A sewing machine, like this one, helps Sania and Ganesh feed their family.

Ganesh and Sania worked hard to provide for their three children and for Ganesh’s mother, who also lived with them. But the couple’s caste limited their work choices. Ganesh worked as a barber, and Sania was a day laborer. Neither of them earned more than a few pennies each day. There were even times when they went all day long without earning any money at all. On those days, their family did not eat.

All it took to turn their pitiful situation around was a simple sewing machine.

Jeevan, a Gospel for Asia-supported missionary who serves as pastor of the church in their community, knew about the couple’s plight and arranged for them to get the sewing machine. He had met Ganesh and Sania when they expressed interest in hearing the Gospel. They also enrolled their daughter in the local Bridge of Hope center.

There were even times when they went all day long without earning any money at all. On those days, their family did not eat.

Over several months, the couple talked to Jeevan a lot about Jesus. Even though Ganesh and Sania followed a traditional religion from their culture, they visited the church where Jeevan serves as pastor. Soon, their hearts were softened toward the Gospel message, and they chose to follow Christ.

Even though they had the joy of Jesus in their hearts, they still did not have enough money to buy food for their household.

So when it was time to distribute gifts purchased through the GFA Christmas Gift Catalog, Jeevan requested a sewing machine for this family.

Sania was thrilled to receive the machine. She quickly brought her sewing skills back up to speed and soon, she was making clothing for the men, women and children in her community. Today, Sania spends hours at her sewing machine, earning much more than she got from working countless hours outside in the blazing hot sun.

And the family is happy because they have Jesus in their hearts and enough income to put warm food on the table, too.