Lifted from the Depths of Hopelessness

Perhaps if Sonni had been born into a different community, things would have been easier. At least he wouldn't have had to face social discrimination in addition to poverty. Maybe he would even have been able to go to school. But as it was, Sonni had inherited the burdens of his people—including illiteracy, poverty and discrimination in nearly every area of society—and the weight bore down on the already-burdened boy.

Often, Sonni felt crushed by the immense weight of his circumstances. But he pushed on, quiet and determined, doing his best to provide for his family. The burdens might drag him down, but he would get back up—he would not be broken.

While still a teenager, Sonni married Nasya, a girl from his own community. Neither Sonni nor Nasya had ever been to school, but as they began to build a family, they were adamant that their own children would receive an education.

The couple would be fighting an uphill battle. Sonni and Nasya couldn't even afford to own their own home. Covering the cost of education would be a significant expense. In addition, their children would probably face discrimination and extra difficulty at school because of the family's social and educational background. Those financial, social and academic obstacles were the very reasons that the vast majority of Sonni's community never received any education.

But Sonni and Nasya were determined. Together, they could give their three sons something they themselves had never had: hope for a brighter future. With an education, their sons could one day be free from the burdens of poverty and illiteracy that their family had borne for generations.

So, as each boy got old enough, Sonni and Nasya enrolled them in school, working tirelessly to provide for their sons and their education. But then, in 2021, a new, unexpected burden fell on Sonni and his family.

Sonni lost his ability to walk. He was in his mid-twenties—what should have been his prime of life—but a sudden paralysis gripped his body from the waist down, debilitating him. With no money for treatment, Sonni's condition worsened until he lost the ability to move his legs at all. He longed to work, to care for his family. But he couldn't. All he could do was drag himself across the floor.

Sonni's world shrank to the size of his bed. Day after day, he was forced to watch, helpless, as Nasya left for work by herself. The burden of caring for him and their sons fell on her alone, and he could do nothing to help her bear it.

One year passed, then another, but Sonni did not get better. His hope died. At least when he'd lost his father, he'd been able to throw himself into supporting his family. And then he'd had the joy of working with Nasya to build a brighter future for their sons. The weight of life—though it had been great—had never broken him … until now.

Nasya never wavered in her love and devotion, continuing to care for Sonni and support their family by her work in the fields. But for four years, Sonni's condition remained unchanged. Then, in April 2025, Nasya's father made a suggestion: Sonni should go to the church in the neighboring village and ask for prayer.

It might have been a surprising suggestion since Nasya's father was not a believer, but he had once visited the church for the installation of a hand-pump water well. While Nasya's father was there, GFA pastor Joseph had told him about Jesus, and he had never forgotten what the pastor shared. He'd also been impressed by the fact that Jesus could heal people. Now, seeing his son-in-law's suffering, he urged Sonni to visit Pastor Joseph's church.

Sonni agreed. What did he have to lose? But the church was seven kilometers away, and Sonni couldn't even take a step. Undeterred, Nasya helped her husband onto a bike and pedaled all the way to the church. When they arrived, Sonni crawled over the threshold of the sanctuary.

When Pastor Joseph saw Sonni and Nasya, he welcomed them and invited them to stay at the church for a month. That way, the believers could spend extended time praying for Sonni's healing. Sonni and Nasya accepted the invitation.

"I had never experienced such kindness in my life," Sonni said, looking back on that time. Absent was the discrimination he and Nasya had grown up with. At the church, they were embraced with brotherly love.

Pastor Joseph and his congregation provided food for Sonni and Nasya, prayed fervently for Sonni's healing and shared the hope they had in Christ. Sonni soaked it all in. His spirit, which had been burdened for so long, felt lighter. He began to trust in Christ's love and power and to believe healing was possible.

Then, after a month of hospitality and prayer, it happened: Sonni stood up! More than that, like the lame man healed in Jesus' name in Acts 3, Sonni walked and leaped, rejoicing in the miracle Christ had worked for him. Sonni had crawled into the church. Now, he could step over the threshold on his own two feet.

Even after he walked out of the church building, Sonni's healing continued, extending into other areas of life. His heart, once full of despair, now overflowed with joy. And although the burdens of poverty, illiteracy and discrimination were still present, Sonni and Nasya no longer had to bear them alone.

As the family began attending church services, they were surrounded and uplifted by an entire community of Christ followers dedicated to bearing each other's burdens.

"I was paralyzed for four years, but Jesus healed me in just one month," Sonni shared. "I will never forget this miracle. I will share it with everyone I meet."

Today, in the place where Sonni had been broken by his suffering, news of his healing has become a wonder to many. Because of the miracle in Sonni's life, other villagers—even some who previously looked down on him—have become curious to know more about Jesus.

Hope and healing such as Sonni experienced often begin with a simple act of hospitality—welcome, in Jesus' name. Across the mission field, churches led by GFA missionaries like Pastor Joseph seek to extend Christ's welcome to their communities through simple acts of faithfulness and love. The result? Millions of people like Sonni and his family find hope for the very first time, and healing spreads from family to family until thousands of communities are transformed.

You can join in this ministry of hope and hospitality by sponsoring a national missionary like Pastor Joseph! When you come alongside these faithful laborers, you partner with them and their churches in extending Christ's welcome to their communities. Together, we can enable others to say, as Sonni did, "Jesus is the true God, the Redeemer of this world."