GFA World Newsletter

February 2018, Vol. 14, No. 2

She had only been married a few days. What should have been one of the best times of her life was suddenly marred by a strange condition in her leg.

Yoshita, only 25, had contracted leprosy.

Leprosy Lingers

Yoshita and her husband came from a poor community in an area where leprosy is not uncommon. Most people in her village worked hard as farmers or daily labourers, straining their bodies for an entire day in the hopes of earning enough for one meal ... but their wages also had to satisfy the people’s common addictions to alcohol and drugs.

Yoshita laboured hard among her neighbours, but sometimes she could only beg along the side of the road. When leprosy attacked her leg, hopelessness settled into her heart.

She visited doctor after doctor, but they weren’t able to mend her suffering. She turned to local practitioners of traditional medicines, but nothing improved. As the years passed, her pain increased, and her mental agony grew. All hopes of finding a cure were shattered, and she found herself in a hospital.

Ten years had passed since her wedding, and Yoshita had little to show for it but a missing leg and a hurting heart.

Unexpected Hope

But as Yoshita lay in the mission hospital where her husband had admitted her, she heard something quite unexpected: songs of praise.

A group of GFA-supported Sisters of Compassion had come to the hospital. They made their way through the rooms, visiting with and praying for those who were ill, singing songs and reading encouraging Scriptures to lighten burdened hearts.

When these sisters prayed for her, Yoshita noticed a difference in her body, but beyond the physical relief she experienced was the emotional freedom she felt as God lifted the agonizing weight of crushed dreams from her heart.

As she talked with the Sisters of Compassion, Yoshita learned about the Author of hope and decided to turn her heart over to Him for safekeeping.

Broken Heart Restored

GFA-supported Compassion Services workers, like Sisters of Compassion, serve amid the suffering. They minister in places like leprosy colonies, hospitals and slums, and they help people after natural disasters, aiming to bring the peace of Christ to those who have no hope.

GFA-supported Sisters of Compassion frequently minister to those who suffer from leprosy’s disfiguring and damaging effects. The woman pictured lost her leg due to the disease, and the Sisters of Compassion frequently help with her chores, visit her and bring joy to her life.

Through your prayers and support of the ministry of GFA, you have been part of blessing countless men and women, like Yoshita. God touched her in her hour of need, and her broken heart has been restored.

In many areas, it is still a very cold winter. There are many living in severe conditions without proper clothing or blankets to protect them from the harsh elements. This discomfort is expressly felt especially during those seemingly unending chilly nights. Faithful GFA partners like you are making a difference in the lives of men and women who could never afford to buy cozy winter gear for themselves.

In their own words, here are a few testimonies of how God used a simple blanket or jacket to demonstrate His love and compassion.

Meet Gangol, who desires to serve the Lord as a missionary. He received a blanket while studying in seminary and said, “I was feeling cold in the early morning, but I didn’t have any money to buy warm clothes. But I kept on in prayer, and this is the answer of my prayer. God fulfilled my need. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Lord Jesus Christ.”

GFA-supported woman missionary Abhisar said, “It’s a real help in the time of my need. It was hard for me [in this city] to face the winter. But … I received woollen sweaters, cap, socks and a shawl. When I look back to my home, it’s difficult to express the situation of my parents. Of course they are my parents, but for them, it was not possible to extend such help for me. My parents are farmers, but they are living in a very pathetic condition. I had nothing when I reached here, but today, I am happy to get all of these things, and I love to grow in the presence of God, who provides all my needs.”

Meet a grateful mother of a Bridge of Hope child who said after her child received a jacket, “In the severe cold [here] many children are dying daily on the street. But thank God for such a dream for children, to make the unprivileged children’s futures better.”

Aahna, a Bible College student, said, “I am grateful to God who blessed me with brand-new warm clothes. It was difficult for me to face the winter [here]. Today the Lord has given me a good quality warm dress so, from the bottom of my heart, I would love to say … thank you, thank you and, once again, thank you for your love and care.”

The fields were on fire. Little Rupal watched the spectacle with weary eyes. She was hungry, and following her mother, Vanhi, around the fields all day was hard on her young, malnourished body.

Rupal also watched as her friends went to school without her. She had asked her mother if she could go, too, not understanding the extent of their financial troubles. It broke Vanhi’s heart every time Rupal asked her about an education, but there was nothing she could do on her own to provide. She needed help. She needed hope.

A Widow’s Woes

As a recent widow, Vanhi struggled to provide for her two young daughters. Like generations before her, Vanhi got involved in slash and burn agriculture. She kept her girls with her during the day, while she laboured in the fields—Rupal and her little sister watched their mother toil to cut down trees, shrubs and grasses to burn—and spent many sleepless nights worrying about their future.

Vanhi wanted to feed her girls well; she wanted to clothe them properly; she wanted to send them to school, but it was beyond her means. Adding to her anguish, Vanhi faced criticism and harassment instead of help and love from neighbours and relatives.

It seemed impossible for her children to have a future any better than their dear mother’s ... but our God is the God of the impossible.

While Rupal was still 4 years old and malnourished, Vanhi heard about a place where children could find free tutoring and help.

A Longing Fulfilled

Vanhi quickly approached a local GFA-supported worker and poured out all her struggles. He had pity on the suffering woman, and the very next day, he talked to the Bridge of Hope centre coordinator about Vanhi and Rupal’s situation. Together, the two men and some other GFA-supported Bridge of Hope staff visited Vanhi at her home, where they encouraged her and witnessed the extent of Rupal’s need. It didn’t take long for them to recognize her pathetic situation or to enroll her in the centre.

Rupal (right) with her mother and sister. Praise the Lord, Rupal now has a brighter future through the help of Bridge of Hope.

It’s not hard to imagine how joyful Rupal was when she could finally attend school. There was food—good food—provided for her and the 89 other children every school day. Rupal stopped getting sick so often, and her overall physical health improved. There was tutoring to help children with difficult subjects, and Rupal began to grow mentally as well.

Rupal didn’t have to go to work with her mother anymore.

Her mother was delighted. Their dream had come true.

‘I Saw God’s Nature in You’

One day, the Bridge of Hope coordinator asked Vanhi a question.

“It has been more than one and a half years that your child Rupal is regularly attending the classes in our Bridge of Hope centre,” he said. “Tell us, how do you feel? Is Bridge of Hope centre helpful for you and for your daughter?”

“I am really grateful, to the leadership for helping me in the time of my depression.” Vanhi responded. “For years, nobody has come and helped me. Instead of showing me love and care, people hated and criticized us.

“You helped me,” she continued. “I saw God’s nature in you, and that made me happier.”

Vanhi hopes her daughter will grow up to be a teacher someday so she can help other poor and needy children find a better future.

Thank You!

Through this Bridge of Hope centre, God has touched the lives of many children and their families, giving them an opportunity to receive an education and ultimately break out of poverty. Thanks to the donations of GFA friends like you toward our Bridge of Hope Program and Unsponsored Children’s Fund, hundreds of Bridge of Hope centres are able to bless more than 82,000 children throughout Asia. That’s 82,000 children who are no longer watching their futures waste away.

Thank you so much for making a difference in the lives of needy children, like Rupal, through your prayers and by supporting the work of the Lord through GFA World!

It was 10:00 on Sunday morning. A crowd stood outside Htay Pyi’s house—fathers, mothers and bored-looking children, all wearing their Sunday best. They were waiting for Htay Pyi and his family to finish rearranging their home to accommodate the congregation.

The timing didn’t always work out right.

A Congregation with No Home

GFA-supported pastor Tamayan had a heart and a passion for the people in his region, and God was moving in many lives. However, the growing congregation had no consistent place to gather.

They tried to meet in people’s homes, but if a home wasn’t big enough, not everyone could worship there. When the meeting place wasn’t consistent, how would everyone know where to gather? But more importantly—how would new believers or people curious about Jesus know where to go to learn more about the One born in Bethlehem?

But this wasn’t just a problem on Sunday mornings.

“Most of our women are prayerful,” Pastor Tamayan explained. “They wanted to go to the church for prayer early in the morning, but since we did not have a church building, they could not gather.”

An Answer to Prayer

Thankfully, the GFA world was able to come together to provide a place of worship for Pastor Tamayan, Htay Pyi and the rest of the congregation! Today they have a spacious and beautiful building where they can praise the Lord together.

“I have seen more people coming to church for prayer,” Pastor Tamayan shared. “At dawn on Monday, most of the church members come and have prayer. Every Friday, the Women’s Fellowship has fasting and prayer. We have whole night prayer also in the first week of every month.”

What’s more—the children are learning, the youth are excited, the congregation feels more united and they are growing as more people come to this church building to learn about the Lord.

“I had been praying for 10 years for a permanent, local church building,” Pastor Tamayan said. Today, that prayer has been answered.

Praise the Lord!

Janvijay lived a pretty pampered and relaxed life. As the youngest of his siblings, he was well taken care of, even though his father died when he was a young boy. His mother loved him. The only thing that made her feel uneasy about her youngest was his lack of reverence for the family’s religious traditions. But Janvijay was obedient and respectful to his elders, so she didn’t correct or scold him.

Forming a Friendship

As 33-year-old Janvijay led his easygoing, carefree life, he began to form a friendship with GFA-supported pastor Deenbabdhu. Deenbabdhu was the same age as Janvijay, and as their friendship grew, they both began to share their life struggles and joys. Janvijay never really listened seriously when Deenbabdhu would talk about his best friend, Jesus. Religion wasn’t an interest to Janvijay, and he would always change the topic.

Discovering Pastor Deenbabdhu’s Secret

But as time went on, Janvijay noticed Deenbabdhu’s life was different from the lives of his other friends. Whenever Janvijay got sick, Deenbabdhu would pray for him and he would get well. But Janvijay would brush this off and think little of it—he was sure it was just the medicine he took that brought him healing. But Janvijay did notice something peculiar about his new friend. It seemed Pastor Deenbabdhu had joy and peace regardless of his circumstances. This revelation caused Janvijay to search for his secret.

Janvijay started attending Pastor Deenbabdhu’s worship services and listening to the Word of God. As Janvijay continued to attend church, his heart unfolded to the hope of Jesus and His love and steadfast peace.

Janvijay is grateful to his friend Pastor Deenbabdhu and told him, “I am indeed thankful to you for your faithfulness in your ministry. I am happy to have you as my true friend. ... As I came to know Christ, I came to know the meaning of my life. To obey His words is the purpose of my life.”

Now that Janvijay decided to follow Christ, he doesn’t have such an easy going life as his family is unhappy about his new love for Jesus. But Janvijay will not turn back. He uncovered the secret of his friend and now has a life full of peace and meaning.

Because you prayed and because you have sacrificed and given, we all get to hear about Janvijay’s story and hear how God is working through His precious children like Pastor Deenbabdhu. Thank you!

Our lives can be so filled with troubles and hardship it can be difficult to remember where and how to find joy.

There is a Scripture verse that says, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation” (Psalm 51:12), and it is good for us to stop every now and then to deliberately remember how great a gift our salvation is. We have been brought from death to life—forever.

Think about it. Do you remember when you first realized God’s love for you? Did anything else matter in that moment?

Consider Belli from one of the stories in this issue. Belli had been rejected by numerous men and probably thought she would never get married. But when she heard about the God who loves, accepts and chooses us, that’s what she focused on. Despite the pain, heartache and shame she must have gone through, can you imagine her joy the moment she understood His love?

My friend, even amid our struggles and trials, when we deliberately turn our eyes and our hearts to Jesus, we can find joy and strength to carry on.

Stories of God transforming lives, like those in this issue of Harvest, are a reminder to us of God’s character, power and grace. No matter what we are facing, we can rejoice because God is still in control.

These stories can also remind us of the tremendous privilege the Lord has given us, as His children, to be part of sharing His joy with countless men and women who don’t know Jesus.

And that is something you are doing through your prayers and support of God’s work through GFA!

Your life is making a difference. God moves through our prayers to touch people like Belli and give them eternal joy, and that is a reason for us to rejoice as well.

As we keep our eyes on Jesus and do all He has called us to do, may He fill us with greater and deeper joy!