by A worker in Asia
5 May 2005
Wednesday afternoons at 5 o'clock, village women and children put down their sickles and assemble on mats on the veranda for Bible club. They are a motley crew by some standards—the same torn, dirty dresses worn day after day, unkempt hair, unwashed faces beaded with sweat from the day's labor in the hot sun, often oblivious of how to conduct themselves in a class setting (most have never been to school). But to me, they are beautiful—with radiant faces and sparkling eyes, ready to come alive if shown just a hint of love or interest, and oh, they are so eager to learn!

When the club began, I had timidly approached a little girl to ask if she had ever heard of the Living God. Now she is part of the core group along with her friends. They don't miss a week. To my great joy these little girls aren't just my pupils; they are my friends. Often on my return home from the hospital four or five girls run up begging, "Please come for goomna (visiting in their homes)."

My first visit was in a two-room concrete structure, bare except for one chair and a small table. The family sleeps on bamboo mats on the floor. As in all homes, a small altar for worshipping various gods dominated one room. Within five minutes, it seemed the whole village had gathered to watch as the hostess served me chai and refreshments. They leaned through the open windows and pushed on the door. The host yelled for everyone to stay back and strained with all her might to keep the door barred. One of the women explained, "We never see white people."

Hundreds of people are packed into their small village. Makeshift thatched-roof homes are separated by narrow muddy lanes milling with people, cows, goats, dogs, chickens and pigs. Young women squat on the ground patting manure into cooking fuel by hand, which will be stuck to the side of the house to dry. Others put out hay for the animals or bathe at the community hand pump. Older women huddle together in the shade fanning themselves with homemade bamboo fans and shooing away hordes of stubborn flies that stick to the skin, while naked babies toddle about on the dirt path. What a sight!

As our work among women and children increases, we value your prayers for them as they hear about Jesus. Please pray for the Lord's transforming work in their lives.