Wild elephants trample through villages during their migration or when they are cut off from their usual feeding grounds.
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Gospel for Asia missionary Anand Kumar has a new home after wild elephants destroyed his house in August.
Anand woke up in the middle of the night, jarred awake by the terrifying sounds of the elephants crashing through his house. Reacting quickly, he grabbed his wife and two small daughters and ran out of the house before the elephants could harm them.
The morning sunrise brought to light the destruction. While Anand and his family were grateful to the Lord for sparing their lives, the loss of their home, their goat and his bicycle were greatly distressing. The elephants also ate all the food in the family’s kitchen.
Anand was not alone in his loss. Two other homes in his village in West Bengal, India, were also destroyed that night. India’s forest department reported that in the area where Anand lives, elephants were damaging 15-20 homes every night during this time. The rampages happen every year in late summer as flooding in area rivers drives the elephants from their feeding grounds. The distressed elephants run through the villages looking for food.
The summer’s extensive flooding affected West Bengal, so Anand knew it would be difficult to rebuild his own home quickly. Relatives gave his family shelter.
But the Lord provided for Anand and his family. He was able to construct a small new home beside the ruined one. Anand was also able to repair his bicycle enough to use it. He depends on it to minister in villages that are too far from his home to walk. The elephants have left the area and are roaming elsewhere looking for food.
Pastor Anand asks for prayer that God will continue to supply their needs, and also praises God for His protection over their lives.
Read about West Bengal, the state where Pastor Anand serves.
Rampaging elephants once helped spread the Gospel. Read the story here.