Desperate Times
Millions leave this state of my country searching for work. Above: Men pile in the back of a truck.
My father was a Hindu temple leader. He collected lots of money by doing idol worship. Because of this, my father was very famous in my village.
But we were still very poor. We only had enough money to eat one time a day. Because of this, my father rejected being a temple leader and went to the North to search for a job.
On the way, my father got in an accident on the road. He broke his left hand. We did not have money for proper treatment. We borrowed money to pay for some medical treatment, but his hand did not heal.
So, my father decided that we would go to a city in the mountains. There, we could beg for money.
When my family reached the city, my father started to collect trash and sell it for recycling. His daily wages were equal to 15-30 cents. It was only enough for us to have a small amount of food once a day, because there are 8 people in my family (I have 5 sisters). My father made a tent on a walking path for us to live in.
A Modern-Day Samaritan
Over half of the children in my state are malnourished.
One day, when my father was collecting trash from a dustbin with his one hand (the other hand was broken), he met a man from England. The man hugged my father and shared the Good News. This was the first time my father heard about Jesus!
Then he invited my father to his house. When father reached his home, the man gave him lots of trash. The man asked him, “Do you want treatment of your hand?”
My father replied, “Sorry, I have no money for treatment.”
Now my father could do hard work! He started to go to church every Sunday, no matter what was happening! I was 5 years old when my parents accepted Jesus.
A Complete Personal Change
Above: Villagers gathered as I prepared to show the “Jesus Film” in an area where Jesus’ name was never before spoken.
When I was a teenager, I went too far from Jesus. I wanted to become a rich man. I wanted to help my family no longer be trash pickers. I hated this work because all of the time police were coming, breaking up our tent, and putting me in custody.
My pastor helped me be accepted into nursing school. All of my tuition would be paid through a Christian hospital! I passed the written test!
But, my heart was not satisfied to do this work. I was so confused about what I should do.
Then, I fell into doing wrong things. I tried to quit, but I couldn’t. So, I tried to destroy myself. I attempted suicide three times. But God saved me! Then, I went to a discipleship school. Now, I personally know the love of Jesus, and His love compels me to live for Him!
Answering God’s Call
One day, I asked Jesus, “After this training, what should I do?” Jesus gave me a word: Romans 15:20, “…I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation.” Right then, I decided to do ministry.
Then a letter came from nursing school. Now I would be able to take the physical test. (It took extreme preparation to be able to take this test.) I threw the letter in the dustbin! I was determined to do ministry!
My father decided to return to our home state to tell people about Jesus. After I graduated from the SGWM Pastors School, I also returned to my state.
Thirty years ago, my home state became known as the “Graveyard of Christians”. So many missionaries came here. They worked hard to spread the Good News. But they didn’t get any fruit. Instead, they were killed because of the name of Jesus.
So many pastors and their families were murdered by anti-Christian groups. Many others ran away from here when they were persecuted. Pastors are scared and do not want to come here. Since we came here, my family and I have also faced great persecution. But, praise God He has kept us alive until now. He put me and my family here safely. He is helping me to do ministry. Now more than 12 house churches have started through our ministry and God is adding new believers day by day! Praise God!
-Pastor 11*
*names changed or omitted for security reasons
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