Rejoice!

Unstable finances, malnutrition and lack of health care can all be resolved with an unusual gift: a pair of goats.

Sometimes, God decides to answer prayer supernaturally. Other times, He uses a natural solution, such as a goat. For Nand and his family, the gift of a pair of goats was the single answer to several prayers.

For Nand and his wife, day-to-day life proved difficult. They sought work each day, putting in long hours for just enough wages to buy the food they shared with their two children. If anyone in the family fell ill, which happened often, their meagre earnings had to stretch even further to pay for medicine. They sought financial relief and peace from their deities, but those prayers went unanswered.

Prayers to God Who Hears

Amid this dire situation, the family met GFA-supported pastor Dayal. Pastor Dayal told Nand and his family of God’s love for them. He also shared that God was strong enough to handle the family’s illnesses, and he prayed for their healing.

When Pastor Dayal ran into them a few days later, they looked like a new family. Their faces shone with happiness, joy and good health.

The family began attending Pastor Dayal’s church. The more they learned about God, the more attracted to Him they became and the more peace they experienced. They each decided to begin a personal relationship with God.

While the family was better equipped with God’s love, joy and peace to handle the curveballs life threw at them, their finances were still strained, and their health often suffered from lack of nutrition.

A Generous Gift

Sometime later, the church organized a Christmas gift distribution program. Thanks to generous donations, Pastor Dayal was able to present Nand’s family with a pair of goats.

The family gratefully accepted the gift, immediately benefitting from the nutritious goats’ milk. In one year, their flock of two goats grew to four, and the money they earned helped provide a more stable income and food for a nutritious diet.

Nand and his wife were thankful for the life-changing gift, saying, “We don’t have any problems now because we are getting a good amount when we sell the goats. And we are providing the goat milk for our children. Our situation has changed a lot after we received the gift.”

Who knew prayers for a stable income, food for a balanced diet and fewer sick days could be answered through the gift of a couple goats? God did.

The gift of a single cow can drastically improve a family’s financial situation. Some families decide to share their animal’s offspring with others, spreading the blessing even further.

When a church led by a GFA-supported pastor had the opportunity to bless several families with Christmas gifts, Pulak’s family received a much-needed cow. The family was so grateful for the gift that when their cow birthed a calf, they felt compelled to give the calf back to the Lord.

As the calf grew, believers in the church decided to use the calf to bless another family in need.

Some of the believers had recently met a man named Yash. He and his wife struggled to care for themselves. Without any oxen, it was difficult for Yash to work and earn a living. The church decided to bless Yash and his wife with Pulak’s donated calf and another calf that had been given to the church by another family.

With the gift of the two cows, Yash was able to work plowing paddy fields, providing the funds necessary to purchase food, clothes and other essentials.

From the generosity of supporters providing Pulak’s community with Christmas gifts, Yash later received the double blessing. More than a means to work, the cows were a testament to God’s provision for Yash and his wife. Though they don’t know Him personally yet, they have experienced His love.

Jagavi (pictured) almost lost her opportunity for an education, until a Bridge of Hope centre opened in her village. Now she leads her fellow classmates with the best grades in her class!

Some children view school as a chore, a daily routine that seems to drag on and on for years. Others see it as a stepping stone to something greater, a path into their future. And others, like the millions of children in Asia who live in poverty, see school as a dream because it is beyond their reach. Without an education, their future is bleak. Jagavi, a schoolgirl in Asia, almost lost her future.

Struggling at Home, Struggling at School

When she was in fourth grade, Jagavi stopped going to school. The supplies she needed were too expensive, despite her father’s hard work. Jagavi and her younger siblings lived with their parents—and extended family. Living with her grandparents, aunts and uncles meant money was tight. Despite extra family members who worked as daily wage labourers, there were even more mouths to feed.

On top of this, Jagavi’s studies suffered. The young girl performed poorly, partly due to missing classes because she lacked pencils and notebooks. She was also malnourished. Her teachers scolded her for falling behind in class, and eventually, Jagavi stopped attending.

A Future Restored

By the grace of God, a GFA-supported Bridge of Hope centre opened in Jagavi’s village. Jagavi and her younger sister were among the first to enroll. Here, Jagavi thrived. So much of what she needed was provided for: school supplies, nutritious food, tutoring and hygiene care.

The love of the staff and the encouragement they gave her propelled Jagavi to the top of her class! No longer a shy, timid girl who failed in her studies, Jagavi grew confident as she worked hard and excelled in her schooling. She even discovered a hidden talent of drawing portraits.

Jagavi’s mother, Reneeka, was overjoyed to see both her daughters flourishing.

“If the Bridge of Hope centre [was] not opened in this village, my daughters’ education would have stopped,” Reneeka says.

Jagavi’s future is no longer in jeopardy. She plans to become a teacher, like the tutors at Bridge of Hope whose love helped her become the enthusiastic student she is today.

Sinhal’s childhood was marred by poverty and trauma. He and his family struggled to survive, staving off hunger and illness any way they could. Yet, above all else, there was one problem that never seemed to go away, hounding Sinhal and his family: the cold.

In extremely poor regions of Asia, many people depend on the heat of small fires and sunshine to survive the cold.

A Family’s Fight Against the Cold

After Sinhal’s father tragically passed away when the boy was only 9, he and his mother and his two siblings were left to survive on their own. Sinhal’s father had been the primary breadwinner, and his mother had to stop working for health reasons. Sinhal’s small stature limited his working ability, too. What little money they had was from Sinhal’s uncle, who helped them for a short time. However, the uncle stopped sending money when Sinhal’s younger brother found a job at age 13.

The limited funds were only enough for bare necessities, and winter clothes and blankets cost far too much for their meagre income. Because they lived in a rural village, there was no central heating. Every cold season, Sinhal and his family suffered without warm clothes.

The Struggles of a Pastor

When he was a teenager, Sinhal came to know the Lord through a friend. As soon as he became old enough, Sinhal went to study at an independent Bible college. He graduated three years later, and filled with a burning passion, the new pastor went out to minister among the hurting and suffering.

The burden of cold from his childhood remained with Sinhal, and the winter seasons made it difficult to minister. But instead of hiding indoors, he pressed on during the bitter cold, determined to not let it get in the way of his ministry. Sinhal fell ill many times, and he often couldn’t sleep properly during chilly weather. However, in those times he would pray, seeking the Lord and asking for His provision.

The Lord Provides

GFA-supported worker Sinhal received a warm winter jacket at a GFA-supported gift distrubtion, enabling him to minister in all kinds of weather without falling ill.

The Lord listened—and He provided. Through a GFA-supported gift distribution, Sinhal was provided with a heavy winter jacket, thicker and warmer than anything he had ever owned. Now the winters would be more bearable, unlike those he previously faced.

“Once I had a thin and old torn cloth,” Sinhal says, “but now because of God’s abundant grace and love, I am able to wear a new and thick jacket and be protected from the severe cold. God has provided all my needs on time.”

Sinhal continues to faithfully serve the Lord, and he is now able to brave the harshest temperatures in safety. Thanks to his warm jacket, he enjoys better sleep and better health, and he can energetically serve the Lord to his fullest capacity.

Thousands of other families and missionaries suffer from the cold in Asia as Sinhal did. Thanks to your partnership, they are provided with warmth in the depths of winter.

The gift of a blanket can spare an entire family from cold-related illnesses and discomfort; it can even warm cold hearts as families wrap themselves in a tangible example of Christ’s love.

When Pastor Luhit first started visiting Shalini’s village, he faced a skeptical environment. Many people didn’t trust him because they didn’t like Christians.

But Pastor Luhit’s heart of compassion didn’t waver. He knew that many of the people in Shalini’s village lived in poverty and heartache. Most depended on manual labour or farming for survival, and very few ever got the chance to pursue higher education. The pastor also knew he desperately wanted to help them.

Shalini was among those who despised Christianity; she was also among those who suffered because of poverty. Her husband laboured as a farmer to provide for the family while Shalini cared for their four children and her mother-in-law. In wintertime, the family’s small house didn’t protect them from the chilly air, but they couldn’t afford warm clothes. At night the seven family members had only one old cloth to share among themselves, so they relied on fires for warmth.

A Small Gift, a Lasting Impact

Even though many people didn’t appreciate Pastor Luhit coming to their village, he cared about them and was concerned about the difficulties people faced during winter’s cold.

That’s why Pastor Luhit organized a Christmas gift distribution to provide blankets. When he held the program one November day, Shalini came—and received a new, plush blanket!

“I am very happy, encouraged and blessed by receiving this gift,” Shalini said, joyfully carrying the blanket.

This blanket helped protect Shalini’s family during the cold nights, and it showed them someone cared about them. “I used to hate Christians, but they love me,” Shalini said.

The love of the believers showed Shalini that Christ loved her, too, and she began to believe in Him. Her family began praying to Jesus together each morning and evening, and they started attending worship services at the local church.

Now Shalini knows not only the warmth of a cozy blanket but also the warmth of God’s grace. And instead of hating believers in Christ, she knows they are her brothers and sisters, and she tells her neighbours and relatives about her newfound joy.

GFA-supported workers minister to young and old alike in the villages where they serve.

Myia Win, a GFA-supported worker, grew up in a Christian home, attended Bible college, and made the bold step to share Christ’s love in a village having only a few believers. In her younger years, she also surrounded herself with people who didn’t know Jesus—but for a very different reason.

Myia’s parents imparted Christian values to her and her siblings, but as a teenager, Myia preferred to spend time with friends who didn’t share those values. Myia went to church, as her parents asked, but she didn’t have a relationship with Jesus. She was CURRENT_USERless—until the day she heard a Christian worker share the message of God’s grace. That’s when she chose to follow Jesus.

After choosing to pursue a relationship with Jesus, Myia joined a Bible college to learn more about Him and later began serving a local congregation as a GFA-supported national worker. That’s when she met Cho Yon—a young woman who desperately needed the purpose Myia had finally found.

Amidst tragic events in her life, Cho found hope in Christ as she attended youth-oriented church events held by a GFA-supported worker.

Teen Gains Friendship, Hope

Cho was adrift, as Myia had once been. But while Myia had lost her way by ignoring the wisdom of her Christ-following parents, Cho and her siblings had grown up in confusion. Their father worshiped Christ, but their mother devoutly followed a different religion. Cho and her siblings never knew what to believe.

Then tragedy struck. When Cho was in seventh grade, her father died, throwing the already-impoverished family into greater hardship. A year later, Cho’s mother remarried and abandoned her children.

Cho’s aunt took in the newly abandoned children. This aunt, a believer who attended the church where Myia ministered, encouraged Cho and her siblings to join her for worship services. The children also started going to the Youth Fellowship and Sunday school meetings Myia organized.

As Cho heard Myia share about Jesus and His grace, the cloud of confusion lifted from Cho’s heart. She realized God was showing His love to her through her aunt, and she thanked Him. Wanting to know Him more, Cho sought counsel from Myia. Cho eventually decided to trust in the Lord, who would never leave or forsake her.

Because Myia chose to tell others about the anchor she found in Jesus, Cho discovered lasting hope. Now, amidst life’s uncertainties, Cho can stand firmly with Christ as her solid rock and sure foundation.

One of the struggles we sometimes face as followers of Christ is seeing where we want to be in our walk with God in contrast with where we currently find ourselves.

When we look back over this year, this month or even just today, we often have regrets. We resolve to do better in the future, yet we can quickly find ourselves right back where we started.

There are all kinds of reminders around us to tell us of our fallen nature and the spiritual maturity we have not yet attained. The Enemy is an accuser of the brethren, and he actively takes every opportunity he can to accuse us (see Revelation 12:10). His accusations leave us despairing and hopeless. Sometimes we just don’t want to try anymore, and we are ready to give up.

If we turn to Christ in those times instead of lingering on the Enemy’s words to us, we’ll hear another story. Christ causes us to look up and to stop thinking of ourselves. He draws us to repentance and encourages us to believe Him for a greater work through our lives. With Him, there is hope and a brighter tomorrow.

Let us also have patience—with ourselves as well as with others. God is much more concerned about our honesty before Him and our attitude of grace and mercy toward others than He is about us doing everything correctly.

So let us remember: It takes time for God to do His work. We do not have to lose heart because of any spiritual lack we discover in ourselves. Whatever happens, we can embrace the truth that God is sovereign and is faithful to complete what He started.

“Commit your way to the LORD,” Psalm 37:5 encourages us. “Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” The Almighty God is at work in our lives. We can certainly trust Him for the journey He has set for us!

He is completing His work in you. Believe Him!

Through your support of the work on the field, God is working through you—the stories you have read are a testament to that. His love is being made manifest through your support of the countless workers in Asia. Thank you. May the Lord bless you!