GFA World Newsletter

February 2020, Vol. 17, No. 2

Leprosy. The very word carries a certain stigma and arouses apprehension in Asia, as if merely uttering it could expose you to the disease. Those affected by leprosy are often feared and find themselves either chased out of their homes or ignored and neglected. This forced exile leads many to live with others afflicted with leprosy in colonies across Asia.

A Life of Hardship

Bhini was diagnosed with leprosy as a child and subsequently began living in a leprosy colony. After Bhini married a fellow leprosy patient, they relocated to a different colony in another state.

Life was not easy for the family. In the face of poverty, Bhini and her husband went door to door begging in order to put their children through school. Then in 2016, Bhini’s husband died of a heart attack, leaving her as the sole provider for their son and daughter. Despite her illness, Bhini continued to beg, hoping it would be enough for her and her children.

Healing in His Arms

As the years passed, the struggle to survive took its toll on Bhini. The wounds from her leprosy grew more severe the older Bhini became. Wounds in her hands and feet kept Bhini from walking or doing simple chores in her home. Her children were grown by then, but Bhini could no longer take care of herself.

GFA-supported ministry to leprosy patients brings hope and practical help to those who are often rejected by society and family.

One day, a team of GFA-supported Sisters of Compassion visited the leprosy colony. The women brought love and compassion to each resident they met, and when they talked with Bhini, Bhini heard of the love of God for the very first time. They showed genuine care for the widow and invited her to attend services at the local church.

The Sisters of Compassion regularly visited Bhini, cooking her food, cleaning her home and dressing her wounds—all while praying for and encouraging her.

Little by little, Bhini understood the depth of God’s love. The debilitating wounds from her leprosy began to heal, and an even greater healing took place in her heart when she invited Christ into her life. Her children, seeing the transformation, followed her example.

Like many other men and women blessed through the compassion of GFA-supported workers, Bhini now rejoices in God’s love and acceptance.

Thank you for helping equip workers in Asia who boldly bring God’s love to men and women in slums and leprosy colonies. Through your partnership with GFA, God is transforming lives for eternity. Thank you!

Dhona lurched forward in bed. Visions of death faded as the dark room solidified before her. She scrambled out of bed and frantically looked around for the book from her childhood. Leafing through whisper-thin pages, Dhona’s heart slowed at the old, familiar words.

Dhona had learned to pray and read the Bible at a young age from her godly parents, but she never internalized the message of grace. After finishing high school, Dhona shed her religious cloak.

While at college, Dhona’s wild partying swiftly became out of control.

Heartbroken, Dhona’s parents watched their daughter throw her life away. Pastor Linn, a GFA-supported worker, tried for two years to counsel the girl who grew up in his church. But she refused to listen, blind to the terrible consequences ahead.

Eventually Dhona became a drug dealer to support her addictions.

A Nightmare, a Turning Point

One night, after years of debauched living, Dhona had a terrible nightmare about death and judgment. She sought solace in God’s Word. As she read and prayed, the words seemed to come alive, as if God were speaking right to her.

Pastor Linn came to visit Dhona. This time she listened. He prayed for her and visited almost every day. Gradually Dhona recognized the wreck of her life and asked God to help her turn from evil.

Then, at a meeting in Pastor Linn’s home, Dhona realized that despite her constant rejection of the Lord, He loved her deeply.

“I opened my heart to Jesus,” Dhona shares. “Now I understand that I’m not worthless. I’m loved by the Creator of the entire universe, who willingly died on the cross for me.”

God changed Dhona’s life completely. He helped her overcome addictions and end bad relationships.

“God is love,” says Dhona. “He does exist and does miracles. He has transformed my life. He is worthy to be praised and worshiped.”

Dhona’s life is now a testimony of God’s amazing love and grace.

Rayan, 10, and his little brother sat with empty bellies as their mother told them the news that would end their childhoods.

Although she worked tirelessly to provide for them, they had been starving for months. She told the boys they couldn’t go to school anymore. From now on, they would beg in the streets to pay for food for the family.

The word “beg” slapped Rayan in the face. The young boy knew that school was the only hope he had for a different future, a future that was slowly being swallowed up by despair and poverty.

Boys’ Future Traded for a Daily Meal

The brothers began spending their days in the streets begging. While other children were singing songs in school, Rayan and his brother haunted busy marketplaces and crowded bus stations. Humiliation smoldered in Rayan’s heart as he longed desperately to attend school with the other children.

One day, Rayan passed by a building where he glimpsed a man inside. Rayan hesitated, thinking maybe the man would give him some money.

The man, a GFA-supported worker named Kanish, spotted the boy just beyond the door, out in the dusty streets, and called him inside. Kanish winced at the sight of the boy’s chapped and bloody feet. He was the picture of pitiful—dirty, torn clothes; disheveled hair; and a stench that preceded him. With compassion, Kanish offered Rayan a bath and new clothes. Later, Pastor Kanish invited Rayan to join the other children for Vacation Bible School. Rayan happily agreed.

As Rayan left, he felt a sense of dignity that had abandoned him on the streets. On his way home, he bought food with the small sum he collected that day, as he always did. He couldn’t wait to tell his mother about the nice man he had met.

VBS a Respite for Depressed Rayan

Over the next several days at VBS, Rayan found himself in a room full of children dancing and singing. He joined them and felt joy for the first time since he left school. Rayan colored, learned Bible stories, ate snacks and played games. He couldn’t remember ever having this much fun.

At the end of VBS, Rayan wanted to go to church to learn more about the Bible stories he had heard. He really loved the story about the boy named Samuel. He went the following Sunday and learned even more about God.

Boys and girls are often robbed of their childhood when they must drop out of school and beg on the streets to help support their families.

After a few weeks, Kanish met with Rayan’s parents and helped get the boys back in school. Rayan relished the second chance at a real childhood.

Rayan’s mother found a new job in a rice mill that paid enough to support the family. The boys were able to stay in school, which opened new paths for their future. Although the family had to move because the rice mill was in a different town, Pastor Kanish visited and helped the family find a new church.

Rayan continued to attend church, joined by his mother and brother, and drew closer to the Lord. Love and gratitude have replaced despair and anxiety. Rayan knows that if it weren’t for Pastor Kanish and VBS, he would still be begging on the streets.

“I grew up in poverty, my life was very miserable, and I was good for nothing,” Rayan shares. “When my parents told me to go for begging I was really embarrassed and worried a lot about my future.

When I met Pastor Kanish, for the first time in my life, I wore new clothes and was loved and taken care of so much,” continues Rayan. “Now, I’ve stopped begging and am going to school. My fate has changed, and my destination is made clear after coming to [VBS].”

With a strong sense of new life, Rayan asked Pastor Kanish to give him a new biblical name to mark him as a child of God. Rayan is now called John, after the disciple whom Jesus loved.

Pestanji was out of options. A severe skin irritation covered his body, making it difficult and sometimes impossible for him to provide for his wife and two daughters. They largely depended on him; if he didn’t work, their daily needs would most likely not be met. Although Pestanji’s wife weaved to help ease the financial stress, any money that could be spared was spent on medical treatment to find a cure or relief for Pestanji.

No Respite, No Relief

Pestanji’s irritation began after he moved to a new village and was exposed to a new water source. Multiple hospital visits proved fruitless; every medication failed to bring a cure. After a year, the doctor recommended Pestanji go to a different hospital for advanced treatment, but Pestanji couldn’t afford this.

Then, one day, Pestanji met Dayakara, a local GFA-supported pastor. Pestanji told the pastor of his family’s hardships and how they had been using water from a pond near their home for their drinking, bathing and washing needs.

As people drink the clean, fresh water from a Jesus Well instead of water from polluted sources, many experience drastic health improvements.

Hearing this, Pastor Dayakara encouraged Pestanji and his family to draw water from the nearby Jesus Well, which had been installed months earlier. Pestanji was hesitant at first because he was not part of the church, but the pastor explained the well was open to everyone.

Healing and Peace

From that day on, Pestanji and his family drew their water from the Jesus Well. Gradually, Pestanji’s skin irritation subsided. Pestanji told Pastor Dayakara the good news of his improved health, and he asked the pastor a question: Why was the well called a “Jesus” well? Pastor Dayakara explained, telling Pestanji of Jesus and His love.

With a newfound faith, Pestanji declared to his family that he would be healed. After some time, the skin irritation left Pestanji completely. Now healed, Pestanji can work once again to provide for his family.

Having witnessed this miracle, Pestanji and his family embraced God’s love into their hearts. Now they fellowship with the local church, worshiping and praising the Lord.

“My son was neglected by his own schoolteachers,” says Adenah. “Nobody took initiative or paid attention to him.”

People didn’t see hope for Rustam—until he joined Bridge of Hope.

A Neglected Boy

Rustam has special needs, and since early childhood he’s suffered from epilepsy. Medication did nothing, and no doctor Rustam saw could offer any cure to his epilepsy. Advanced treatments were also too expensive for Rustam’s family to afford. In addition, Rustam’s father suffered from paralysis, which left him bedridden and unable to work. Adenah was forced to work as the sole breadwinner.

Working as a domestic brought Adenah very little money—just enough to send Rustam to school. Yet in school, Rustam found himself struggling to understand and master the lessons.

His teachers didn’t help because all they saw was Rustam’s disability. Rustam’s education suffered so much that he could not even write his own name in his own language.

Help and Encouragement

One day, staff members from the local GFA-supported Bridge of Hope center met Rustam and his family. Upon seeing the family’s need, the staff asked Adenah if she would like to enroll Rustam into the center. Hearing that Rustam could get the tutoring, encouragement and nutrition he needed, Adenah gladly enrolled him.

The Bridge of Hope staff poured their hearts into Rustam, giving him the time and attention he needed to thrive. Rustam finally learned to read and write. Every day, a warm meal and helping hand awaited him. Equipped by his new education, Rustam was able to help his mother manage a tea stall when he wasn’t at school, which helped bring in income for the family.

“I was unable to provide for his basic needs and give him a good education,” Adenah says. “Now, my son is able to read and write well by the help of the Bridge of Hope staff. The Bridge of Hope project center is an open door of blessings into my family and our place.”

Within these pages, you’ve read testimonies of lives transformed because of compassion.

Pestanji received clean water. Rustam learned his life holds intrinsic value. Bhini experienced acceptance from God’s children that eases the burden of her leprosy.

The Lord is always compassionate. The Scripture says, “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth” (Psalm 86:15 KJV).

The Greek word for compassion used in the New Testament has this very unique meaning: “to be moved in the inward parts,” meaning that you are deeply troubled, deep within, and it propels you to act. Its usage here is more similar to becoming second nature, like when a piece of dust or a fly tries to get into your eyes when you are driving a motorbike or you are walking along, and all of a sudden your eyelid responds instantaneously. … This impetus and the driving force deep down for compassion is the nature of God in us.

Compassion, kindness, is like an ocean. It is a continual flow. It is about being stirred within by God’s Spirit so that we are moved.

Christ is our example. He left the unimaginable riches in Heaven to bring the light of His love to a world of people in desperate need of a compassion that only He could offer. Jesus Christ, who is the perfect expression of God the Father, continually had compassion on those who surrounded Him in the streets and on the hillsides during His ministry here on earth. The Gospels are full of stories about His compassion. His very presence among us was because of His compassion for us.

Compassion is an awesome privilege, a high honor and opportunity God created in our lives. … Compassion—even in the simplicity of giving warm blankets—is a thing born of God’s love that, when nurtured and practiced, can become a way of life. And the grace of God sustains it.

Thank you for showing Christ’s compassion to the people of Asia through your partnership. May we each continue to manifest God’s nature to everyone we can.

Some of this material appeared on K.P. Yohannan’s blog on March 26, 2018. You can find the entire post at kpyohannan.org/2018/03/26/compassion-like-ocean/