Meet Your Neighbors //

Neighbors Abroad // Women Survivors in India

Take a heartfelt journey through the eyes of these women, and others, who unveil their personal stories of persecution, rejection, abandonment, tragedy and even triumph. Get a glimpse of the true resilience of the human spirit and the hope that has changed the lives of millions like these and is helping change millions more.

A Saylors Brothers film, narrated by Natalie Grant, in partnership with Gospel for Asia. All proceeds from the film will by donated to GFA to support their continued efforts and impact in the lives of women throughout India.

Desperate for More Than Clean Water // GFA

Suprita had to trek through the rocky terrain to get water for her family. But there would be no sweet relief when she and her family drank it. The stagnant pond she drew from was full of mud, discarded bodies of dead animals and even human waste. Suprita had no alternative—she risked the possibility of stomach pain and sickness every day because this was the only water available for miles. And this was only the beginning of her problems. Drunken Husband Beats Wife, Children Suprita lived under the constant threat of being beaten by her alcoholic husband Tarosh. Night after night, he came home from his job as a rickshaw driver completely drunk and harshly mistreated her and her children. None of them could bear the pain and fear much longer. Suprita knew something had to be done to solve Tarosh's drinking problem. She begged her gods and goddesses to help her in the hopeless situation she and her family were in, but it did not seem that prayers alone would bring peace to her family. Tarosh continued to drink and hurt Suprita emotionally and physically. Witchcraft, Sorcery Do Not Solve Problems Something more drastic would have to take place if Tarosh was ever going to leave behind his destructive behavior. Suprita decided she would take matters in her own hands by learning the secrets of witchcraft and the art of sorcery. She offered the bodies of a slain hen and goat as sacrifices. In her desperation, she went to sorcerers and began to call on the spirits of the dead, hoping they would come to her aid. For all her dedicated efforts, however, her husband did not change. Jesus Well Brings Some Relief In the midst of her struggles with Tarosh, Suprita still had the daily needs of her family to meet. At least one of her burdens was lifted when a Gospel for Asia pastor named Makrand had a well installed in their village. It was a welcome sight and a relief to the villagers. No more would they have to worry about stomachaches, illnesses or death because of the contaminated water they had been consuming so regularly. Something as simple as being able to bathe in fresh water dramatically changed the way the men and women of the village lived. "My children were going to school without taking baths, and my husband went to work without a bath as well," Suprita recalled. "We were not able to maintain proper cleanliness due to water scarcity, but after this Jesus Well was installed in our village, my children could take baths every day and go to school clean." One day at the well, Suprita ran into Pastor Makrand. As she drew the water she needed, the two began talking about life in general, and Pastor Makrand eventually shared about God's love. As the conversation continued, Suprita opened up and found herself sharing even the most painful things about her life with the pastor. While she poured out her heart to Makrand, he listened intently and offered to visit Suprita at her home. Not wasting any time, Pastor Makrand and his wife stopped by Suprita's house the very next day. Suprita was glad to see her new friends and welcomed them into her home. The couple listened as Suprita thanked the pastor for having the well installed in her community and continued to share about the turmoil in her life. Pastor Makrand told Suprita Jesus is the only One who could bring the true joy and peace she was seeking. Hearing about Jesus from Makrand stirred Suprita's heart and made her eager to learn more. Family Finds Hope Pastor Makrand continued to regularly visit Suprita and talk about the Good News with her. It all began making sense to Suprita, and one day she fully trusted in the Lord for salvation. Suprita had a new heart for Christ, and a new determination to pray for Tarosh. Although his habits had not changed, Suprita did not stop growing in the Lord and praying for her husband. Pastor Makrand and his wife prayed with Suprita and her children once a week, and Tarosh always left the house during that time. But the group of praying friends persevered, and slowly Tarosh began to change. His bad habits became less frequent, and he would sometimes attend the prayer meetings in his home and listen to God's Word being read or talked about. Thankful for a New Life Eventually, Tarosh's life changed from the inside out. He, too, trusted in Jesus and began living for Him. The home once filled with scared children, a desperate and weary wife and a careless and violent husband is drastically different today. Tarosh cares very deeply for his family now, and they all worship God together with several other families from the community whose hearts have also been transformed by the Good News. Suprita did not expect to find more than fresh water at the well the day she met Pastor Makrand. She never would have guessed that a conversation at a well would forever change her life and the lives of her children, her husband and other people in her village. "I am lucky to get good water from the well," Suprita says. "Above all, I am so happy that I and my family came to know the Lord through this means." Jesus Wells not only give entire communities the clean water that is so desperately needed, but they also provide opportunities for missionaries to build relationships and share the hope of Christ with the people in the village. Donate to Jesus Wells today! // written by  Clara Christofferson Gospel for Asia

This is my Neighbor //

What can you do with two hours? We often think to take a long lunch, watch a movie, or get some work done. What about walking to a remote village to share the Gospel?  Or taking time to listen to an old friend share his problems so that you can pray with him? The below stories demonstrate what God can do when we allow Him to use our time.

Worth Every Minute

Two hours is a small price for Bhima to pay. He’s made this journey countless times, but when you’re feeding the hungry, the joy is worth it all.

Pastor Bhima travels to the surrounding villages of his home, sharing the love of Jesus with many who have never heard Christ’s name. When Bhima came to a town two hours away, he discovered that several people were hungry to learn about God. So he kept returning.

A Village Steeped in Religion

The majority of the villagers believe in karma and are bound in superstition, and most don’t know how to read. But these hard-working farmers will not put up with anyone mocking their faith.

Padma, a quiet young woman in the town, has worshiped and sacrificed to idols since childhood. Her family is often separated, because her father works in a different state, but she works hard to help her mother and brothers take care of their home. A dedicated student, one would never guess from Padma’s smile the difficulties she has to endure to make it through school.

Tormented by Spirits

Why they chose her, Padma didn’t know, but every time she tried to concentrate on her studies, demons attacked. She wanted to learn but frequent headaches prevented her.

Padma and her mother visited many doctors, but no one had answers to free Padma from her misery.

Pastor Bhima happened to visit Padma’s home one day and shared the Gospel with her mother. Padma arrived later, and he got to pray for her. Padma’s mother noticed a difference in her daughter after the prayer, so she asked Bhima to keep coming. He gladly consented and visited often, reading from God’s Word and asking God to heal Padma.

Where Two or More are Gathered

Bhima invited two believers from his hometown to begin a regular prayer meeting in Padma’s home. One day, as the three believers prayed over Padma, she fell down unconscious, but Bhima and his friends continued to intercede for her deliverance and the Lord rescued her. In moments, Padma stood up, fully restored.

Padma and her mother were overjoyed and thanked the believers profusely. From that day on, Padma started to attend prayer meetings, and gradually God convicted her heart of her need for Jesus.

Now, there is a wide-open door in this village to hear the message of Jesus. The people are amazed at what God accomplished in Padma’s life and they see the power Christ has over darkness. Padma also joyfully shares her testimony with others, and no one opposes her witness because they are so happy that she is healed.

// written by Clara Christofferson, Gospel for Asia

Neighbors Abroad // Alcoholics in Asia

Hope for the Whole Family // Sachi watched her husband become more and more dependent on alcohol to get through each day. She and Javesh had small children to feed, but whatever money he made, he used on his addiction. The situation grew worse, and their food was beginning to run out. The only glimmer of hope in Sachi’s and Javesh’s lives was that their son Chakor was enrolled in a Gospel for Asia Bridge of Hope center. They knew he was being cared for and given a nutritious meal every day. While Chakor received the opportunity to learn and grow, things were looking grim for the rest of the family. One day, during a regular visit to the family’s home, the staff members from the Bridge of Hope center realized how dire Chakor’s family situation truly was. After meeting with the family, they decided to offer Sachi a job as a cook at the center. She was overjoyed at the prospect. The new job meant income, and an income meant their family wouldn’t have to starve. Sachi was very happy to be able to meet all her children’s needs again. God Answered Their Prayers The Bridge of Hope staff continued visiting with and praying for the family, and slowly, Javesh’s life started to change. He stopped drinking alcohol, and he began to use his wages to provide for his family again. Through the prayers and friendship of the Bridge of Hope staff, Sachi and Javesh saw the love of Jesus and knew that He cared very much for them. The couple and their children embraced the hope that can only be found in Christ. Today the family attends the local fellowship together, and their home is full of God’s peace. Not only has their outward situation changed drastically, but their inner lives were transformed as well. See how your prayers can impact Bridge of Hope children and their families. Here's an article I found that outlines the troubles of alcohol abuse in India. // written by Cari Poweziak of Gospel for Asia

The book that hit home //

Have you ever had a book really impact you? Two years ago when I first read "No Longer a Slumdog" it had quite an effect on me. I never do things like this, but I decided I had to share the effect the book had had on me with it's author. This is the email I sent...

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Sent: Friday, July 08, 2011 5:14 PM
To: K.P. Yohannan
Subject: "No Longer A Slumdog"

Mr Yohannan,

Whether or not you ever get a chance to read this I had to take the time
to give glory to God and share how He has used the book "No Longer a
Slumdog" for me personally. Its a bit of a long story but the context
makes the conclusion all the better so bear with me. :)

In the fall of 2010 the Lord began to sort of "corner" me with India --
everywhere I looked India was there. I took the hint eventually and
brought it before the Lord. He really burdened me for that country and I
was crying out on behalf of it to Him regularly. I was literally crying
for the people living there that I had never met before. I felt the
weight of the Lord's anguish for them so heavy on me. At the same time I
felt the great strength and release of joy in the hope the Lord is
bringing and desires to bring more fully to them. I began to learn a bit
about the culture and I looked into taking a trip there with the
ministry called Visiting Orphans. The Lord kept the burden heavy on me
until He had taken me through a refining season of bringing me to a
place of obedience and submission to whatever His plan could turn out to
be for me in regard to India. He caused me to come face-to-face with
some of my fears and things I needed to surrender in order to follow
wherever He may lead me and He had me really count the cost of being a
willing vessel for Him to use there. After He had brought me through
that the weight of the burden lifted. It was strange not to be overcome
with anguish and be on my face crying and praying for the country
anymore but it was still on my heart, it had become dear to me. Months
went by and I was still praying about whether I was to go to India or
not and eventually the Lord answered me saying simply, "Wait." I thought
at the time that He meant I was to wait for a few weeks or something for
Him to tell me that I was to go but He made it clear that He meant I was
to wait indefinitely and not plan on going this year. As much as I
desired to go it was exciting to know that I wasn't supposed to yet and
that He must have something else in mind. All those months of praying
and waiting I had also been reading and researching, trying to expand my
understanding of circumstances around the world and broaden my personal
awareness. That led to many different things: opened doors,
opportunities to share and learn and be involved in things I wouldn't
have been before, relationships with like-minded individuals, etc. In my
study the Lord directed me to GFA and that was one more way He
"cornered" me with India. I ordered a free copy of your book "Revolution
in World Missions" and it was fantastic. Among other sermons that I have
on my iPod by David Wilkerson, Paris Reidhead, and Major Ian Thomas, I
have sermons by you that I have listened to both on my own and with my
family members. Your passionate care for souls (which is from the Lord)
is always convicting and used to bring me back to the Lord on my knees
saying, "I don't have that burden, but I must. Lord, give me your heart
for the souls being lost daily."
Fast forward to last week. I was looking through all of my books,
wondering which one to start reading and really wishing that I had a
book on the circumstances children find themselves in especially in
Asia. Shortly thereafter a friend told me about "No Longer a Slumdog"
and I ordered my free copy. I got it a few days later and couldn't put
it down. Not only was it exactly the kind of book I was wishing for that
day when I was wondering what I should start reading, but the Lord used
it to confirm a lot of things to me that He has been leading up to and
preparing me for until this point, and -- though its a minor detail I
think it is worth mentioning -- the cover of the book consists of all my
favorite colors. My God is so personal and just plain sweet to me. I
know His chastisement and refining, yes, but even in that He is sweet to
me -- He is good. I won't go into the things that the Lord has confirmed
to me but one thing that I have decided is that, although there are TONS
of organizations and ministries to give to that are good, I believe my
finances for giving are intended to be directed to GFA from now on. I
came to this conclusion through many different factors but mostly
because of two things: Because your life is marked by love and that is
attested to by those who know you, and because your ministry operates on
the motivation to bring the Gospel to the dying souls in Asia -- not
just relieve and meet their physical and earthly needs. Through a
variety of ways whether it be sponsoring and supporting missionaries or
children in the communities, purchasing needs to be distributed to those
who will most need and best use them, or the Bridge of Hope schools, I
believe the Lord wants to use my giving to help -- and that was
concluded by reading "No Longer a Slumdog". I'll be honest and say that
I was not expecting that to happen from reading it. I have had a high
respect for GFA and the work that you do and your goals but I have never
really expected to be moved to really get behind a ministry in the way I
feel led to support yours. I am not an individual with excess cash
available. I am living on faith and the Lord is faithfully meeting my
needs, but now when I feel I am to give I will also know exactly where I
am to give. Praise God! 

Thank you for serving the Lord. Thank you for taking the time to write
and for giving books away for free. Thank you for what you and all the
workers that keep the many areas of GFA working do every day. God bless
you.

For the King and His Kingdom,

Chelsea Mills

///

You can order a free copy today from my sidebar! Who knows how the Lord might use it in your life!

You can also read about my recent trip to India and the work the Lord did in and through my team and I there by clicking here.

Neighbors Abroad // widows and orphans, India

In India alone there are reports of 45,000 children missing each year.1 They Go Missing for Many Reasons Some are abducted by strangers and placed into forced labor, like Nadish. Others are trafficked and exploited in the sex trade. Still others are sold to families to work as domestic help. Some 44 million orphans and runaways are living on the streets not knowing of the danger that awaits them.2 India is not the only place India has close to 13 million children younger than 15 in its workforce—more than any other country in the world. Some estimate the real number is closer to 100 million.3 That's five times the population of the state of New York. In Thailand, almost 1 out of every 10 children between the ages 10 and 14 are working rather than going to school.4 In Bangladesh, an estimated 27 percent of children ages 10-14 are working in a variety of hazardous occupations.5 In Sri Lanka, one of the most physically punishing forms of child labor is the fishing industry, which keeps the children in slave-like conditions and far from the public eye.6 UNICEF estimates that 4,500 children from Bangladesh are trafficked to Pakistan each year. Thousands more are sent to India and the Middle East. How can we stop this? Gospel for Asia is working among South Asia's most endangered children.   Delhi Street Children's Home You can give toward rescuing children on the streets, teaching them about Jesus and His love and reuniting them with their families. Rescue a child from the streets of South Asia ► Bridge of Hope You can sponsor a child in Asia and provide an education, the love of Christ, clean clothes, food and medical care. Sponsor a child in Asia ► Notes: 1 National Human Rights Commission, http://nhrc.nic.in/ 2 ChildLine India, www.childlineindia.org.in 3 ChildLine India, www.childlineindia.org.in 4 U.S. Department of Labor, International Labor Affairs report. 5 U.S. Department of Labor report 6 U.S. Department of Labor, International Labor Affairs report. Next we have the story of Sarojini, a widow with a sickness she couldn't afford to treat.  Click here or on the banner to read Sarojini's story. For over 30 million widows in South Asia, life is a desperate struggle for survival. Blamed for their husbands' deaths, they're forsaken by their families, shunned by their friends and despised by their communities. One in four homes in India is home to a widow. 92 percent of India's women age 70 and older are widows. Street begging or prostitution often becomes a way of life. Many are left caring for their children with little help from relatives. In order to provide for themselves and their children, many resort to gathering food from the trash. Some gain income only from selling their bodies on the streets. For those who cannot bear the shame, suicide is their only escape. Because Sarojini heard a message of hope in her time of need, she no longer lives in fear of tomorrow because Christ is her assurance for today. Help more widows like Sarjani by sponsoring a woman missionary. Sponsor a woman missionary ► Finally, if any of you haven't read No Longer a Slumdog yet.  Please order your free copy here. It will change you!

// Written by Cari Poweziak, Gospel for Asia

Neighbors Abroad // mother of nine, India

When Sneha asked Rajeshri about her past life, Rajeshri's face darkened. Sneha, a Gospel for Asia woman missionary, had reached out to Rejeshri at her lowest point, near death, but Rajeshri had faced many other difficult times too. 
Rajeshri, a mother of nine, endured a nightmarish life with her cruel husband for more than 35 years. She patiently suffered -- until he brought home his mistress. The woman wouldn't allow Rajeshri to touch anything in the house without permission and prohibited the children from attending school. Rajeshri and her children felt like prisoners in their own house. Humiliated, Rajeshri decided to leave. Three of her adult children had already moved out, so she and her remaining six children relocated from their village in the mountains to the bustling capital city. Through the help of a childhood friend, Rajeshri started a manual labor job at a construction site and rented a small apartment. As she and her family gradually adjusted to their new life and community, Rajeshri was able to start sending her older children to school. It was hard work to pay the rent and provide food, clothes and her children's school fees, and to make matters worse, Rajeshri had weak health. Despite the hardships, though, Rajeshri considered her life a thousand times better than what she'd left behind. She didn't know things would soon fall apart. One day, Rajeshri woke up and was unable to get out of bed. Pain engulfed her whole body, and she shivered with cold. One daughter brought her some medicine for a fever, but Rajeshri couldn't even raise her head to swallow it. She was no longer able to work, and though she visited many doctors, the remedies they prescribed had no effect. Her friend brought a sorcerer and then a witch doctor, but neither succeeded in healing her. Three months slipped by. "It seems to me that I am going to die," Rajeshri told her friend one day. "If I die, who will look after my children?" Rajeshri's friend finally went to the right place for help. She brought two Christian woman, including GFA missionary Sneha, to pray for Rajeshri. They told Rajeshri that Jesus loves sick people and makes them well and that when He came to earth, He healed the sick, raised the dead and died on the cross to save all humanity. Sneha and her co-worker prayed for Rajeshri and promised to visit often. Filled with hope by their words, Rajeshri started to attend church with her friend's help. After a few months, she was completely healed and able to begin working again!
Today, Rajeshri has found new life in Christ. Because she experienced Jesus' love through the miracle of healing and the care demonstrated to her by Sneha and her fellow missionary, Rajeshri chose to follow Him. Now she participates faithfully in church activities, grateful for God's work in her life.
Thank you for helping send missionaries like Sneha to bear the light of Christ to women oppressed by darkness. As these servants lift up the name of Jesus, women like Rajeshri are finding new lives full of hope and purpose.

// Testimony from the February issue of 'Harvest', Gospel for Asia's newsletter. Sponsor a woman missionary and continue the work of encouraging our sisters in Asia here.

Loving Lepers

Do you know anyone with Hansen's disease?  I don't either.  Hansen's disease also known as leprosy is one of the world's oldest maladies.  Leprosy is a bacterial disease that attacks the nervous system, particularly the nerves of the hands, feet and face. As the body absorbs cartilage into its system, victims of the disease slowly lose their fingers, toes and even limbs. While leprosy has been eradicated in the west, it is still active and greatly feared across Asia because of the disfigurement it can cause, the social stigma it carries, and because it can be transmitted through close contact with a patient. There are tens of thousands of people suffering from leprosy in more than 1,000 leper colonies throughout South Asia.  The social stigma is devastating, perhaps even worse than the disease itself.  However, leprosy can be totally cured without permanent damage if medical help is sought immediately. Unfortunately, in remote places and among the poor, diagnosis and treatment often come too late. And sadly, only those among the cured who have no visible deformity will be able to integrate back into society. All others will have to live in leper colonies—alone or with their families—for the rest of their lives. In the midst of this hopelessness, the light of Jesus Christ is breaking through, bringing hope to those who have been brushed aside by society. Please pray for Gospel for Asia's leprosy ministry, that many suffering from this terrible disease would embrace the Savior, who is reaching out to them in love.  GFA-supported missionaries in the leper colonies show Christ's love by cleaning wounds and changing bandages, by giving medical care, by making special shoes to protect the people's feet, by helping with household chores, by providing food, but most importantly by telling the people of and showing Christ's love for them. Recently a group of student traveled to Asia and visited a leprosy colony.  Below, watch and share Ashley's powerful story.

LOVE... it draws a crowd!

"It is a kingly act to assist the fallen." — Mother Teresa

Break my heart for what breaks Yours // Testimonies from my India Travels

It is Christmas time! For me that means snow falling, it means Christmas music playing in the background, it means the only light in the house coming from the kitchen where mom is hard at work and the tree all strung up with twinkle lights, it means marveling at "Emmanuel" and the gift of His presence. Christmas time means shopping when no one knows and wrapping special gifts to shower my family with on Christmas day, it means knowing the delight of giving. Christmas time means that the gift catalogs from World Vision, Compassion Intl., Gospel for Asia and Samaritan's Purse have come in the mail, it means I am spending my free time pouring through those pages looking for how I can best bless people who have so much less than I do during this time of sacrificial giving and abundant blessings.

I just returned from a trip to India. There is a lot of need in India, for physical things like food and water and shelter and medical care, for emotional things like rehab from trafficking or abuse or abandonment, for spiritual things like breaking free from the bondage of Hinduism. Everywhere I went we were bringing ourselves, bringing our time to pour out as an offering before the feet of Jesus, bringing our voices to sing songs and speak blessings and tell testimonies, bringing what we could to bring physical relief such as a meal for a community or first aid supplies for people with burns and no access to medical care. Everywhere we went, as grateful as the people were for our fellowship and our gifts, what their hearts gnawed with hunger for was prayer, was Jesus.

Here in the U.S. we sing, "Break my heart for what breaks Yours, everything I am for Your kingdom's cause" and while I was in India I prayed the Lord would show me what it is that truly breaks His heart. I was actually surprised to find that it is not the physical poverty these people find themselves in that breaks His heart... His heart is for the impoverished souls. I saw a lot of need, an overwhelming amount... but I was not overwhelmed by it. Far from it. What my senses (spiritual and physical) were overwhelmed by was the undeniable presence of God hanging thick in the air everywhere I turned. I was overwhelmed with a spirit of rejoicing as I saw hungry hearts for Jesus and open hearts for truth all over the place. I was overcome with praise as I saw so many who want to hear and believe and live in the Good News, and that no matter how few messengers of that News there are it is Jesus who mobilized them and uses them and makes them effective. Jesus is doing this work and whatever part He has us play in it, accomplishes His purposes.

So, with that reality burned into my heart and mind, I believe very strongly that the purchases I make from gift catalogs this year ought all to be Bibles. The request I would like to set before you, as my readers, is to pray about sponsoring a missionary. The workers are few, but Jesus does provide workers and they have needs to be met while they work. You can be sure that they are taking no thought for their life as they spend every day ministering Jesus, ministering life, to hungry souls all over the world. A small financial gift each month is hardly a sacrifice for us, but it would mean a world of difference to them. Take my word for that. I have seen the tremendous impact monthly sponsorship brings to lives. So there are two ways to get involved in the kingdom's cause this season once your heart has been broken by what is currently breaking our Lord's heart:
1) Purchase a print. One for one: each print purchased provides a Bible for a hungry soul!

2) Sponsor a missionary. GFA is at work in the desperate streets of India (and all over Asia) and your monthly gift is key to reaching hearts that are just waiting to hear Jesus' name!

MUCH // given. expected.

Thanksgiving came and went and we gave thanks for our bountiful blessings, our families, our freedom to worship without fear...

Then Black Friday came and we went out and spent loads of money on great deals, stocking up for Christmas...

We are all geared up to spend, it is that time of year, but while we spend to bless our family and friends who already have the blessings of bounty and family and freedom like we do, there are people who don't even know what Christmas is! They beg for enough food to survive, their churches are destroyed and their pastors imprisoned, they don't have clean water, they sell themselves into slavery to provide for their family, many are orphans who have no one to care for them and are vulnerable to being enslaved and trafficked... tons of people the world over don't even have a Bible. I don't know about you but I am thinking about all the extra I have and don't need and the blessing it could have been if I had spent my money on sending Bibles to those who need one, rather than buying a third copy of Pride and Prejudice just because it looked lovely. Lets hold each other accountable this Christmas season to spending less and giving more!

--- --- ---

 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Luke 12:47-48 KJV (emphasis added)

Women, and the right for HOPE

In America we take great pride in women's rights. I am not a feminist but I do believe that women ought to have basic equal rights, including the right to a college education, the right to vote, the right to own property, and the right to be employed and paid as well as a man would be for the position.

Imagine if our culture still said that the only things women ought to know to do were be a good wife, house-keeper, cook and mother of children. Imagine not being able to read or to write, it would be so crippling to us, especially in a day and age of so much written communication (websites, e-mail, texts, facebook, twitter, etc). We couldn't even do simple things like grocery shop, pay bills, write birthday cards for family and friends, or navigate on the road. Imagine, further, that culture said there was no need for women to vote. I think we can all agree that as governed members of society in America we ought to have a say in who governs us. It is just logical. Then think of this, there are so many single mom's in our country; just imagine the countless added hardships they would face if they couldn't own property or earn fair wages. Yes, we are proud of the rights of women we have gained over the centuries here in America, and we should be. Do we take it for granted, though? I think so.

Because we have all of those freedoms we forget that in many other countries women haven't even begun to gain equal rights with men. In South Asia women are not only illiterate and unable to earn a fair wage, but they are given so little value that they are sold without a thought, used in the most degrading ways and abused physically. Widows are viewed and treated as cursed individuals and are disowned by their families and 50,000 girl babies are aborted simply because they are girls each month.

Of course we want to work to end the sex-trafficking industry and to free slaves, we want to educate women and children to help them have a brighter future, we want to teach women profitable trades so they don't have to sell their bodies night after night to feed their children when their husband abandons them. However, the greatest hope these women could ever receive is the hope of freedom in Christ! How will they hear unless they are told, and how will they be told if male missionaries cannot go to them? You guessed it. Women missionaries! At Gospel for Asia centers women are being equipped to minister to women in their homes, in the slums, in leper colonies and in brothels. These women missionaries are passionate about bringing hope to the countless women of their area. Let's stand with them!

$30 per month equips one of these missionaries to serve the women of their community full-time. Bible studies, house visits and personal ministry is bringing eternal hope to millions of degraded women in Asia. Sisters, spread the word! The rights we take for granted are denied to women on the other side of the world but there is hope, and we have a key role to play in making that hope available to them. Join me in using your influence in your circles, together we can sponsor three women missionaries (Durga, Pinky, and Lalitha) by the end of the year!

Note: Wonderful news! Durga is sponsored. Pinky and Lalitha still need a monthly sponsor though. It is 2013 now, but its not too late to get in on sending these women with the message of hope that India desperately needs.

www.gfa.org // Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest

Changing the world for two

Statistics. Isn't it crazy how numbers can cause us to feel so small, so helpless, so overwhelmed?
Lives. Isn't it nuts that every single, precious, significant, beautiful life has been hand-crafted and brought into this world by the power of our loving God?
Change. Is it just me or is the fact that change is possible an incredible reality to you too?

HOPE

I watch documentaries and YouTube videos, read books and blogs and websites, listen to interviews and speakers at conferences and keep getting informed, becoming aware, of the great NEED worldwide for the all-powerful, boundless love of our God.

I see those faces, I hear their voices, I know a little bit about the lives they live. All the vulnerable children in the world... A five year old girl with huge chocolate eyes in India, a little boy who loves playing soccer in Peru, an 11yr old girl in Uganda who is desperate to be loved, a 15yr old boy in foster care dealing with the bitter pain of rejection... Each one has a name and a face and a story.

Our God's ways are so beyond our own, He weaves lives together with such precision and care. The life of an Indian man named K.P. Yohannan who started a ministry to reach the people of his country and the rest of Asia with the Gospel writes a book. A girl in Wisconsin reads the book and is moved by the Lord to sponsor a child. Together with all the employees at World Vision and at Gospel for Asia, the girl from Wisconsin has changed the world for not just one but TWO of those precious [previously] vulnerable children. Oh, praise the One who sees fit to use our humble lives for His kingdom and glory!

My darling sponsored children. I am so in love!

"If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one." 

|| Mother Teresa

(Buy the print of this quote by Mother Teresa and help enable me to go and show Jesus love to the least in India this November!)

Moved with compassion

σπλαγχνίζομαι [translated: splagchnizomai]

VERB 

1) to be moved as to one's bowels, hence to be moved with compassion, have compassion (for the bowels were thought to be the seat of love and pity)

ἐλεέω [translated: eleeō]

VERB

1) to have mercy on

2) to help one afflicted or seeking aid

3) to help the afflicted, to bring help to the wretched

4) to experience mercy

Splagchnizomai is what Jesus had for people during His time on this earth. 

Eleeo is what people cried out for as Jesus passed by.

   Crying for mercy is to ask one who has the power to give and take away for relief from sufferings or other circumstances. Compassion is to feel sorrow over or show concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. Physical care or emotional investment, which does the most good to one in need? A testimony from a Gospel for Asia team member who worked among earthquake survivors says, "We gave away blankets and drinking water, but the survivors were not focused on these items. Rather, they were so grateful for someone to grieve with them and listen to their sorrows." 

   I believe that we ought to provide relief to those in need, Jesus healed and helped those who cried out to Him, but that is only one part of demonstrating our faith through works. Should we help feed starving people? Yes. Should we help provide medical care for those in need of it? Yes. Should we offer our hand to someone who falls down? Yes. But it is the heart of compassion that ought to move us to serve and give. Christ's compassion will give them hope.

   What I love about Gospel for Asia is that their focus is to minister with the love of Jesus, the truth of the Word and the hope of the Gospel. They have their priorities right, Jesus first and foremost, then 100% of donations they receive go to the field to serve, reach out with love, share the Gospel, care for physical needs, meet people where they are, and invest in children. Nobody had to convince me to be a fan of GFA, the goal, the heart, of their ministry endeared me to them for life.

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   In November I am going to India with Visiting Orphans to minister to suffering people. I cannot bring physical relief to all the orphans, street kids, families in slums, or lepers that I will encounter. But Jesus is going through me and His Father's heart, His love, His compassion will be poured out upon them as a result. We are going to feel sorrow, show concern, be moved with compassion, grieve with and minister Jesus' love to the suffering people we will meet. We can't leave them with physical restoration or financial stability but we can leave them with hope. If the Lord is moving you to support me as I go this fall and you would care to donate toward my trip you can click here and put my name (Chelsea Mills) in the field that says, "Team member or ministry name". Any purchase from my store will also go toward my trip to India and I am happy to take special requests so drop me a line!

Be Aware: Hunger

For some time now I have had symptoms that suggest that I have Hypoglycemia. I cannot explain all the ins and outs of what this means but I can tell you what I experience: Head aches that make it hard to read, cold sweats that make me feel really sick, an upset stomach which leaves me doubled over, moments of dizziness and weakness which leave me incapable of working or walking around, I get incredibly hungry -- it seems like my stomach is a bottomless pit to be filled, and experience sudden fatigue. But as long as I eat plenty of certain, proper foods my body continues to function properly and I don't feel sick or exhausted.
See our bodies need "fuel" in order to function. Without food we cannot focus and it gets harder and harder to think, we get more tired and weak and even something as simple as standing or breathing is a labor. In order to survive we need to eat enough food and we need to eat the right food.
I am blessed to live in a place where food is available in abundance and accessible to me. My family has enough money to buy the food that I need to stay healthy and my mom has the skills to prepare it in a sanitary and delicious way. If you are from a first world country, like me, this will not shock you. We take food for granted.
I have never seen someone starve ("suffer severely from hunger"), I myself have never been hungry for a long enough period of time to actually suffer from it and I certainly have never known anyone who has literally died due to a lack of food. But TODAY, in India alone, 6,000 children that I never got a chance to meet died of starvation. And another 6,000 children will starve to death tomorrow.

Pinterest

We cant send them groceries, we can't give them our leftovers, we can't invite them to dinner but we can pay for their meals.
$28 a month, that is all that it costs to give a child a meal every day and so much more! Just think about that for a minute, I am part of a family of six and we spend more than $200 a month on groceries alone (so that doesn't include the money we spend on eating out) which means that we spend more than $3 per meal, per person and it costs less than $1 to feed a child one meal every day!
Through GFA's Bridge of Hope schools we can not only keep children from starving to death, we can get to know them personally! This March I am going to sponsor a child through GFA and I would like to challenge every single one of my blog readers (yes, you!) to do the same. By setting aside just one dollar every day you could save a life. So what are you waiting for? :)

When you sponsor a child I would love to hear about it! Leave a comment with your child's first name and we will celebrate together the Lord's provision for their precious little lives!

This Valentine's Day...

Valentines Day is coming up! 

Looking for a unique way to celebrate?

Consider the cost of the chocolate, candies, cards, flowers, jewelry and other treats -- all tokens to express love, adoration, appreciation and show that you are treasured. Then consider your sisters in India who have no idea that they are treasured or loved and have probably never been shown appreciation by their husband or family. Would you please choose to give the love of Jesus to those women this month, even if it means not going out to eat with your man or going without the other delightful treats you are anticipating, and, instead, choose to either:
1) Give financially to the Women's ministry fund on Gospel for Asia's website, or 

Gospel for Asia

2) Purchase a Word Print from the GIVENstore here on my blog (all proceeds go toward sending me to India this October where I will personally get to administer the hope and love of our Lord to women who desperately need it!)

Be Aware: Women in India - Female Missionaries

"[Women missionaries have] many opportunities to share the Gospel that male missionaries simply do not." 

Give. Help support the women's ministry here: gfa.org

"I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea..."

[Rom. 16:1]

Be Aware: Women in India - Widows

Culturally widows are blamed for their husband's death, shunned, hated, reviled (even by their own family), and considered cursed. "In order to provide for themselves and their children, many resort to gathering food from the trash. Some gain income only from selling their bodies on the streets. For those who cannot bear the shame, suicide is their only escape." 

Link

- Suicide rate 10x higher than the world's average 

- One in four homes in India is home to a widow 

- 92% of women 70+ years old are widows

Link

"Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in Me."

[Jer. 49:11]

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation."

[Matt. 23:14]

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."

[James 1:27]