Rejoice!

As the eldest in her family, this young girl not only acts as the family babysitter, but she also washes dishes to make a little money, just like Pahal and Annisa did before enrolling in Bridge of Hope.

Sitara feared what her kind visitors might think if she told them the truth about her family’s circumstances. Her children depended on her—it was her responsibility to clothe and provide for them—but her job as a house servant didn’t make enough to feed five small mouths.

What else could a single mother do? So she lied: “No, my children aren’t going for work,” she said.

Harsh Reality

After her husband left her for another woman, Sitara struggled daily. Her monthly earnings as a maid couldn’t cover her family’s basic needs. Looking after her little children was challenging; sometimes Sitara could bring them to work with her, but other times, she had no choice but to leave the four smaller ones at home in the care of her oldest daughter, Pahal—a difficult task for a child in second grade. There were times, after Sitara would come home, that Pahal and her little sister Annisa would go out to find work, cleaning people’s dirty dishes, hoping to earn enough to fill their empty stomachs. Sometimes their younger siblings would beg for the same reason.

No Other Choice

One day, Sitara met some Gospel for Asia-supported workers from a local Bridge of Hope centre, who recognized the family’s desperate situation. They asked Sitara if her daughters Pahal and Annisa were working as house servants, and she initially denied it out of fear. But after some time, she admitted to the stark reality. What she said touched the staff members’ hearts.

"I don't want my children to go for work," Sitara said. “But as a mother, I don’t want to see my children hungry."

When the single mother learned about the opportunities her children could have through Bridge of Hope, she first enrolled Pahal and then Annisa, both of whose active participation and obedient nature quickly won the hearts of the staff.

Pahal and Annisa now have access to a good education and a daily meal, as well as hygiene and school supplies— things that were impossible to obtain before. And Sitara? Her face shines whenever she talks about the blessing Bridge of Hope has been to her family. She takes comfort in knowing her children are being taught well and are cared for by staff members who love her and her family, and it’s all because of Jesus and His love.

Like Amshu (not pictured), many children would have nothing without the help of Bridge of Hope.

A group of children played in the mud, their parents nowhere in sight. But these children should’ve been in school.

As GFA field partners visited this poor village, they quickly realized how beneficial a Bridge of Hope centre would be for the community. They talked to parents and families and prayed for all of the parts to come together, such as staff, a building and the right children.

Soon, a new centre started with 100 children, including a 6-year-old orphaned boy named Amshu. He had lost his mother to an illness when he was a toddler, and his father had died in an accident, so Amshu lived with his aunt. Unlike the other boys in his village, Amshu didn’t spend his days playing in the mud. Instead, he washed dishes for meagre wages at a nearby teashop.

But today, through Bridge of Hope, Amshu has a fresh start at life. He no longer works in the teashop and is thriving in his studies. He receives a regular, healthy meal and a lot of love from the Bridge of Hope staff.

This sort of story happens every day through the prayers and support of men and women like you. Thank you!

Harshika knew how to tailor clothes, but she could not afford her own sewing machine. When she and others, such as these women pictured, receive sewing machines, they are able to significantly increase their family’s income.

When accident left Harshika’s father unable to use his hands and legs, the future of the family became uncertain. He had been their sole provider. Harshika’s mother tried to find work in people’s homes, but her income didn’t meet all of their needs.

Harshika, 22, had dropped out of school in the eighth grade. Now it seemed her younger sister Madhushri, the first of the siblings to make it to college, would have to drop out as well. But God had other plans.

Hidden Talent Helps Her Sister

When a local GFA-supported pastor named Ketan heard about the family’s dire situation, he sought a way to help. After he learned Harshika could sew and had even been trained in tailoring, he arranged for her to receive something she could not have afforded on her own: a sewing machine, one of the gifts found in GFA’s Christmas Gift Catalogue.

It didn’t take long for neighbours to find out about Harshika’s skill, which brought a steady stream of customers. Through the proceeds from her work, Harshika has been able to help her family and even pay for her siblings’ continued education.

Now Harshika and her sister Madhushri meet with the local congregation to hear about the God that Pastor Ketan serves. Madhushri, having witnessed Christ’s love and care for her family firsthand and hearing about His grace from her pastor, has decided to embrace the love of the One who has provided for her future, the One who inspired someone else to provide her sister with a sewing machine.

Thank you!

Even a gift as simple as a sewing machine can have a tremendous impact on a family in need. By partnering with GFA, whether you donate toward sewing machines or you support the work of national missions, you are part of transformative stories of grace like this one, which are happening every day. Thank you so much!

In many Asian cultures, it is considered shameful for a woman to talk to a man whom she is not related to, but a woman can visit with another woman in her home without anyone being called “indecent.” GFA-supported women missionaries are able to minister to women in need and help carry their heavy emotional and spiritual burdens by pointing them to the source of hope: Jesus. Your prayers play a vital part in strengthening these women for the tasks God has given them. We hope you enjoy these short stories.

A Young Girl’s Questions

Fourteen-year-old Naija had heard the name of Jesus, but she didn’t understand who He was; she thought He was just a God for the poor. Naija, along with most people in her family and community, worshipped other gods. That’s why she was confused when she saw people from her own community worshipping Jesus instead.

She wanted to ask someone about Jesus, but she didn’t know whom to talk to. There was no one her age or any one she was familiar with to give her answers.

So Naija was thrilled to meet two GFA-supported women missionaries who answered her questions and explained Christ’s undying love for her. Because of the love of Christ she saw in these two women, Naija now believes in the mercy of the Living God and has the desire to see her family also sitting at the feet of Jesus.

Body and Heart Restored

The first seizure struck sometime after Keva’s wedding day, but more came. They grew more frequent five months into her first pregnancy, and neither medication nor doctors’ instruction did anything to improve her condition. Then Keva met a GFA-supported Women’s Fellowship group, led by a woman named Tapti.

These women conducted a special time of fasting within the local church body, specifically asking God to heal Keva from epilepsy. They visited the young woman regularly to encourage her from the Word of God, and Keva and her husband began to trust in and pray to Jesus.

And God answered their prayers! Keva delivered a healthy baby girl, her body is completely restored, and so is her heart, thanks to the healing love of Jesus and a few women who ministered to her needs.

For the Downcast

Jasu could tell the GFA-supported women missionaries, Riya and Deborah, were different. For two years, she watched their character and was deeply impacted by the loving way they treated the people around them. They spoke often of God’s love when they visited, and sometimes Jasu attended the local worship services.

One day, Jasu told Riya and Deborah how they had encouraged her so much through the years and impacted her life. She told them how their concern and regular visits lifted her when she felt discouraged. They’d helped her know how a woman should be kind and caring toward her family, and they had helped her draw closer to God and seek His blessings for her family. Today, Jasu is sharing in the same love Riya and Deborah first shared with her.

Cancer Gloom Spin

In a matter of months, Sinjini spent all of her money on cancer treatments—there was nothing left. She, her husband and four children didn’t know what to do until they met a GFA-supported woman missionary named Hinda.

When Hinda shared with them from the Bible about the miracles Jesus performed, the family began to hope Sinjini might be healed.

As Hinda visited them, encouraging them with the Word of God and praying fervently for their situation, the Lord healed Sinjini completely! Witnessing this miracle opened their eyes to God’s love, power and grace. Before long, the whole family came to know the Lord personally.

Old Life Off, New Life On

Every morning, Aadita went to temples to offer sacrifices to her gods so they would keep her in good health. But she always found herself sick in bed. When not even the sacrifices of a local religious authority could bring healing to her body, Aadita gave up on the deities she had worshipped for so long.

Then she met a GFA-supported woman missionary named Induja. Filled with Christ’s love for the sick woman, Induja encouraged Aadita often and prayed for her even more. Aadita heard about Jesus, the God who died to rescue people and give them life. When the Lord healed Aadita a few days later, she and her family couldn’t help but love the One who gave her life anew.

Through the donations of people like you, GFA and its field partners have provided thousands of toilets, like this one, to impoverished families in Asia.

Sneaking out early to avoid prying eyes, constantly fearful of attack, feeling ashamed and embarrassed— this is common for some women in Asia, the unfortunate individuals who don’t have access to private toilets. Rithika was one of those women.

God Answers Mother’s Prayer

Rithika didn’t have a bathroom in the small mud-and-bamboo shack she called home, so she and her two youngest children had to make do without. If her husband had been around, they may have been able to build one eventually, but he had been gone for two years and, despite his occasional phone calls, didn’t show any signs of returning or helping the family financially. Sadly, Rithika’s eldest son had followed his example and had left home to live with his friends.

All this meant Rithika had to work very hard every day to provide for her children—and work hard she did. She never begged for help or borrowed money from neighbours or relatives. But there was Someone she asked to provide for her needs on a regular basis.

Facing Hardship Alone

Through the prayers and ministry of a GFA-supported pastor named Gunjan, Rithika had come to know Jesus’ love. She regularly met with other believers to worship Him at the only church in her town. Over time, God put it on the heart of Pastor Gunjan to help this abandoned mother in her need by providing Rithika with a toilet.

Today, Rithika is so grateful to have a private restroom facility she and her children can use, and she no longer has to face the embarrassment of using open places as a toilet or continually visit public restrooms. It’s one less thing she has to worry about.

Thank you for partnering with us to make stories like this possible. Every day, more people in Asia are blessed, whether they are coming to know Jesus for the first time or experiencing how He cares about every part of our lives, including where we go to the bathroom.

Four siblings crowded together over their mother’s sick bed, crying out to Jesus on her behalf. She could hardly move, and she couldn’t speak. No one knew what was wrong, but their father had a theory: Their ancestral gods were upset and had decided to punish them. The only recourse, he told them, was to turn their backs on Jesus and seek the forgiveness of their former deities.

But Atal and his sisters held fast to Christ, much to their father’s anger.

“Haven’t you learned your lesson?” Atal’s father yelled. “When you come back to your original faith, your mother will be well.”

Family Asks Pastor for Prayer

It was only a few months earlier that Atal, his siblings and his mother, Serena, had come to understand the great love of Jesus through conversations with a GFA-supported pastor named Deenbabdhu. So when Serena fell ill, Atal and his sisters contacted Pastor Deenbabdhu and explained the situation. He immediately rushed to their home to pray for Serena.

When the pastor entered their home, he encouraged the children not to worry but to trust in the Lord, and he shared how God is able to do mighty things. Atal’s father walked out of the room, ignoring the pastor’s words, but that didn’t stop Pastor Deenbabdhu and the rest of the family from praying.

Pastor Deenbabdhu anointed Serena with oil and stretched out his hands over her in prayer. He and the four siblings asked God to heal their mother. And God, in His mercy, answered— much to their surprise and joy!

Even Atal’s father couldn’t ignore the miracle, though he is still hesitant to admit it publicly.

Atal and his siblings, through this answered prayer and the encouragement of their pastor, are walking even closer by the Lord’s side every day.

Praise the Lord!

Not long ago, I heard a short talk about three very significant English words, words that are actually questions: what, how and why.

The question, “What are you doing?” is usually very easy to answer. If you ask, “How are you doing it?” the answer will be a bit more complicated—the person will need to explain all about the processes and procedures and methodologies needed to do what they are doing.

But the most significant, the most important, question to ask is, “Why are you doing it?”

Why do we do what we do?

Why do we work? Why do we pray? Why do we sacrifice and give our finances instead of spending them all on ourselves? Why do we live?

If you look at different worldly philosophers throughout the ages, you will find they can never really answer this last question. But we can. We can look up, see Christ and remember He is our reason.

For me, nothing means anything in life except to know Jesus, and that automatically includes making His love known to others.

Philippians 1:12 is a very significant verse. The apostle Paul was in a very nasty situation, locked up in prison. And all the people who loved him were really sad he was gone. But in the midst of that he makes this interesting statement: “I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the Gospel.”

Paul, in the midst of all his hardship and trials and troubles, was so steadfast on this one thing: making the hope in Christ known and glorifying and obeying Him. Paul wanted to see people understand the Saviour’s love, no matter what the cost was to him. Jesus was the reason for all Paul did.

As we enter this new year, I pray we will all remind ourselves of the reason for what we do. It is an immense privilege to belong to Him and to be His hands and feet to a hurting generation around us. I am thankful to be journeying with you as fellow pilgrims.