You can obtain a copy in outlets throughout Ireland.  E.G. Faith Mission Bookshops, Eason, Supervalu.

Later on Saturday evening as darkness fell and the weather deteriorated Igor drove us 3 hours to the coastal town of Liepaja where we were to spend Sunday with Pastor Daniel, His family and the Church of Immanuel Fellowship. It was in Liepaja, like many of these European countries, that we had the sombre reminder of past days. Latvia has endured the oppression of both Nazi and Communist rule and it is so sad to realise that for so many of the people we meet, who Drop Inn Ministries works alongside have endured brutal hardship most, if not all, their lives..It is hard for us to grasp just how much hope a simple bag of food can bring to a person, and I am always deeply humbled when I see the difference that is being made in the name of Jesus Christ.

Ian and I had just two more days left to spend in Latvia and for both days we parted company. I was off to the Baltic School of Ministry in Dobelnieki , where I had the privilege of teaching 28 Bible Students on the Book of Hebrews. Young men and women who are training to become servants of God in their own country and further afield..While I was restricted to the classroom, Ian and Igor headed to Jelgava..Another feeding program, in another village was followed by visits to the Men’s and then the Women’s Prison…In all three places Ian had opportunities to speak and to pray with those who asked..

Ian had one last place to visit before leaving Latvia, that was the Rehab Centre on the outskirts of Jelgava. On his previous visit he had been challenged by the living conditions under which the residents lived, particularly the lack of one really essential facility, namely a toilet!!! So Ian was determined to change that situation. It is not the usual request you get in Church meetings and it would not be the easiest to raise money for but he did it and thanks to his efforts when he returned this time, with a suitable plaque, Ian inspected, quite literally, as you can see!, the best place now in the house!!!! To be serious though, that is just as important to our ministry as anything else..Whether it is in providing, food, or clothes, or (see the photo!) a window in a clod house OR even a toilet! These are real people in real situations who do not just  hear us talk about the love of God but they first see it and experience it, when we come and change their circumstances, perhaps only a little, but them change them nonetheless, and in ways that still make us smile too!

So we leave Latvia once again and we promise to keep praying for Igor, for the Churches and for the people of that great Baltic Nation..

Ian will be returning to Latvia in July to hold a Youth Camp.

If you would be interested in helping out with that please do get in touch with us at info@dropinn.net

1. You can Sponsor a Child. E.G. £5 per month with feed, educate and clothe a child in Burkina Faso
2. You can make a financial donation either by way of a one off payment or you could consider a regular donation by direct debit. (Just fill in the pullout form in the centre of this brochure and return to the address given or  contact us for more info) Any financial donations WILL go directly to our projects.
3. You can donate any good used furniture, clothing, toys etc to our Charity Shops. (Details of your nearest shop can be found on the first page)
4. You could organize a Sponsored event, with the proceeds going to Drop Inn projects. (We will be glad to supply you with publicity material)
5. You could invite Drop Inn Ministries to come to your Church, School or Club and present the work we do.
6. You could help us with our 2012 Shoebox Appeal by either hosting a Shoebox Party in your home/street or encouraging your Church/Club or local school to get involved with us. Shoeboxes MUST be with us by the beginning of November. (Shoeboxes can be left at any of our Charity Shops, see front page. OR for bigger quantities contact us for collection)
7. You can join us in visiting one of our projects this year or the next, which will really give you an insight into our work, which will bless you but will really encourage the people we work with (You will be personally responsible to finance the trip.)

If you would like any further information OR would like help in organizing an event OR would like a copies of our Project DVDs OR would like Drop Inn to present their work personally?

Please contact us at – by e-mail at  info@dropinn.net OR

Telephone Adrian on 07856562523

We can ONLY continue to do so with YOUR HELP….

Please remember all those who depend entirely upon our help throughout the year and especially at this Christmas time.

God Bless you all and again thank YOU.

Ronnie Dawson

The Indian State of Orissa has been in the world news for all the wrong reasons.

These where some of the headlines just two years ago….

“In September 2008 thousands of believers in Orissa were attacked, some killed, and their homes and churches were destroyed. Many are still homeless and some are even living in the forests or relief camps.”

“Three more believers were martyred and twelve others were severely wounded in a fresh wave of violence in Orissa, India, on September 30.”

“Two of the anti-Christian extremist groups responsible for the violence against Christians in Orissa, India, are demanding that the state government ban Christian witnessing..”

Drop Inn Ministries has been supporting Sunny and now his wife Kunny since 2007. They have experienced firsthand the effects of the persecution. Following numerous attacks on Christians in their town, local police mounted security protection around their home and the school. Two years on there is still tension and fear and many of the Christians who fled from their homes have still not returned because of this.  More importantly to us is that because of continuing threats, animosity from many in the town and specifically the landlord of the building no longer wanting his premises to be used for a Christian School, Sunny & Kunny must find somewhere to build a new School and quickly.

So as the children can continue to live and learn in a place that is safe and free from fear or interference they want to buy their own site outside the town and build a purpose built school/home and not just for the present 75 children but a place bigger, that would enable them to look after at least 100 boys and girls.

We need £57.000 to make this possible….£27.000 is needed to purchase the land and the remaining £30.000 to complete the building itself. We know it is a BIG ask but if we can get enough people to give us a little then it is possible….We are getting alongside Sunny & Kunny and believing that God can make much of our little.

Would YOU be willing to help us raise the money for these needy children?

We would love Schools to join us in any way they can, partner us with this little School in India.

PLEASE HELP US WITH THIS URGENT NEED……

If you can contact Adrian on 07856562523 or e-mail info@dropinn.net.

If you wish we can send you a short video presentation free of charge.

THANK YOU!

Its land, people and culture are both colourful and to my western eyes very different from any other country I have been with Drop Inn Ministries. The one constant was the people Drop Inn works alongside. Whether in Africa, America or here in India, they are very special people who have such a love for the Lord and a love for their own people. They remind me of how Paul must have felt about his co-workers summed up in his words to the Philippian Church in Philippians Chapter 1:3-5 “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel….”

Our trip took us first to London, not just on transit, but to make our personal application for Business Visas as our Tourist application had been turned down, leaving us pondering until 6.00pm on Monday evening. With Visas in hand we caught our early morning flight on Tuesday and headed to Hyderabad and to the first meeting with Sudhir. I had known Sudhir for a number of years communicating through facebook and e-mail and both of us had looked forward to seeing each other face to face for the first time. Sudhir met us at the airport but he was not on his own and even though it was after 3.00am India time John Daniel along with some of his colleagues were there too. It was to be the first of many amazing Indian welcomes we were to receive throughout our visit. Walking through the airport bedecked in huge flower garlands is an experience in itself. Indeed no one else in the World as I have known welcomes their guests as they do in India. I didn’t mention that John Daniel had travelled 7 hours by road to meet us at that time of the morning!

We spent two days with Sudhir, one day at either end of our visit. Over those two days we visited two of the Churches that are supported by Sudhir’s Ministry. One of those Churches was in a Slum area of Hitex City, an inner city area of Hyderabad where Pastor Jacob works with some of the poorest people in the city. We spoke at a Pastor’s Conference, where 176 Pastors had gathered to hear the Word of God. We paid a visit to Joseph, the owner of Shalom enterprises, the man who made it possible for us to obtain our Business Visas. I was so humbled by this young man who began a business in the year 2000 with 200 rupees £2.75 approx) and has built up a manufacturing company making security devises such as gates and turnstiles that has now International Status…ALL of his profits however are used to support the poor and needy of his community and raising up evangelists to take the Gospel to India.  But perhaps the most memorable visit was to the Abundant Life School and Church in the Hyderabad itself. Situated in the centre of a really poor neighbourhood it has to one side a Hindu Temple and the other a Muslim Mosque. Having been introduced to the Children, who sang and danced for us, Pastor Stephen told us his testimony of the times he was threatened and even beaten but carried on being faithful to the Lord. The little church is not so little now having around 150 converts and approx 80 families. The school has on its roll around 70 children and as Stephen said himself it is the Lord’s doing. Despite pressures and difficulties Stephen and his family continue to serve faithfully among a community of people they love and long to bring to Jesus. It was a privilege to meet him.

The following day we travelled north and into another State, Orissa. I remembered well that Orissa had been in the world news only 2 years previously.

These where some of the headlines…

“In September 2008 thousands of believers in Orissa were attacked, some killed, and their homes and churches were destroyed. Many are still homeless and some are even living in the forests or relief camps.”

“Three more believers were martyred and twelve others were severely wounded in a fresh wave of violence in Orissa, India, on September 30.”

“Two of the anti-Christian extremist groups responsible for the violence against Christians in Orissa, India, are demanding that the state government ban Christian witnessing..”

Drop Inn Ministries has been supporting Sunny and now his wife Kunny since 2007. They work in Rayagada in Southern Orissa and had experienced firsthand the effects of the persecution. Following numerous attacks on Christians in their town local police mounted security protection around their home and school. Two years on there is still tension and fear and many of the Christians who fled from their homes have still not returned because of this.

Sunny has a twofold Ministry. He travels out to the mountain areas where he supports Tribal Village Churches and their Pastors. In addition he is Director of Emmanuel English School. Situated in the centre of Rayagada, the School not only teaches 75 children but is also home for all of them. Kunny, is not only the School Principal but mother to the children also. It was a real delight to visit all the projects in Orissa. To see those children who are either orphans or come from families who earn less than £1 a day and just do not have the money to even feed their children, so well looked after.  (Because of continuing threats and specifically the landlord not wanting his building to be used for a Christian School, Sunny & Kunny must find a new site for their school and quickly..Please see ‘Sunny’s School Project’ for details how YOU can help us raise £57.000 for the Children of Rayagada) In the villages we were so encouraged to worship with the believers there. To baptise 6 new converts in a rice field and to be just blessed by these people’s faith and hope in Jesus Christ was wonderful. I have to confess it was again humbling to be among people whose daily lives are an utter struggle and their Christianity being worked out amidst such distrust and superstition. The week before we arrived for the baptisms, the village had been struck with malaria and 3 adults had died as a result. Fear had spread throughout and was encouraged by the local Hindu Priest and blamed on the Christians, so on the day many of the villagers were too frightened to leave their homes. Pray for our brothers and sisters in Orissa.

We returned two days later to Andra Pradesh but moved to the coast to Repalle, where we have been working with John Daniel Rebba since 2005. Boxing Day 2004 will never be forgotten in this part of India and across the Indian Ocean. The day the country was struck by a giant Tsunami. The effects of that Tsunami were worst felt along the southern coast and many fishing villages where left destroyed and families devastated.  It was in one such village, Muktheswarapan, which Ronnie and Les, on behalf of Drop Inn Ministries visited in 2005. Having witnessed themselves the plight of the people, Drop Inn  offered help to meet the immediate needs of the people but also pledged to stand by them and through the work of ‘John’s Ministries’ began a rebuilding program. It was therefore a great joy to be asked on this occasion to dedicate the new concrete homes (40 built with another 8 to go) to the glory of God and to see and hear the thankfulness of that community. Returning to Repalle itself we visited two other villages and saw communities of believers in each and were invited to worship with them.

At the heart of Drop Inn Ministries is the support of widows and orphans and in Repalle we are glad to be involved with John Daniel as his Ministry is very much concerned with both. On our first evening in Repalle we visited a new project aimed at the Tribal Children who have moved into the town. Many are orphans and all of them have so little prospect of any future and the project has been set up to teach the children and give them that hope for a future.  It was an added delight when we were introduced to the project named after our Grandson…’Daniel’s Child Development Centre’.

The following day we were welcomed into the company of around 300 widows who were eager to hear the Message of God brought to them by Carolyn. Ronnie and myself had opportunity in the afternoon to speak to a gathering of 300/350 Pastors. It was so thrilling to see, wherever we went, a real hunger for the Word of God. The previous evening, despite rain, a crowd of around 2000 men, women and children had gathered for a crusade to mark the opening of the new Children’s Orphanage at Allamudi and if we could receive even more blessing, the next day we baptised 13 converts from that Crusade.

Our visit to Repalle was brought to a dramatic end. John Daniel played host to a very special meeting in the large community Hall in Repalle. All the Pastors, all the widows and many, many more gathered for the evening and to that was invited another special guest, State Government minister, Sri. M.V. Ramana Rao who was to award Ronnie an Honorary Doctorate in recognition of the work Drop Inn Ministries has done for the people of Andra Pradesh. I witnessed that contribution with my own eyes. Orphans, widows, Pastors, Churches, villages….PEOPLE for whom their lives have been transformed. Transformed by the Lord Jesus Christ, in a very big part by the practical support of Drop Inn Ministries whose Mission to ‘Bring Hope, Help and Healing to a Hurting World’ was just what I saw happening right across the part of India we visited. With your help, ALL of you, staff, volunteers and the generous people who give to us Drop Inn Ministries has brought and continues to bring the Love and Hope of Jesus Christ to the most needy in India.

Adrian McBride

PS I am looking forward to returning next year to India. Would you like to join me and see for yourself, the work Drop Inn Ministries supports there? If you would like to join that or any of our trips please contact us by telephone or e-mail.

Additionally you can help us help Sunny raise enough money to build his children their new School..Click ‘Sunny’s School Project’

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There is great expectations in Hyderabad, Rapallle, to the East and Rayagada in Orissa as Sudhir, John Daniel and Sunny, respectively await our arrival. Each of the areas have been praying and fasting expecting God to do great things during our visit. On our part we are looking forward to seeing the progress in our projects but encouraging our brothers and sisters who labour faithfully in often very difficult circumstances. We are in India until the 22 September.

We have had some problems obtaining our Visas so…..We value your prayers for that for our journeys in both directions, for safety, for good health and most of all that we would be a blessing to all we meet, that we would indeed bring the Message of Christ’s Hope to the people of East India.

A BIG thank you to everyone of YOU who have made this year’s Shoebox Appeal a very ‘special’ one. We have exceeded last year’s numbers by a substantial amount and already 5000 have been delivered to our projects in Belarus. The lorry taking the remainder to Ukraine leaves, God willing on December 12^th so if you still wish to donate to this Appeal please do so by dropping your box(es) into any of our Shops by Wednesday  December 7.

It is that time again..yes I know you can’t believe it’s only JUST after the summer…perhaps the weather might let us think differently BUT we at Drop Inn Ministries are already thinking of Christmas….

Last year Drop Inn Ministries took our around 7000 Shoeboxes for the children of Belarus and Ukraine anf Latvia. 7000 boxes given to us by people, mainly schoolchildren, from Northern Ireland and also from Scotland and England too. Even when going through tough financial times themselves, the people of United Kingdom have thought of others in greater need and this year is already proving to be the same..

Collections for 2011 will begin on the Week beginning Monday 24th October 2011 to enable us plenty of time to organise paperwork and transportation to Eastern Europe in good time for Christmas. In order for the boxes to be available for distribution we must transport them out of Northern Ireland in November so there is plenty of time for anyone who would like to be involved in this fantastic project. Any group, organisation, school, church or individual can make such a difference in a child’s life in some of the poorest countries in Europe..Simply obtain a shoebox, wrap it in Christmas paper, place inside the shoebox items like those listed below, including a single pound coin, for transportation and bring the box(es) into your nearest Drop Inn Shop. If you have a large quantity please telephone the number below and we will gladly collect the boxes from you..

(You can download our Shoebox leaflet or here is a quick list of items below)
Items that can be included in Shoeboxes
1. Small toy e.g. car, plane or doll
2. Small game e.g. puzzle, ball, skipping rope
3. Cuddly toy
4. Stationary e.g. pencils, pens, crayons, writing or colouring book
5. Confectionary e.g. sweets or chocolate
6. Toiletries e.g. soap, facecloth or sponge, toothbrush, toothpaste
7. Clothing e.g. scarf, gloves, hat
8. Personal letter or photograph.

Items NOT to be included
1. Toy guns, knives, soldiers or any type of war related items
2. Marbles
3. Toys which depend on batteries
4. Any type of aerosol
5. Liquid containers
6. Food stuff (except sweets)
7. Medicine of any kind
8. Glass containers or any fragile item
9. Reading books (unless written in Russian)

If you have any questions or need boxes collected please telephone Sonya on 07894018971.

A BIG thank you to all who are helping us this year. You are Making a HUGE Difference in Children’s lives in Belarus and Ukraine.
We will bring you more information and pictures when the boxes set off on their journey in our own lorry in November.

This was the first time running such a programme in Latvia and it was a time of learning and blessing for all involved. The camp was organised in partnership with the local church, coordinated by Veronika Trifane.

In total 40 children registered for the camp but more turned up each day, and unfortunately we are not able to accept them all on to the programme due to limited space. The children ranged from 5 – 18 years old and involved a mixture of children from the local area and some children from the orphanage. The team used bible stories, songs and crafts to teach the children about the love of God and how through Him we can do much more. At the end of the week the team we so encouraged when 24 children committed their lives to Christ. We ask for continued prayer for these young people as many were returning to families who are not Christian and will face many challenges. Pray for guidance for the members of the church as to know how to continue to engage these children and support them into maturity in their faith.

During the week the team visited a Rehabilitation Centre, Penkaini for men and women with addiction problems, and were so touched by the heart of those leading the programme. Many of the residents shared their stories and it was wonderful to hear what God is doing in their lives. The leader shared that there is a success rate of over 90% for people going through this 9 months residential programme and put this down to the power of God to transform lives. Many leave and go on to serve in their local churches.

The team enjoyed the visit to the orphanage and were made so welcome by the staff and residents. The care given to the 24 children currently in the centre was evident and we pray that the links with the church will continue to grow to ensure the spiritual care for these children also. We also had to opportunity to visit another church that is currently meeting in a very run down building but who’s people have a real heart to reach out to the young people in the local community. The potential for the building is far reaching and we pray that God will meet the needs of these people to fulfil their desire to be a source of support and hope for their local community.

Latvia is a country of two halves – the up and coming tourist destination of the capital Riga and other coastal towns and the very poor towns and villages, with families struggling to make ends meet. The people are open to the gospel and the team were so blessed by the people they met and the welcome they received.