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.
Ghalib poured salty water from the container in his home. This was normal for his entire village. They all struggled with drinking the water because of the high level of salt within it. Many of the villagers suffered from kidney stones, and the children often became ill. Gospel for Asia pastor Aslesh recognized the villagers’ difficulties and requested BioSand water […] Read more »
The people in Zahin’s village used to walk more than half a mile each way to get water. But when monsoon season arrived, the water would become polluted. To save themselves from the long walks and the bad water, the villagers dug small ponds near their homes to draw water—but the pond water was contaminated too. Because the villagers used […] Read more »
The drill bore deeper and deeper into the earth, looking to strike pure, fresh water—water Gospel for Asia pastor Samuel’s village needed desperately. All the water sources were far away, and every one of them was contaminated, leaving the children who drank from them with stomach pains and other illnesses. But the villagers didn’t want any Christian help, even if […] Read more »
Ratnakar lived only a few miles from the local church, but he’d never seen such a large crowd around it as there was that day. As he got closer to see what was happening, Ratnakar just became more confused. The crowd was gathered around a well, and someone was announcing that the well belonged to the whole village—that anyone, without […] Read more »
Basking in the mountains of east India rests a small village with more than 50 families. They work hard six days a week laboring in the tea gardens, doing carpentry work or working other jobs they find in order to make a living. The village seems nearly abandoned during the day with only the mothers, young children and elderly quietly […] Read more »
Everyone in the area knew the familiar sight of women and girls trudging for miles along parched land, searching for water. Almost as familiar were the complaints of joint pain most of the women suffered. After miles of carrying full water containers back to their villages, agony burned through the women’s shoulders, hips and knees. Even then, they couldn’t refresh […] Read more »
Ekanath walked up to the open well and peered over the edge, gazing down inside. What he would normally see as a clear reflection of his face was now a grimy glare of green water and worms below. Ekanath sighed as he turned away from the dirty well and looked off down the road. He now braced himself for the […] Read more »
The water was so dirty it turned every vessel yellow and often made people sick. Yet everyone in the area drank it without a second thought for their health. As part of 768 million people worldwide without access to clean water, they couldn’t afford a second thought. Most of the people in the village worked as laborers, leaving early in […] Read more »
Dadhija’s family had suffered from stomach pain, dysentery and nausea for months, and it really was no wonder: The water they drank was full of worms and, sometimes, sewage. The family got their water from the municipal pipeline—the only water source in the community. When the pipe broke, sewage mixed with the water, and the families had no option but […] Read more »
In Chanakya’s part of the country, villagers have a nearly endless need for water filters. Iron levels in the local water are so high, Gospel for Asia missionaries give away 150 filters every month. But for Chanakya, getting a BioSand water filter wasn’t an option. The people of Chanakya’s village are very strong in their traditional religion, and when it […] Read more »
Meghana walked out the door and headed once more down the rutted streets. Compelled by thirst, she trekked the familiar road to draw water from a well that was a little less than a mile away. The well much closer to her home had so much salt in it that it was nearly impossible to drink. The wealthier people in […] Read more »
Netravati was one of 80 people who had gathered to receive a BioSand water filter from the local Gospel for Asia pastor, Balendu. Because water in South Asia is often unsafe to drink, water filters are highly necessary and valued. Although Netravati had primarily gone to the program with the hope of receiving a water filter, he found himself standing […] Read more »
Villagers living near Gospel for Asia pastor Adri Dhruv’s church often drink water Americans wouldn’t use to water their houseplants. Water is scarce and contains dangerous pathogens. So many people contract deadly diseases from drinking contaminated water that it is one of the leading causes of death in the region. On India’s Independence Day in 2012, government authorities and more […] Read more »
Would you rather drink water laced with arsenic or water from a pond animals swim in? For the people of one small village, this was the choice they had to make every day. The village had a tube well, which should have been a blessing, but between the arsenic and the bad smell, it was a “blessing” the villagers only […] Read more »
Shaunak’s prayer was one simple request. He asked God for water. There was water in the village—plenty of it. But Shaunak and the rest of his people were not allowed to have any. Shoemakers by trade, they were low caste, hated and considered to be untouchable by the elite of society. “I was praying daily for the provision of water,” […] Read more »