Two years ago Saul was teaching as many children as he could. He was also praying for help because the task before him was significant. Through a chain of circumstances, God brought about hope for Saul and the Christian children of Arifwala. This hope started last year when the Resurrecting Hope Sewing School was opened to help train girls. Resurrecting Hope now has a full- fledged primary school. Below is Saul’s letter (edited) recounting the opening. (Ray Ruppert)

Inauguration of Resurrecting Hope Primary School (RHPS)

Proverbs 19:2 YLT– “Also, without knowledge the soul is not good…”

We are thankful to God for everything that He has given to us. Now the most recent and great blessing for my poor people is the Resurrecting Hope Primary School.

We had been praying for this blessing for many years. Christian children were not going to public schools because it was not affordable for them.

But God has promised His people that He would never leave them alone and as orphans. God keeps His promises and fulfills real desires of His good people.

We are thankful to God He listened to our prayers and answered in His time. God found April 20th, 2010 the right time to start our school.

On April 20th God opened a great door of development and prosperity for children in Arifwala. This door is Resurrecting Hope Primary School. This was needed for a long time so my people could understand the Bible and this world. Now, they have a place where poor Christian children can develop and polish their thoughts according to biblical ways. This school will teach them to develop their minds and souls so they can become active parts of this world as good Christians.

Opening Ceremony

Everyone was waiting for this day; we had 300 chairs in and outside of tents. People were excited to see RHPS working for future of their children so all 300 chairs were used. Only adults were provided chairs; children had to sit on mats on the ground. More than 200 Children were present in this ceremony. Many people were also standing on for the ceremony. In all, more than 500 people were present.

In the beginning of the ceremony, my friend introduced our school staff to the guests and explained the purpose of Resurrecting Hope Primary School in Arifwala. I, Saul, was called on the stage to tell how God provided miraculous funds for the school. I told how God used Vertical World Solutions (based in Arizona) to do this work in Pakistan. Serving Others Worldwide (based in Washington) also shared in providing for the school.

At the end, I said prayers to thank God for this great blessing for my people of Arifwala. We asked for blessings for all those who have prayed and gave donations for Resurrecting Hope Primary School.

Children’s participation

Children appeared in school uniforms to introduce our uniform to people. They did skits to give the message about the value of education for Christians of Pakistan. Children praised God through praise songs which were enjoyed by their parents and Muslims guests.

Guests

We had invited Muslim people from our city. Professors, teachers, and other officers from the educational department were guests. This opening program was a bridge to introduce our school to officials of the education department which will help us get tax-free letters. We gave them the opportunity to speak and they encouraged children and parents to get an education. Muslim professors and other teachers were full of wonder and excited too, because this was first time they were ever in the Christian community for any ceremony. They said they would try to train our teachers to get good results from classes. They said that they would visit again to see the progress of children in this school and to share new methods of teaching with teachers. These Muslim teachers were happy to be part of the opening ceremony. Their participation created an environment of love and harmony between Christian and Muslim teachers which is good sign.

Some old and good people from our Christian colony were also called on the stage to express their feelings about the school. Some people wept on the stage because they could not control tears of happiness during this opening ceremony.

Conclusion

We granted awards to those students who received good marks in different subjects.

Proverbs 19:2 (Also, without knowledge the soul is not good) is the central verse or slogan of Resurrecting Hope Primary School because this school will not only work on worldly education but on spiritual education, too. Our main purpose is to make Christian children strong spiritually so their lives will be good and strong Christian witnesses in Pakistan.

Thanks

We are thankful to God for RHPS because as it was impossible for us to start a school for children but God made it possible with your help. This school is an “Opening of Hope” for our people.

Thank you all very much for your prayers and love for us. We need your prayers and help to do more work for the betterment of Christian children of Pakistan.

May God Bless Resurrecting Hope Primary School and Resurrecting Hope Sewing School. Amen

God Bless You…Amen

Saul Masih+ RHSS + RHPS

Continued Help

Vertical World Solutions has many people committed to giving $25 a month to keep this school running. They have continuing expenses of paying three teachers and providing school supplies. However, they still need 10 or more people giving $25 a month for the school to be fully funded.

If you have been giving to this ministry as a regular donor through Serving Others Worldwide, please let me know so that Vertical World Solutions can count on you. All gifts to Serving Others Worldwide are confidential and I don’t know unless you tell me (Ray Ruppert).

Palm Sunday

We started on Palm Sunday; this day is enjoyed by all people because we walk in our streets to give testimony of peace to Muslims. This walk is different from the walk we do on the first of December. The Easter walk is called “peace march” when we tell people Jesus is Prince of Peace. God has used us to show His peace to the people of Arifwala through this walk. Children took branches of palms and flowers in their hands and adults did the same; these branches of palms and flowers remind us of Jesus’ glorious entry into Jerusalem. He entered in the great city with peace and people showed their love to Him. After the Palm Sunday walk we had opportunities to give lot of answers to Muslims because they asked many questions about this walk. Questions such as: Why did you march in the streets? What is the purpose of the branches and flowers? Why do you sing? Why did Jesus enter Jerusalem? What is the meaning of Hosanna? These are types of questions asked by Muslims. Praise God we were able to answer them. These questions and answers opened doors for us to reach their hearts. We are thankful to God for this peaceful walk.

Thursday Communion

Luke 22: 17-20 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

This was done on Thursday with the older people of my colony and the village of slaves. We gave food to people with grape juice and bread to remember Jesus’ last supper.

Good Friday

This day is very important for all people who believe Jesus died on the cross; this is true as we believe Jesus died for the whole world, not only for Christians. We arranged a prayer meeting to remember that time when Jesus gave His life for us on the cross to save us from eternal death. We said prayers and gave thanks to God for His Son, Jesus Christ.

Easter Celebration with Children

We dedicated Saturday to little children. We taught them the story of Jesus’ death. We had an Easter celebration in our school and with children of the Christian colony; they all ate ice cream and Pakistani food in this celebration. They enjoyed it very much.

Sewing school girls were treated with ice cream, too, because this was their first Easter in the sewing school.

Easter Day

Sunrise Prayer Service

Sunrise service was especially for women who rose up early in the morning. They took candles and perfume in their hands to remember those women who went to the grave in the dawn. Women lead this meeting and sang the song of Resurrecting of Jesus Christ. Women were excited about this because they were the first who knew Jesus was raised from the dead.

Easter Prayer Meeting

Two prayer meetings were arranged on Easter day. The first was arranged in our Christian colony at 9 AM and the second was arranged in the village of slaves at 12 PM.

In the Christian colony more than 500 people gathered in one place and we had our Easter prayer meeting. I taught them why God sent Jesus Christ into the world to save the whole world from sin and eternal death. His death gave us life and His life after death gives us eternal life. We are not true Christians if we don’t believe in His death and Resurrecting from the dead. We need to be true followers of Jesus Christ because He blesses us daily and He is always with us. He is alive and a living person can make promises to be with us, a dead person cannot be with us forever.

In the village of slaves I had more than 120 people in my prayer meeting. I repeated the same message to them.

After doing these prayer meetings I went door to door to meet and greet my people.

Once again thank you all for your prayers for our Easter programs. We are thankful to God because He has been with us and gave us the chance to do His work in His people. Thank you so much for your prayers and love.

I hope your Easter has been a blessing for you. Say my hello to all who have been with you in this holy work.

God Bless You and Your Family…Amen

Saul Masih

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