The Fifth Child Superstition
June 23, 2009
Daman left his lonely, cursed life behind to join a Bible school and become a beloved child in the Lord's service. |
Even as a child, Daman Rao was cursed by his family, shunned by his village and abandoned in sickness. And there was nothing he could do about it.
Daman was born in a village where superstitious beliefs still drive tradition and culture. His father was a local religious leader who raised his family in strict accordance with all the traditional rituals and customs.
One widely-held belief that Daman's father espoused was that if a couple's fifth-born child was a boy, that child would be cursed. So when Daman's mother gave birth to him, their first son after four daughters, his parents consulted a witch doctor as to what should be done with him.
His family left him to suffer alone on his sickbed.Daman's parents were told that his birth would bring dire consequences. His father, however, was desperate for a son who could fulfill his religious duties after his death. They decided to keep Daman, but it wasn't long before their fifth child again lost their favor.
When Daman was five, his mother bore another son. All attention and praise was turned to his younger brother, and Daman became scorned and forgotten. He felt so ostracized that he attempted to commit suicide three times by swallowing poison. Thankfully, his life was miraculously spared each time.
When misfortune struck his family in the form of theft accusations against his brother-in-law and father, some people locked up Daman and beat him to collect evidence against his family. For this, his parents cursed him.
At the age of 18, Daman got a job as a welder. He soon developed a strange illness, though, and had to leave the job. Although the doctors gave him medicine, Daman was largely ignored by his family, who left him to suffer alone on his sickbed.
When Daman had recovered sufficiently, he got another job working with a courier company. This proved to be a huge turning point in his life, because it was at this company that he met a woman named Ekta. Ekta was a Christian, and she shared the Gospel with Daman, inviting him to come to church for prayer. Daman was touched to hear that Jesus really loved him. He received Jesus as his personal Savior that very day.
Through regular church attendance and fellowship, Daman's spiritual life flourished. His home life, meanwhile, took a turn for the worse. His family scolded him for his church attendance, and in the end they threw him out of the house. Abandoned once more, Daman prayed for God's guidance.
One day in church, Daman was amazed when both the pastor's wife and brother-in-law asked him whether he was facing any problems at home. Neither of them knew that Daman had been kicked out of his home. When he explained his situation to them, the pastor's entire family invited him to stay in the church building. Daman praised God for his mercy and providence.
Many villages, like this one, remain unreached by the Gospel and continue to live under the oppression of their false gods and superstitions. |
In 2005, Daman was called into ministry through a dream. A voice came to him quoting Joshua 6:8:
"So it was, when Joshua had spoken to the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the LORD advanced and blew the trumpets, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them."
The voice also quoted Joshua 8:1: "Now the LORD said to Joshua: "Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land."
Puzzled by his dream, Daman consulted his pastor, who told him that the Lord was calling him into His service. Daman dedicated his life to the Lord and enrolled in a Bible college.
In 2006, while still in his first year at school, Daman received the news that his father had died. The village that had once scorned him as a cursed fifth child now clamored for him to return and take up his father's duties. Daman stood firm in his faith, however, and his younger brother stepped into his father's role instead.
Daman has continued his studies and grown in boldness, faith and grace. Although he is still physically weak, he trusts that God will cure him completely as he journeys to share Christ's message.
Please keep Daman's mother and siblings in your prayers, as they have not yet received Jesus as their Savior. Pray also that the Lord would bless Daman with good health so that he would be able to serve Him even more effectively.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
