GFA World Newsletter

April 2019, Vol. 15, No. 3

Alisya suﬀered from paralysis in her hand. She and her mother attended a free medical camp, where Alisya received medicine, instructions and prayer.

A woman and her daughter walked into the medical camp. Stress and anxiety lined the mother’s face, while pain lingered in the daughter’s. Beulah hoped that her daughter would finally be cured of her constant suffering—hope was all she had left.

Every Day a Struggle

Beulah lived with her husband and three daughters. Her husband became detached and standoffish soon after their wedding and did little but work and sleep. Beulah had attempted many times to understand why he distanced himself, but with no luck. So when Alisya, their middle daughter, fell ill, Beulah cared for her alone. Despite many hospital visits, temporary paralysis crippled Alisya.

Beulah, determined to see her daughter healthy again, did not give up. Every day, she massaged her daughter’s legs, and Alisya eventually recovered her ability to walk. Unfortunately, the pain didn’t go away in Alisya’s left hand.

During this trying time, peace eluded Beulah’s heart. Taking care of her daughter, working to pay off the medical bills and an uncaring husband all became heavy weights on Beulah.

A Burden Lifted

It was during this time that a local GFA-supported fellowship held a medical camp to provide free health care and medicine for any who needed it. Ranjudeep, one of Beulah’s neighbors and a member of the fellowship, told her of the camp.

With no other viable option, Beulah took Alisya to the camp, hoping for a miracle. The doctors provided medicine and encouraged her to keep massaging her daughter’s hand.

After seeing the doctors, the mother and daughter met GFA-supported pastor Dayal Thomas, who had helped arrange the medical camp. After hearing their troubles, Pastor Dayal prayed for Beulah and Alisya and invited them to local Sunday services.

By God’s grace, after treatment and much prayer, Alisya’s crippled hand was completely healed!

Curious, mother and daughter attended the service that following Sunday. The joy with which they were welcomed and the love of God shown through the believers transformed the mother and daughter. After continuous prayer and supplication, Alisya was completely healed!

Now, Beulah and all her daughters read from the Bible and worship the Lord. Because of the medical camp providing the care Alisya needed, the family found comfort and peace in the Great Healer.

Sewing machines make a huge impact in the lives of women who suffer rejection because of widowhood or leprosy. With these gifts, dignity is restored as they can earn a respectable wage and care for their children.

Vanita looked over the crowd, seeing the faces of many widows whom she loved. She knew they had been through many dark days. Most of the widows there had been widowed because of leprosy, and many had contracted the disease themselves.

As the leader of a Women’s Fellowship, Vanita arranged a gift distribution of sewing machines and pull carts to these women rejected by society.

Knowing the poverty and distress these women faced, Vanita wanted to show them God’s great love by providing them with a means of income that would restore dignity to their lives.

Gifts They Could Never Afford

Garati, a 25-year-old widow, had taken a tailoring class and graduated with success. But she was unable to afford a sewing machine, so her skills were wasted as she struggled to provide for her children. Gratitude filled her heart when she received a sewing machine.

“I am very much thankful to the [church] for giving me this sewing machine,” Garati said.

One woman in the crowd was 45-year-old Amolika. Her husband had passed away 25 years earlier, leaving her widowed, the mother of two and affected with leprosy at 20 years old. Over the years, Amolika earned food and shelter for her two daughters by begging in the temples.

At the gift distribution Amolika and her daughter received a sewing machine. Amolika’s daughter had taken a tailoring class, but they could not afford a sewing machine. With tears streaming down her smiling face, Amolika thanked Vanita for the treasured gift.

GFA-supported workers and local dignitaries cared for and honored impoverished widows, many of whom suffer from leprosy, by presenting them with income-producing gifts.

Somya, 45, gazed out the bus window, a multitude of signs whizzing by. She carefully watched for the landmarks that signaled she was approaching the bank. Being illiterate made traveling difficult.

At the bank, Somya stood in line getting nervous as she approached the teller. Most of Somya’s female friends were educated, and Somya wished she could read and write like them. She felt humiliated that she couldn’t even sign her name.

Somya's life was burdened by illiteracy, until she discovered the opportunity to attend a free literacy class. After persistent effort, she now proudly reads her Bible!

A Dream Cut Short

Somya had to drop out of school in second grade to help her family earn money for food. Somya always wished she could finish her education. But after working for her parents, getting married and having children, that dream slowly disintegrated into ashes.

Being illiterate was a daily burden for Somya. Guilt weighed on her every time her kids needed help with their homework because she could not assist them in their education. Sometimes Somya thought about learning to read and write, but how? She couldn’t take time away from her house work and helping in the fields to go back to school. And how would they pay for it? It was a blessing just to send their children to school. Somya was thankful she never had to pull them away from their education to help put food on the table.

Each Sunday, when Somya and her family attended worship services, she longingly watched the other women read out loud from the Bible. She wished she could read God’s Word for herself and bless others by reading it out loud. Somya prayed for God, the Giver of all good things, to help her.

An Awkward Beginning

On International Literacy Day, Somya heard that some Sisters of Compassion were going to hold a literacy class for women in her village. Trembling with fear and excitement, Somya signed up.

The women met every Wednesday and Saturday, first learning to trace the alphabet. Belli, one of the Sisters of Compassion, encouraged the class, knowing it would be difficult for them at first. Somya found it awkward to draw the characters, so she humbly let Belli hold her hand and help her write the characters on her slate.

In the beginning, Somya mispronounced the letters of the alphabet. The other villagers’ ridicule rang in her ears: What is the need of learning to read and write at this age? Somya pushed the discouraging thoughts away and pressed on.

Belli saw that Somya was a very attentive student. She worked hard in class and practiced at home as well. Somya faithfully attended classes, even though it was a sacrifice for her to come.

The Blessings of Literacy Are Mulitiplied

It took time, but slowly Somya learned to read and write. She can now conduct business at the bank without any help. She can be confident knowing what the forms say and what she is signing. She can travel to new places, being able to read the signs as she rides the bus.

Most precious to Somya, she can now stand up in church to read God’s Word for everyone’s benefit.

“I thank God from my heart for helping me to read and learn,” says Somya. “Even though I worked hard, it was God who helped me to learn well. Especially, I thank the sisters who held my hands and encouraged me to learn. Today I am able to read and write.”

Several Sisters of Compassion hold a women's literacy class, much like the class Somya attended.

Many parents' hearts are made glad as their children blossom under the care and guidance they receive at GFA-supported Bridge of Hope Center

Only age 10, Rajarshi doesn’t take education for granted. He enjoys learning new things and growing in skills such as singing, reading and drawing. But Rajarshi may never have had these opportunities.

In Rajarshi’s community, most people work as farmers or laborers to earn a meager income for their survival. While Rajarshi’s father worked in the fields, Rajarshi helped his mom with chores like pasturing the cows.

When Rajarshi got the opportunity to join the local GFA-supported Bridge of Hope center, his parents were apprehensive. They liked how Bridge of Hope helped the kids in their community, but they incorrectly believed the staff were forcing certain ideas on the children. Despite their mistrust, Rajarshi’s parents allowed the boy to join Bridge of Hope.

At Bridge of Hope, Rajarshi found fertile soil for his curiosity. He absorbed valuable teaching regarding academics and life skills, and he participated in many fun activities.

Changes Yield Gratitude

Rajarshi’s parents noticed changes in their son’s life. He improved in his studies, and he learned to speak politely and respect elders. His parents even saw him praying before meals, bedtime or going to school or Bridge of Hope. As their son gained knowledge and skills through Bridge of Hope, Rajarshi’s parents soon gained something too: a new perspective.

“I am thankful to Bridge of Hope staff for their valuable teachings,” shared Rajarshi’s father. “I am happy to see lots of changes in my son’s behavior now.”

Rajarshi’s parents and relatives are grateful for Bridge of Hope and the many ways it’s building up the community. Meanwhile, Rajarshi seizes his chance for quality education.

“I love to go to the Bridge of Hope center and learn things,” he says. “I will not stop coming to the Bridge of Hope center.”

As GFA-supported missionaries and other believers treasure their daughters, they encourage other fathers such as Sushil to reject negative views of their daughters and count them as blessings.

It was a day that for most parents would have been joyful: Sushil’s wife, Rajika, was ready to deliver their baby. But when she gave birth to a daughter, disappointment filled Sushil’s heart.

Sushil and Rajika had three daughters already, and in their society, people often viewed girls as financial burdens. When another daughter—not a son—was born, Sushil fell into a downward spiral.

Rajika and their daughters attended a church led by GFA-supported pastor Kanish. Sushil, though he didn’t yet know Christ, occasionally went with them.

After Sushil’s fourth daughter was born, people mocked him. Sushil wondered why going to church hadn’t given him a son.

Sadness and shame drove Sushil, already a drug addict, further down a path of addiction to drugs and alcohol. He began abusing his wife and daughters.

Distressed, Rajika confided in someone who could counsel Sushil: Pastor Kanish.

Help from the Right Place

Years before, the pastor himself had been a drug addict. But after a Christian shopkeeper befriended Kanish and invited him to church, the young man found freedom in Jesus. Kanish attended Bible college, began serving in ministry and got married. God blessed the pastor and his wife with three daughters.

Pastor Kanish visited Sushil. He shared that daughters were blessings, not burdens, and challenged Sushil to stop his destructive habits.

“Jesus died for your sins,” Pastor Kanish said. “Then why do you depend on drugs and alcohol?”

The pastor’s words encouraged Sushil, infusing his heart with hope. Sushil decided to depend on Jesus alone. Hungry to grow spiritually, he prayed and fasted regularly and opened his home for weekly prayer meetings. He began to love his family, not abuse them.

Now, instead of seeing his daughters as burdens, Sushil gives thanks to Christ, who lifted the burden of his sin.

Thank you for partnering with GFA to equip national workers. Through your support, men and women like Pastor Kanish can continue telling others about the hope Jesus offers.

Rejoice!

Other Articles in this Issue