SEND! magazine Third Quarter 2005: 'With Faith We Serve'
'With Faith We Serve'
For months, tsunami survivors in a Tamil Nadu, India, fishing village had been living among the remains of their lives, surviving only on the compassion of relief groups. But the villagers sensed something different in a team of young women from a nearby GFA Bible college.
"Many people are coming and helping us and leaving, but we've never seen people like you," one man told team member Jeni. "You care about us and encourage us. We see some kind of love in your lives."
"We told them it was not love from our lives," said Jeni, "but Christ's love in us."
This community in Tamil Nadu, India, also had a reputation for hostility to the Gospel. Missionaries had been beaten and their materials destroyed. But Rajaya Vani, leader of the Bible college, knew that the village had been hit hard by the tsunami, and people were hurting and desperate. She and her students also noticed that their hearts were more receptive following the tsunami, craving for comfort and a future.
"If Christ were in this world, surely He would go and help these people," Rajaya shared. "And Christ is in us," she continued. "So with that in mind, I decided we would do what we could for them."
In a setting of sandy beaches and breezy palm trees, Rajaya and her team set up camp between crumpled metal and crushed brick. They began cooking a hot meal of rice, curry and eggs for more than 1,000 people.
The villagers hadn't enjoyed such good food since before the tsunami. And afterward, when the girls spent time with the people, talking and listening, their care and concern became an expression of Christ's love.
"After the meal, we counseled many people," team member Mary reflected. "I especially talked with the children. One young girl told me, 'I don't know how I will survive.' I said to her, 'The Lord has saved your life. Surely He will provide whatever you need in this world.' I shared verses from the Bible and encouraged her. She told me, 'Now, only after I have talked to you, I am happy and satisfied.' "
Several children Mary talked to were also worried about their studies and struggling to concentrate in school. Mary assured both them and their parents that the Lord would take care of them.
"They told us, 'Whenever you come, please visit us and give us encouraging words like this.' We promised them we would come often."
"It was my greatest blessing to be with the people," team leader Rajaya stated, "encouraging them and taking part in their suffering."
Today, these young missionaries-in-training continue to invest their time and energies in this small fishing community, offering their weekends and any other spare moments they have. And already they can see God's hand at work. The young women have an increased burden to pray for these people—and the villagers themselves are more open to the Gospel. In fact, one villager told the team he wanted to come to the nearby worship service that week.
"We are sowing Christ's love in this very tough soil," Rajaya says. "In our hearts we truly believe that one day, they will come to know the Lord Jesus, and with that faith we serve these people."
You can join with Rajaya and the thousands of missionaries and believers who are part of GFA's ongoing tsunami relief and reconstruction efforts. Donate online at www.gfa.org/tsunami or contact the GFA office in your country.
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