Feature Stories
Digging a Well: Uprooting Discouragement
March 2018 • Article
When Laul got sick with typhoid fever he lost his livelihood and couldn’t provide for his five kids. No doctors or treatments could help him. But when his village received a Jesus Well—Laul's life changed in more ways than one.
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What Leprosy Couldn’t Steal
February 2018 • Article
Leora stretched out her arms towards the light. She thought the white spots would have disappeared by now—and it worried her. But Parthiv, Leora’s husband, brushed off his wife’s fears; he assumed they were probably nothing. But when the spots grew numb and oozed puss, a fearsome word haunted Leora’s mind: leprosy.
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125-Year-Old Woman Receives Blanket
December 2017 • Article
White, uncombed hair crowned 125-year-old Rayna’s head. There on the floor, the widow sat unable to walk without a helping hand. Her wrinkled and swollen face showed years of discouragement. The torn and shabby clothes she wore testified of the poverty and hardship she had endured in her long life.
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Yards of Mesh to Shield and Unite
December 2017 • Article
It wasn’t much to look at—Shara could see right through it, in fact. But the simple threads that interlaced together in a tight mesh wove significantly into Shara’s life. Without it, her family would not be what it is today—someone might have even died.
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Failing Kidneys, Opposition and Answered Prayer
November 2017 • Article
Rajasi’s relatives blamed her for the death of her husband. “All these [problems] happened in your life only because of your faith in Jesus,” they said.
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Flushing out Disease, Building Dignity
November 2017 • Article
Anesh and his family rubbed the sleepiness from their eyes as they assembled to make their morning trek into a thick, green forest. Tall trees surrounded them with hopeful privacy, but still, there was no telling what they would encounter that morning. Wild animals and lurking men made the daily morning journey a dreaded one, especially for women. But they had to relieve themselves, and the outdoors was their only option.
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Life on a Tea Estate
November 2017 • Article
A GFA-supported pastor acquainted with the struggles of tea estate laborers works to bring change and dignity in their lives.
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Stashed Papers and a Dream
October 2017 • Article
Manish’s wife closed the door and scanned the pamphlets in her hand. Quickly recognizing their topic, she lost interest—why would she want to learn about the God worshiped by people her community looked down on? Even so, she didn’t throw away the religious papers. Instead, she stashed them away in her home, completely unaware of the significance of that tiny decision.
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Jesus: Faithful in Sickness and Health
October 2017 • Article
Bahaj was too weak to work. The encompassing stomach pain he suddenly contracted while laboring in the fields looked like it had ruined him forever. Hearing footsteps near his door, Bahaj soon saw a figure of a young man who introduced himself as Pastor Tukal. Bahaj didn’t know it then, but this unplanned visit was about to change his life forever.
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Twins Find What the World Can’t Give
October 2017 • Article
The twin brothers were certain: If they followed Jesus, they would miss out on the pleasures of life. If they obeyed Christ’s teachings, life would be too occupied with Christian laws and regulations. The teenagers decided they would spend their youth doing whatever made them happy—they didn’t want to miss out on what the world had to offer.
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The Redemption of a Dying Man
September 2017 • Article
Kaling’s father gathered his five sons. Taking five oval eggs in his hands, he cracked one in front of them all. It was a sign they all understood: Kaling, the rebellious and disobedient one of the bunch, was now no longer a son.
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80-year-old Man Hears of Jesus for the First Time
September 2017 • Article
Naitik was 80 years old before he ever heard the name of Jesus. And he is not alone—this is the story of millions of others who live in remote places in Asia, where, so far, there’s been no mention of Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God.
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Literacy: Something to be Treasured
September 2017 • Article
Mandeepa grabbed her treasure and veiled it under her arm with her scarf. It was treasure many women in Asia never have the chance to own themselves. Mandeepa kept the precious tool out of sight from the villager’s prying eyes while on her journey. When she reached the church, Mandeepa took the precious workbook from its hiding place and gathered with other eager women there. Mandeepa’s long-awaited dream was being fulfilled.
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