See God’s amazing power through GFA’s reports from the mission field. Several field reporters cover multiple countries in South Asia to bring you news, inspirational stories and prayer requests that will enrich your life.
As 13-year-old Krupa approached her family home, she became confused. People flocked around. Why were there so many? Who were they? Spotting her mother, Krupa inquired about the crowd. But her mother dodged the question. Just follow any instruction you might receive, she said. Krupa’s confusion gave way to fear when she realized her parents were preparing her wedding. Not […] Read more »
Cars, rickshaws, and bicycles whizzed by Rajalmati as she made her way home from school. The 16-year-old girl didn’t mind walking through the maze of traffic to and from school every day, even when she saw her friends riding on bicycles or in cars. Rajalmati’s parents tried their best to provide for her education, but they couldn’t afford to give […] Read more »
Light strains of music could be heard outside the building. Inside, dozens of children sang and danced, following their teacher’s, Parbatie, lead. As Parbatie swept her eyes across the singing children, they paused on one boy in particular. Was Satyesh really singing? Surprise mingled with joy filled Parbatie, and she rushed to call Satyesh’s mother and the local GFA pastor. […] Read more »
There was simply too much homework … and none of it made sense! Siji would rather stay home feigning sickness than go to school and suffer her teachers’ scolding and scowls. She hadn’t finished the work they expected of her, and today’s lessons would probably be just as confusing, so what was the point? She might as well stay home […] Read more »
By the time Nabhi was 8 years old, she had been diagnosed with a brain tumor, a blood disorder and a genetic defect causing a hole in her heart. Nabhi had experienced much physical suffering in her young life. Her parents, Jayanti and Padmai, worried about their daughter and feared they would not be able to afford her medical treatments. […] Read more »
The tarp walls of Divena’s home could not contain the sound of her mom and dad’s constant arguments. When her mother suddenly left to be with another man, the house fell silent. Three-year-old Divena and her older brother never saw their mother again. Divena’s father, a truck driver, left the children home alone for weeks at a time because of […] Read more »
Foul words flew from Saloni’s mouth shaped like arrows pointed at her father, Laksh. Hot with anger at his young teen’s continual insolence, Laksh put his foot down and disciplined Saloni. But receiving the consequences of her actions only drove Saloni into sullenness. The 13-year-old withdrew, refusing to eat for an entire day. Laksh tried to talk with his daughter […] Read more »
Jamar and Evelyn were fortunate to be working. Income as a driver and schoolteacher kept their family of four floating above the extreme poverty line that so many of their neighbors were submerged under. The rural area where Jamar and his family lived was lush with tea plantations and family farms. The markets were filled with eggs, chicken and meat […] Read more »
Each year, in observance of World AIDS Day on December 1, GFA-supported pastors and Bridge of Hope centers take the opportunity to help inform their communities of the deadly virus and offer ways to prevent its spread. Students, parents, Bridge of Hope staff, pastors and teachers work together to organize educational programs and awareness rallies for their local villages. Educational […] Read more »
Enough was enough, the laborers decided. Kandhara’s fellow tea laborers began protesting their working conditions and low pay. As the days turned into weeks and months, the protests continued—which meant no pay for any of the workers, including Kandhara. Limited Resources Kandhara and her husband worked hard, but their combined income was only enough to feed them and their two […] Read more »
According to a 2010 report consolidated by the Centers for Disease Control with information from the World Health Organization, 2,195 children die every day from diarrhea—which is more than AIDS, malaria and measles combined. The same report also states diarrheal diseases account for the second-highest cause of death among children under age 5. However, strides have been made to combat […] Read more »
Gnana clearly remembers the day her granddaughters moved in. The burden of caring for them became a heavy weight on her elderly frame. At age 70, how was she possibly going to provide for and look after a 3-year-old and a newborn? Less than two months earlier, the little girl’s father had finally succumbed to cancer. His death was a […] Read more »
Ever since Zakif was a boy of just 6 years old, GFA-supported Bridge of Hope center was like his second home. Now, at the age of 13, he is a testimony to the center’s important work in benefiting the children, families and communities it serves. When he first began attending Bridge of Hope, Zakif suffered from poor health. His family […] Read more »
At the ripe old age of 17, Jasveer knew everything there was to know about God. Growing up in a village where Christianity was common, he knew to attend church and to talk to God right before eating a meal or before drifting off to sleep at night. He knew how God wanted him to behave and how to judge […] Read more »
Bir’s village was located in rural fields. Villagers diligently worked the land, which relinquished just enough crops to feed hungry bellies. Chicken farmers even took on a summer crop to supplement their income. Life was difficult there; the word “abundant” was scarcely known. Six-year-old Bir scavenged for usable plastic bags. His parents used them to tote home-grown vegetables to sell […] Read more »