The Healing of Hope

Hey hey someone caring! Today's post is on Ruth's story.


Where Ruth grew up,
women are generally despised
for being women.

They are thought to be a little on the expensive side
due to what a daughter's marriage dowry can cost
her family.

Ruth's family already had 3 daughters when
she was born,
and her father was less than pleased with the arrival of Ruth.

He openly seemed to resent her,
and made it quite clear that he had been anticipating a son...not another daughter.

Fortunately,
Ruth was introduced to a local church via some women missionaries and thus discovered the love of God... 2 years later she decided to go to Bible College.

Ruth went to her father to touch his feet in what is considered a "cultural sign of respect" but he didn't let her touch his feet. As she bowed down to touch his feet, her father didn't let her,
but rather, 
"he kicked her in the face.
With that, Ruth left behind the only life she'd known
and went to Bible College."


 Ruth kept in touch with the women missionaries and the pastor from her church;
while she was attending the Bible College. At one point,
she got a call from the pastor who informed her that her father
was "following Jesus now."And was asking how Ruth was doing.

Ruth went home,
after 3 years of not seeing her father.

"As the bus pulled up to the stop,
she saw him again. 
And she didn't know how to feel,
as she came off the bus.
She again knelt down to touch her father's feet. This 
time instead of kicking her...
her father took her by the hands,
lifted her up
(and for the first time in her life)
he hugged her."

After that,
Ruth journeyed from village
to village with the women missionaries
to spread the love of God.

Later down the road, (8 months later)
Ruth received a request from the Bible College
asking her to help oversee the Girl's dormitory.

"If those first women missionaries hadn't come to her village,
she doesn't know where she would be today. But because they
did, she can now bring hope to thousands of other women 
across South Asia.


What a beautiful and heart breaking story.
It amazes me to note the change that happened
not only for Ruth and her salvation
but also for her Dad's
and now for the women that Ruth is sharing this hope with.

Thanks for the taking the time to read.


Video can be watched here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vzrste0b0GE&feature=youtu.be


-Jenna-out

The Flame of Shame

Hello compassionate, kind, and caring people.

Today's post is on the topic of shame and a beautiful woman named Saachi's experience with such a terrible thing.



Saachi had a family with her husband Udit,
and everything seemed to be going a-okay.

However,
she began to observe a difference in
her husband's manner. Saachi wasn't sure what was up.

Udit stopped giving Saachi money,
and would beat her when she asked.

Eventually came a day when
Udit vanished.

The word came out that he had been having an affair.

Saachi was submerged in sorrow
and wept.

She was unsure of how she would now provide for her family.

Thankfully,
she did find work...and started on at a factory.

Saachi knew that the income would help keep her family alive.

However,
she was harassed at work by several men
and eventually accepted one.

Yet Saachi quickly became ashamed of herself
and decided to light herself on fire.


As she began to do so,
the neighbours heard her piercing cries
and she was taken to the hospital with some serious burns.

Yet the story doesn't end here.

Meet Jabeen.  A woman missionary supported by Gospel for Asia
who had also been through the overwhelming heartache of discovering her husband had been having an affair.

Yet God led Jabeen to a pastor who shared with her the love of Jesus.
She decided to make her faith from childhood
officially her own.

Later down the road,
God called Jabeen to serve Him full-time 
and Jabeen answered the call!

Jabeen knew that Saachi needed to hear her testimony
so she shared the story!

She also told Saachi the most important story of all.

  Jabeen told Saachi of Jesus,
and how precious her life is to Him...and that Saachi doesn't
have to pay for her sins because Jesus already did.

  Saachi wept at these words of healing
as she learned that God would 
"never be unfaithful to her or abuse her. 
He loved her perfectly."


Three weeks later,
Saachi was freed from the hospital
and decided to go to Church. 

It was there that she decided to accept the love of Jesus.

Though the scars on her body still remain,
"God is healing the scars on her heart."

On top of this,
Saachi has found a job that helps support her and her family,
and also maintains a close friendship with Jabeen.

Saachi knows in her heart that God sent Jabeen at just the right time...when the need was greatest.

In the words of the original article,

"Gospel for Asia women missionaries like Jabeen can minister in ways men can't.
Understanding the struggles of other women in Asia as they visit homes and hospitals,
they are able to share the Gospel with those in need of hope."

Speaking of hope,
I hope this article has sparked something deep inside of you.



Please remember that God loves you.
Have a wonderful evening,

-Jenna-out


http://www.gfa.org/news/articles/engulfed-by-shame/

heysomeonecares: Mega Monsoons=Furious Floods

Hey caring people,

As you may already know....there have been some mega monsoons lately.
Some severe flooding has flooded several countries as a result.

  Here ^ is a rather intense photo that demonstrates the water depth and damage.

     ^And another.

According to a Gospel For Asia article here 
http://www.gfa.ca/flood/myanmar-india/?cm_mmc=GFA-_-Email-_-2903891-_-150812%20CA%20Digest%20283%20WB58-G200%20(1)#cta

The floods have caused some of the most awful destruction that Myanmar (Burma) has seen since the year of Cyclone Nargis in 2008.

  Approximately 1 million people have been directly affected by this recent catastrophe. Crucial crops have been destroyed in what is known as the "Rice Bowl of the Far East." The majority of Myanmar now lies submerged in water and there are also 4 areas/regions in Myanmar which have been officially described as...wait for it...

"designated disaster zones."

  Fortunately,
Gospel for Asia workers have been getting themselves out there.  They have sought
to demonstrate the awe-inspiring love of God by reaching out with hands of compassion,
love, and marvellous mercy; to the flood victims who are made in the image of God! (Just like you and I.) How amazing is that!

They've provided these people with clean water as well as food to eat.

Other countries such as India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Vietnam,
have been heavily impacted by sudden floods as well.

 In Manipur, India...some of the floods have actually gone so far as to sweep homes away
and shut down a Bible College.  I think that the photo below gives a fairly accurate portrayal 
of the anguish (and just all around sense of lost) that these people might be feeling. 

Yet hope is not lost! 

Gospel for Asia workers are planning ways to further reach these people.

and you can play a part.

Thank-you very much for taking the time to read this post.

Have an impactful rest of the day and evening,

-Jenna-out

heysomeonecares: Let's Care Even More!

      Hey someone caring!

Welcome welcome! This blog entry is a bit of a "shout-out" promotional sort to direct your attention to the Gospel for Asia produced "Veil of Tears" film.

You can purchase your very own FREE copy from their website.

Why should you? Well,
I believe you will find this to be a heart-breaking
and compelling experience.

So go ahead.

Have a sensational soul saving sort of day.

-Jenna-out

http://veiloftearsmovie.com/take-action/

heysomeonecares: an illiterate life?!

     Good evening folks!                 

   Did you know,
 that there are over 250 million women in Asia
   who can't read or write?

This is quite tragic indeed (despite what her radiant smile might tell you.)
However, there still is a reason to smile! They don't have to stay in the dark.
They can be taught how to read and write.

And then tickety boom! One day they can be reading & writing up a storm. 
One of the greatest challenges they face is not being able to read the bible
due to illiteracy! Surely we can help change that!

Act today! Give now if you so desire! It only takes a mere $1 to help one of these
women. They're waiting! Go and give! It's not too late!
http://www.gfa.org/women/literacy/

Have a super great evening
and don't let me pressure you...but I hope you keep this in mind.

Adios amigos.

                                                                                                -Jenna-out

Spread The Love

Hey caring people!

Welcome back! Today's post is centred on prayer.

Did you know that out of India's mind-boggling population of 1 billion... that 40% of the people
are under 18 years old? Crazy right?! Which is also similar in other countries such as Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

These young people face many hazardous circumstances in their day-to-day lives.
Such as disease, hunger, and loneliness.

Please remember to keep them in your prayers...that they would come to know
just how deeply, madly, and richly they are loved by Jesus.

http://www.gfa.org/pray/youth/

heysomeonecares: Geeta Goes On!

Good morning loyal reader.

Today I would like to introduce you to a lovely lady named Geeta. 

Geeta is worth more than gold and God loves her very much.

Unfortunately,

due to an unwanted arranged marriage...Geeta had to tie the knot with an

 abusive and alcoholic husband.

Geeta was faced with seemingly unsurmountable financial woes

and worked "night and day" to be able to keep living.

Geeta lived in a hut in the slums,

and tigers would come out at night.

Thankfully,

a friend gave Geeta a gospel tract.

Geeta prayed to Jesus that he would keep them safe from the tigers. (And he did!)

Geeta soon started attending a local church and receiving prayer.

She was able to tithe but couldn't afford to pay for both her children's education.

Fortunately,

Geeta's children were taken in to for a faith- filled & promising education at a Bridge of Hope centre.

Geeta says that her children's behaviour towards her has improved since attending the school.

She has high hopes for her kids' that they would love and serve the Lord.

Geeta says that "she is living as a single parent in the slum

but there are people praying for me and my children...and sponsoring them."

and "I lost my husband but God is here to take care of me."

However,

the struggle of life isn't over yet.

Geeta is still facing 

some really awful choices.

Her boss owns the room that her family stays in 

and has been pressurizing Geeta for "sexual favours for a while."

Geeta is not happy about this. She wonders how she could ever give in to this 

when "she was married, has children, and is a Christian. What he asks is wrong...but he is being very persistent. A few days ago he told me unless I do what he wants I must leave this room in four days. Where will I go!? There's no-one I can stay with! My parents are dead! My husband's parents want nothing to do with me. None of my Christian friends have space in their small rooms. In four days I'll be on the streets with my children. We will have to beg to survive. The other day I thought it would be better if I died. Then I would not be faced with such horrible choices. Then one of my neighbours hanged himself and now his wife and children are on the streets. How could I do that to my children?"

What a terrible thing.

Worse yet,

"Then I overheard one of the neighbour men saying vile things to my daughter.

She is a beautiful girl and she will come to age soon. Then,

she will become a sexual prey. If I die she will have no protection from these evil men."

Geeta longs to be at home to protect her children,

but her boss keeps making her work until 8 or 9 at night...and her children are home alone from noon until she gets home.

Geeta is very worried about her daughter

being at home with nobody to keep her safe.

Geeta doesn't know what there is left for her to do. She does not want to prostitute herself 

and live on the streets & die.

She knows that, "neither choice before me is good."

Geeta says that "all she can do is pray and trust Jesus 

to somehow rescue me and my children from this evil situation. 

The day before Geeta was about to be forced out of the room by her boss,

Gospel for Asia stepped in and helped her to be able to stay there another month. 

They also provided her with food.

Now Geeta says she "is very happy and my heart is filled with joy. I can't believe how God has blessed me today.  Through the help of the ministry,

I now have food for my children. I can stay in this room for another month. I have time to find something else instead of being on the streets tomorrow. I give thanks to the Lord because he is taking care of me and my children. "

And, 

"I was praying that the Lord would rescue me,

and He has. Now, I don't have to choose between sin and death."

you can watch her story here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ5wa3Hgf2Q&feature=youtu.be

www.GFA.org

What an amazing turn around story! Thank you Gospel for Asia for sharing this story

and allowing me to share it as well.

Remember to keep Geeta & her family in your prayers everyone. We could even pray for her neighbours and boss as well...that they might find salvation also.

Have a life changing week,

-Jenna-out