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After losing her husband when she was just 34, she had been left to care for three small children. She had worked hard to raise her children to adulthood, but at age 60, her life was falling apart. Shaina’s only son was diagnosed with HIV, and as a result her two daughters, along with the rest of society, shunned their mother. She was left alone in disgrace.
When her son died, her loneliness worsened. She was unable to find a job, and many times she would roam the streets of Goa, looking for food and shelter, but no one seemed to notice her.
Having lost all hope, Shaina could think of nothing else to alleviate her emotional pain than to end her life. But before she could take that fatal step, she met Gospel for Asia native missionary Prayag, who shared with her about the love of Jesus.
BBC News has reported that a 15-year-old Indian boy whose parents had HIV was driven to suicide by the dishonor asociated with the virus. He died of burn injuries after setting himself on fire. He had earlier expressed fear that he would survuce his parents. “He was mentally tormented because he could not face the humilation owing to both of this parents being HIV-positive,” a police spokesman said, Those with HIV/AIDS in India face severe discrimination, including being ostracized and denied access to hospitals and schools. After Prayag talked to Shaina, she no longer thought about ending her life and soon came to know the Lord as her personal Savior.
She began attending worship services at the local church and grew in her walk with the Lord. The joy of the Lord gave her the strength to share the Gospel with both her daughters. One of her daughters and a granddaughter received the Good News as well.
Today Shaina has been reconciled with her daughters, and her whole family is attending church regularly, growing to know the Lord more and more. Please pray that Shaina and her family will remain firm in their new faith.