Diamonds in the Dust: The Story of a Compassionate Woman in Northeast India

By Steven Ritland and Sentikumla Ao

In 1991, Mrs. Sentikumla Ao (Sentila) had a vision and a strong sense of calling to work among drug addicts. After the vision, she asked God, Lord, what do you want me to do? The Lord said to go to drug addicts but that they would not be found in the church. Go to the places where they are. You will find them in houses where there is no guardian, among broken families, in favorite haunts where small groups gather. This was the start of Sentilas primary life ministry.

Learn the methods and principles Sentila discovered to rescue miserable, abused, drug and alcohol users from their addictions. Let her heart of compassion touch your heart, and impart a new love for the precious souls that most people reject as unlovelythose that Sentila calls diamonds in the Dust. Read about the life experiences leading up to her call from Godhow they built the faith which sustained her through the tears, trials, and stigma of her labor with addicts, which many times tempted her to give up. Take a walk through the Nagaland hill country, retracing the steps of a pioneer missionary who braved the threat of trophy-hungry headhunters to carry the Gospel to primitive tribesmen in the mid-1800s.

While the book will appeal to readers with other interests and perspectives, it may be that someone struggling with an addiction will be able to find hope and a sense of self-worth through its pages.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jan 3, 2017
• ISBN: 9781512770421

Steven Ritland

Sentikumla Ao is well known in Northeast India for her help to the victims of drugs, alcohol, and HIV/AIDS. She has served as college lecturer, teacher, youth worker, pastor, missionary and mother. Steven Ritland is a retired software engineer who lives with his wife Nancy in the southern Missouri Ozarks.

Book preview

Copyright © 2017 Steven Ritland; Sentikumla Ao.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

1 [phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-5127-7042-1 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 12/30/2016

Dedication

The authors wish to dedicate this book to the Author of Our Salvation:

The Lord Jesus Christ

Contents

Dedication

Foreword

Preface

PART 1 - A Compassionate Life

Chapter 1   The Early Years

College Days

As a Missionary Beyond Nagaland

Wild Elephants and Jackals

No Rice

A Cow

Teach our children

You have not finished your work

Chapter 2   More Opportunities

An Unexpected Invitation

Across the Ocean

God Answered Her Prayer

Chapter 3   A New Calling

The Vision of a Deadly Culture

The Meaning of the Vision

The Start of the Work

Shelter for the Addicts

Youth Alive Society

New Life Ministry, Nagaland Baptist Church Council

Humble Beginning

Behind the Iron

The Nature of the Work

A Wedding, not a Funeral

Untiring Mothers

It is I

Church Response to Drug Addicts

Promoting Missions

Ministry Approach

Continuing On

PART 2 - More Details of Mrs. Sentikumla’s Life and Work

Chapter 4   Mission Walk: Retracing the Path of E.W. Clark

Why a Mission Walk?

Report by K.T. Long

Chapter 5   Abuse of Addicts by Society

Ostracism

Beating and Caging

Cutting, Piercing, and Incarcerating

Chains and Iron

Shooting

More Heartbreaking Cases

Chapter 6   Grace Home Rehabilitation Center

Small Beginning

Getting Established

Toiling with Compassion

God said, Go to Sentikumla.

Ongoing Results

Chapter 7   Mrs. Sentikumla’s Speech

Initial Ministry

Finding the Diamonds in the Dust

Discernment of the Call

The Situation in the 1990s

The Social Situation Improves

Ministry Involvement with Drug Addicts

Qualities Needed to Deal with Addicted Clients

Community Based Program

Jail Ministry

Need for Divine Help

Approach to Ministry

Need to Accept Them

Friendliness

Our Message

Facilitating Change

Family Support is Key

Networking

Career Guidance

Technical knowledge

God Gives the Method

Drop in Center – Jalukie

Grace Home

The Difficult Nature of the Ministry

Youth Alive Society

Chapter 8   Assam Ministry

Early Church Planting

After 2004

The Proclaimer

Education Needs

Chapter 9   Home-Based Treatment

Origin of the Concept

Features of HBT

Results from the Program

Chapter 10   Akhoya Detox Camp

Chapter 11   Asangma Detox Camp

Report by Rev. Lanu

Epilogue

Appendix

Appendix 1 - Needs in Rural Areas

The Needs:

Suggested Strategies:

Appendix 2 - Present Involvement of Youth Alive Society

About Youth Alive Society

Aims and Objectives

Mission and Vision

Present Programs

Future Programs

Strategic Importance of the Mission

Appendix 3 – Mrs. Sentikumla’s Credentials and Commendations

Civil Authorities:

Church- Organizations and Institutions:

NGOs and Institutions:

Certificates

About the Author

Foreword

I have the distinct privilege of introducing you to the story of God’s great grace as displayed through the life of Sentikumla Ao through this short forward. In this story, you’ll read of her heart - which reflects the heart of God for the lost, particularly those neglected by the rest of the world. In Sentila, His heart is displayed through her love and care for the addicts, the neglected tribes of Kacharis and Karbis. It is because of this heart that I was able to meet Sentila in 2004. I was part of Global Missions Fellowship at the time and brought a team from the US to work with her among these people in the easternmost part of Assam - just across the Nagaland border. I also was one of the few Americans who was blessed to be a part of the mission walk referenced later in this story.

One of the things that most struck me in Sentila was her generosity, joyful spirit, and faith in God. In every encounter, I’ve had with her, she’s sacrificed - her comfort, her possessions, her time, and her energy. She has also done this with a perpetual smile on her face, as if the very giving of herself is the fuel of her joy, which I’m sure in a way it is. She also displays an indomitable confidence that God will provide no matter the obstacle. Her countenance has certainly been that of one fruitful with that which comes from being full of the Spirit of God.

What I’ve seen in the life of Sentikumla, and I hope you will find from