23 May 2011

I first met Martha* when she knocked on the door of a house that I had just moved into along with two other SIM associates. She was going to be our new neighbour though a big open field separated us.

She seemed like a typical teenager trying hard to get the attention of the three foli (white) girls. She came often and invaded our personal space, poking us and chattering on until she became a nuisance to those that she was trying so hard to impress. One day I found my housemates ducking under the window pretending not to be home in order to avoid the call at the door. For some reason that in hindsight I credit to God, Martha’s cry for attention didn’t bother me as much and I soon enjoyed her visits. One day I asked if she would like to regularly study the Bible.

We started in Genesis and continued our journey through Old Testament stories. Little by little we not only built a foundation of faith but a strong friendship that will last forever. Martha began to mature and changed so much that she wasn’t even recognizable from the first days when she came to visit.

One day Martha excitedly told me that a teacher at her Muslim school had told some students that they should decide which religion they wanted to follow. He stated that if he could have chosen, he would have liked to be Christian. Martha said that at this time she decided that she wanted to follow the God that she had been learning about in our Bible study. What amazing joy we both experienced that day at the knowledge that angels were rejoicing in heaven and that we were now sisters in Christ!

Martha's Family

I began to spend time at Martha’s compound, especially when it seemed that she wasn’t able to visit my house for a while. Little by little I got a picture of the difficult life that she endured. Her father was a hard and bitter man who had no joy in life. He used his words and a strong hand to belittle and degrade his family. Martha seemed to be especially susceptible to his abusive language. She told me one day that she wondered how she could be his true child for the way he treats her – she must be adopted. Yet she wasn’t.

Now that Martha was a Christian, life became more difficult. She wanted to participate in church programs and to grow by reading her Bible. Her father tried to stop this and usually found jobs for her just before she wanted to go to church. Other times, he forbade her to go. Martha’s mother, one of three wives, worked at the village market and had a very generous heart. She allowed Martha to go to church events as long as the father agreed. But similarly, she had to take care not to anger her husband and be on the receiving end of his abusive language or beatings.

After visiting and developing a relationship with the family, I asked permission for Martha to attend church, and he conceded.

Church

Martha dived right in at church and helped with the children during Sunday school. Over time Martha became the most committed teacher, learning the Bible story during the week and practicing on her young brothers and sisters.

One Sunday Martha arrived at church despite feeling ill. When the older women learned she was sick, they came out to pray for her. On the motorbike ride back from church that Sunday, Martha told me how shocked she was that the women showed so much love towards her. She said that she didn’t know that anyone could love her like that because so many have hated her during her short life, including her own father.

In the midst of these positive developments, one of the hardest things that I have ever had to do was to leave Martha behind.

Good-byes

On the Sunday before I left for Canada, Martha stood before the congregation, thanked them for having her as a part of their family, and told them that she wouldn’t forget them. You see, a couple weeks earlier there had been a big Muslim holiday. Though she helped prepare for the special day, Martha told her father that she didn’t want to celebrate. The evening before the holiday, Martha’s father woke her at 11 pm and made her stand in the courtyard for two hours. She was forbidden to bend her legs or sit down. She had to stand while her father sat close by insulting her. During his insults he told her that as soon as her white friend left that she could say goodbye to church. And so with a broken heart, Martha asked for the church to pray for her even if they didn’t see her and that she would continue to tell the stories she had learned to her brothers and sisters.

Since I have left, Martha has struggled through many difficulties. Her father made good on his promise and forbid her to attend church. He took away her Bible and continued to try to steal Martha’s joy. Yet God is showing Martha his faithfulness. God brought a Muslim uncle to her compound one day to argue with her father that Martha should be allowed to choose to be a Christian. After this, Martha’s father returned her Bible and said that she could attend church again. However, he has recently changed his mind again. Martha, despite her anger, frustration and hurt, continues to pray for her father’s salvation which will give freedom to not only him, but his whole family.

Being so far away from Martha as she faces these obstacles has been difficult and frustrating for me, but God is teaching me that He is in control. The best I can do for her whether I am right there or thousands of miles away is to bring her before the throne of the One who loves her even more than I do. Please join me in praying for this precious young woman.

Pray

• for daily courage, stamina, and patience for Martha, and for spiritual growth and maturity in Christ
• for her father’s heart to soften in order for him to receive salvation
• for thousands like her who face the cost of discipleship

SIM workers do not take it lightly that to lead people to Christ will create difficult issues for them. Although salvation is free, discipleship costs everything. Having the right words of wisdom and encouragement, and knowing how to help are ever present questions. For many today, authentic discipleship still carries the consequence of loss of social and material security. Nevertheless, we praise God for Martha who continues to be sustained by her heavenly Father during times of opposition and abandonment by her earthly father.

Just over a month after this story was written, Martha was baptized! When she told her father afterwards, he just walked away. Please continue to pray with us that the Lord will soften his heart.

*not her real name
Joni Byker photo