What does it look like to struggle with illiteracy? For Dayla, it meant constantly relying on others for help with even the simplest tasks, such as reading bus routes and signs.
It also meant that, at the age of 45, she still had to use her thumb to sign official documents because she couldn’t write her own name. Plus, Dayla couldn’t help her children gain an education, leaving them hopeless for a better future.
Extremely poor, Dayla and her husband had moved their family to a different state to find work in a brick factory. After their relocation, they lacked proof of identity, so the family’s four children were unable to enroll in school. With education impossible and their parents’ tireless toil still insufficient to cover their family’s needs, the children began working in the brick factory alongside their parents to help lessen their parents’ burdens.
To make matters worse, five years after they moved, Dayla became extremely sick. Her body swelled, she had difficulty breathing, and she couldn’t eat. Dayla’s family did everything they could to help her recover. Her husband took her to the hospital, but her condition did not improve. Fearful of losing her, her family offered prayers to their gods, but her health continued to deteriorate. After having exhausted all other available options, her children turned their attention to the church near their house.
Upon their request, GFA pastor Arian visited the family and prayed for Dayla’s healing. God answered his prayers, and Dayla gradually regained her physical strength and ability to eat. During this time, Pastor Arian’s wife, Raya, ministered to Dayla and her daughters by encouraging them, praying with them and sharing Jesus with them. Soon, Dayla and her family put their faith in Jesus and began attending church.
Illiterate No More
Raya continued caring for the family and demonstrating Christ’s love in practical ways. When she learned that Dayla and her children had never had the chance to learn to read, Raya started a literacy class for them. Every day, she dedicated an hour to teaching them how to read and write, using GFA’s literacy curriculum. At first, Dayla felt hesitant to attempt such studies as an adult, but Raya encouraged her to continue, and she did. Dayla’s children, however, needed very little convincing. They were incredibly motivated and enthusiastic learners.
Dayla’s family later moved back to their native state, and God continued to work in their lives. Having learnt how to write their names, Dayla and her children no longer need to sign documents by thumbprint. As their literacy skills have grown, so has their faith. Now literate, they can read the Bible for themselves, while the Holy Spirit helps them to understand the Scriptures. Some biblical stories that the family enjoys are Hannah’s conception of Samuel, David’s defeat of Goliath, and the story of the prodigal son.
Despite her initial hesitation to attend literacy class, Dayla is now immensely grateful for it. Whenever she gets sick or goes through trials in life, she reads her Bible and finds encouragement in the Lord. Her literacy skills have given her the freedom to read the Bible whenever she wants without solely relying on others.
Additionally, Dayla’s husband has come to know Christ. Their family still deeply loves the Lord, and they faithfully attend a local church in their village. Her two younger children have gone back to school, while the older ones have joined the workforce. They have not forgotten the kindness Pastor Arian and Raya showed them and still occasionally call to thank the couple for teaching them to read God’s Word. This was also made possible because someone like you from around the world generously gave.