Not-so-gentle giants: Elephants frequently destroy homes in certain parts of India, especially during the rainy seasons, when flooding drives them to village areas.
These believers pray as they prepare to build a new church building after elephants leveled their first one. |
Around midnight on January 2, two believers and their families experienced a life-altering tragedy of losing their homes. But it was not one of the usual culprits—fire or storm—that decimated their houses: It was a herd of elephants.
A herd of approximately 30 wild pachyderms stampeded the homes of Gunalan Mistry and Dilawar Jaiteley. These two families have little money, and the elephants trampled their few belongings.
Shaken but safe, the families are taking shelter at a government primary school. Samuel Yadav, the Gospel for Asia-supported missionary who serves as their pastor, praises God for preserving their lives.
Sadly, rampages by wild pachyderms are not uncommon in this part of India. During the rainy season, they often wander into villages and wreak havoc.
Pastor Samuel and GFA staff in the area request prayer for God to protect each villager from further elephant attacks and their potential harm to people’s lives.