October 2000

Dear Friend in Christ,

Greetings and Salaams from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan! We are now in the super-beautiful fall days between the heat of
summer and the cold of the Punjabi winter. During the day, the heat of summer allows us to be comfortable without any
thermal underwear, but the cold nights and early morning dew leave our blankets soaked. Under such circumstances, it is time
to write. We are truly sorry we have been so slow sharing with you the succeeding chapters of our lives in Pakistan and regret
not bringing you news earlier.

Initially we were assigned to do agricultural and rural development work with the Thal Development Project. We are now also
working with three similar projects, namely, the Intensive Agricultural Project (under the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan),
United Freshways (of the Church of Pakistan, Lahore Diocese), and Caritas Pakistan, an agriculture development program of
the Catholic Church.

In all these projects we work mainly with Christians in agriculture and rural development. The Thal Development Project is
under the auspices of the Society for Community Development of the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan. In the early 1950s the
Pakistani government opened up a large area of land for the establishment of new communities in an area known as the Thal
Desert, located between the Jhelum and Indus Rivers. Many landless Pakistani families, especially Christians and refugees from
India, were able to obtain land through this program, and they put much effort into making this land productive.

The Thai Development Project has been working with residents of this area to address problems in agriculture, education,
health, infrastructure, and community participation and organization. The purpose of this project is to witness the love of Christ
by sharing resources and personnel to make available a program of integrated rural development to selected villages. Also, to
create a climate of cooperation within the targeted communities.

Many Christians in Pakistan feel they are second-class citizens in their own country. Some Christian politicians even agreed to
the introduction of separate electorates for minorities imposed on them by Pakistani government. Yet this system of separate
electorates only intensifies the separation the Christians already feel from the Muslim society in which they live. According to
the constitution of Pakistan, religious minorities are not allowed to take part in any general elections, in the National Assembly
elections or in the Provincial Assemblies elections. Minorities are only allowed to elect minority members for separate seats
allocated to different minorities in both the Assemblies. Gradually, the Christians as well as other minorities (Hindu and Qadiani
communities) are becoming aware of their isolated existence and are hoping for a society in which they will be accepted as
equal citizens in the country where they were born.

From a statement by a spokesman of the religious and minorities affairs of the government of Pakistan: "Under the Constitution
of Pakistan, minorities in Pakistan are equal citizens and enjoy all fundamental rights. Subject of law, public order and morality
the minorities have the right to profess, practice and propagate their religions and establish, maintain and manage their religious
institutions." In reality the Christians are not receiving the rights to which they are entitled.

Besides facing the minority problem, poor Christian farmers in rural areas find it difficult to meet the needs of growing costs of
cultivation and shrinking yield of crops year by year. This forces them to take loans from moneylenders who charge an
exorbitant interest rate of 35 to 40 percent a year. Crop failures have been frequent due to heavy use of pesticides and
chemicals. More chemicals and pesticides are sprayed in the hope of increasing the output but it results mostly in the yield
decreasing further. In several cases they were unable to pay the debts and ultimately they lose their land or commit suicide or
sell their body organs for money.

Please pray for the spiritual life of the church. Village people throughout Pakistan need spiritual encouragement. Many nominal
Christians are tossed wildly by political, economic, social and religious waves. Pray that these nominal Christians may look to
their faith in Jesus Christ to give them stability in their lives.

We do want to take this opportunity to thank all who have helped with the project, those who have sent financial aid, those
who have prayed for us and expressed their love and concern in many other ways. I (Joseph) seem to stay hopelessly behind
in handling my correspondence, but I do work on it at every opportunity I get.

In Christ’s Love,

Joseph and Shanthi Rajanesan