Mission Trip to Manipur

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