(bright upbeat music)
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- Hello and welcome
to "Jesus for Asia Now."
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I'm Natalie
Wood and today I have
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Israel Prasad with me.
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He is our director
in India and we wanna
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talk about an
empowering project for widows.
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Welcome to the show, Israel.
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- Thank you so much.
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I'm so happy that I'm
here by the grace of God.
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- You have been
here for a few days.
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- [Prasad] Yes.
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- And we had FaithCamp
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- [Prasad] Right.
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- which was wonderful.
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and I'm so glad you could come.
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- Praise the
Lord, yeah. (laughs)
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- So, you live full
time in India, correct?
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- [Prasad] Right.
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- What do you do
there for "Jesus for Asia?"
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- We have many
projects by the grace of God.
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God has helped us to
do some various programs
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for the people in India,
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particularly
when we come to women.
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There are so
many widows in India,
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and in India, to be a widow,
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it's really, really difficult.
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And it's a kind of
a very terrible thing
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in the society.
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They are not being
really given the respect
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which is needed to be given.
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And it is something
like it's very sad for them.
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When their husband
dies, it's like they're off,
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their life is gone.
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There is no more support,
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and if they don't
have family support,
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and these ladies, their
life is completely ruined.
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- Wow, I know that there
used to be a practice where,
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when the man would
die, then they would
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put his wife on the--
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- Yeah, fire.
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- on the fire,
when they cremated him,
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they would burn her also.
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- Yes, yes.
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- Wow, and she
was alive at the time.
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- Right.
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- Wow, I know
that William Carey,
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the missionary,
was a part of the group
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that caused that
practice to stop.
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- Oh, praise the Lord. - And so
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I know that that's
something that they stopped
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a long time ago
but there's still a lot
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of life-changing
attributes to becoming a widow.
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- Yes, those kinds of
things are not happening now,
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but it is still, if
you go into some societies,
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some villages, still people
treat these widows very badly.
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They are not given
that respect in the society.
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- They're not,
they're treated like
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an outcast, right?
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- Right, right.
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- Wow, so the people
don't want to be with them?
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- Yes, because they
feel like they're kind
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of a burden and like
they might come for help
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because they don't
have any way of taking care
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of the children--
- Supporting them.
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- Supporting the children.
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- Oh, okay.
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- So, the people they
don't want to mingle with them.
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- Okay, so we
have a program for some
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of these widows.
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- [Prasad] Yes.
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- How did this get started?
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- Oh, yeah, it's a really,
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a very, very heartbreaking
incident, you know.
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Because we have evening
schools in various villages.
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When we first
started this evening school
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in one village, we
had children coming in.
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And there is a lady,
she's very good lady,
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very decent lady.
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She used to
really respect everyone,
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and she was also
respected in the society.
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She used to bring her
children and leave them
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in the school, and then
come in the, after 8:30,
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she would take the
children, and she would talk
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with us, such a wonderful lady.
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And her husband was
like taking care of the cows,
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feeding them and taking them out
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and that was his job.
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He didn't have a proper job.
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Even though they
come from a poor family,
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poor background, but
their life was really,
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really so happy.
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But all of a sudden one day,
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this man who
went with his cow out,
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as usual, that day
he didn't come back
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in the evening.
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And she was really
worried because it was raining,
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and she thought,
oh, what happened?
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Maybe she thought
they were standing
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in some shed
because it was raining,
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and after the rain
they can come back home,
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they will come back
home, so she was waiting,
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but they didn't
even return home at all.
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Then she went to see
what is really happening.
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It was so sad that she
found her husband was dead,
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flat on the ground,
and all their cattles
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were dead also.
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Because there was a
lightning which struck them.
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When she saw that, oh,
she couldn't do, what to do,
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and she called the help
from the nearby neighbors.
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They came and took
them all and went home,
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and she didn't
have anyone to support,
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because she
didn't have relatives,
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she didn't have anyone.
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It was, only her
husband was her support,
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and the children,
they were very young.
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And this lady
after that incident,
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the men in the
society, started abusing her.
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Using that kind of a
situation, started using
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her in a very bad way.
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She didn't have
any other support,
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so slowly it
became her practice,
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her lifestyle is
completely changed.
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And after that,
she would not come
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to the school, only
the children would come,
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and she will not come
and she never saw anyone,
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particularly she used to
talk to me really nicely.
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But after that she
didn't want to see me.
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And I didn't know
what was happening,
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but I know that
that man passed away,
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but I didn't know that
she was into this kind of
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very bad lifestyle.
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And my uncle told
me that she's now,
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her life is completely gone.
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She has gone into kind
of a very bad condition,
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and she, it's good
that we don't like,
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kind of, because the
society started talking
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very bad about her. - About her.
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- One evening I
was just in the school
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and she came that way,
and she could not see me,
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she wouldn't see my face and--
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- She wouldn't look at you?
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- Yeah, and then I
called her, she came.
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"Sister, how are you?"
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She was just looking
down and answering me.
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And then I told
her, "Don't be worried,
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"God is there,
he's a mighty god.
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"He loves you so much."
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She started crying.
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That was a time I felt
like it is not her character,
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but because of the
situation, she's forced
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into these kinds of bad things.
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Her family was completely,
her name was completely spoiled.
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And everything
was very different.
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She didn't have
any other way to go,
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to take care of the
children, to feed them,
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to give them education.
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- She didn't have any
other training or any--
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- Yes and this was
the time God impressed
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in my heart to start
some kind of a project
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for these kinds of
ladies, who are really put
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in that kind of a situation.
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And I started
praying about these ladies.
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It was very painful
because I've seen her before
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how she was, and after this,
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her life was completely changed.
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And we were praying about that,
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and then after
that, me and my uncle,
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we went inside, we
knelt down, we prayed,
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oh, Lord, please do something
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for these kinds of
women in this village.
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And then I came to
know that there were
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so many other
widows in the village
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in the same kind of situation,
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and that is when,
after a long prayer,
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I called up Elder
Jon Wood and I asked him,
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"Elder, can we do
something for these ladies?"
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And after a long
season of prayer,
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God answered our prayers
to start this sewing project
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for the widows.
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- Right, he
raised up one church,
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if I remember correctly
that really connected with it.
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- Oh, wow. - And wanted
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to help to start it.
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- Praise the
Lord, praise the Lord.
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I'm really
thankful for that church,
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because that
church has brought light
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to so many widows in India.
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- Wow.
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- And this
training program we started,
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and the teacher who
came forward to teach
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that sewing
classes, was a widow.
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- Wow!
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- And her story
is amazing, she said,
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"I want to do this, I
want to teach those widows
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"because I know
what is a widow's life,
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"how they feel and the
difficulties they have,
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"and what are the
problems they face day to day
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"in their life.
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"So I want to be a
kind of light for them,
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"to train them
and show something."
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There is a way, there
is always, there is no end.
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You can start
from where you are.
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And you can be a changed person.
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- Wow.
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- So she came forward, she said,
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"You know, my story",
that widow, the teacher started
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telling her story she said,
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"I had three daughters, girls.
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"It's very difficult
to take care of girls."
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- Right.
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- That too in India, in village,
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without a man's support
it is very, very difficult.
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And she said, "I never gave up."
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After my husband was passed
away, after he passed away,
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I was taking care
of these three girls,
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and they were my
world, and I told myself,
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I am not giving up, I'm
going to fight this life,
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and somehow come up
in life, and make sure
00:10:22.15\00:10:25.15
that my
daughters are, they're also
00:10:25.15\00:10:27.79
well settled in life.
00:10:27.79\00:10:29.96
She started working very hard,
00:10:29.96\00:10:32.66
because she knew to
stitch, to, she knew--
00:10:32.66\00:10:36.80
- She knew how to
sew? - Sew, tailor.
00:10:36.80\00:10:38.77
- Okay, okay.
00:10:38.77\00:10:40.07
- So she started
her own tailoring class
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and she started her
own tailoring business.
00:10:42.60\00:10:45.24
- Okay.
00:10:45.24\00:10:46.51
- So through that
money, she was able
00:10:46.51\00:10:48.14
to help these three girls.
00:10:48.14\00:10:51.35
- Okay.
00:10:51.35\00:10:52.61
- And she said,
"Oh, I'm really excited
00:10:52.61\00:10:54.98
"because this
project is for my village,
00:10:54.98\00:10:58.35
"for my ladies, who are
in kind of my same situation.
00:10:58.35\00:11:02.39
"I want to use my
abilities and my talent
00:11:02.39\00:11:06.73
"to uplift their lifestyle."
00:11:06.73\00:11:08.30
- Wow.
00:11:08.30\00:11:09.33
- And she-- - Now was she
00:11:09.33\00:11:10.20
a Christian lady?
00:11:10.20\00:11:11.10
- She's a Hindu lady.
00:11:11.10\00:11:12.50
- [Natalie] A Hindu lady.
00:11:12.50\00:11:13.60
- But had very good heart.
00:11:13.60\00:11:15.97
She came and it was, the
class was only four hours,
00:11:15.97\00:11:19.94
but she said, "I
can come anytime.
00:11:19.94\00:11:22.44
"I will come anytime.
00:11:22.44\00:11:23.95
"If they are ready,
"if they want to learn,
00:11:23.95\00:11:26.11
"I will teach them."
00:11:26.11\00:11:27.25
- Wow, what a sweetheart.
00:11:27.25\00:11:30.05
- So this is the, this is Ronnie
00:11:30.05\00:11:32.52
in the picture. - Okay.
00:11:32.52\00:11:33.76
- And she was
explaining how was her life
00:11:33.76\00:11:37.26
when she started the
small business of her own
00:11:37.26\00:11:41.90
and was her
life was before that,
00:11:41.90\00:11:44.33
and she was so happy
that "Jesus for Asia"
00:11:44.33\00:11:48.34
was able to come up
for a special project for,
00:11:48.34\00:11:52.67
especially for the
widows, which is a great
00:11:52.67\00:11:55.54
blessing for them.
00:11:55.54\00:11:56.85
And these people,
these women, who were widows,
00:11:56.85\00:12:00.78
they started
coming to the classes.
00:12:00.78\00:12:03.15
- Okay.
00:12:03.15\00:12:04.55
- And Ronnie was so
happy because you just imagine,
00:12:04.55\00:12:07.72
when the teacher is
happy, the students are happy.
00:12:07.72\00:12:09.99
- [Natalie] Yeah.
00:12:09.99\00:12:11.36
- And she was so happy, that
she taught them very minutely.
00:12:11.36\00:12:14.50
- Oh, every detail.
00:12:15.66\00:12:16.77
- Very detail and
with a lot of love.
00:12:16.77\00:12:20.07
They love to come
to that sewing class.
00:12:21.17\00:12:24.54
And they
started, with this school
00:12:24.54\00:12:26.17
is a six months program.
00:12:26.17\00:12:28.68
They come every day,
two hours or three hours
00:12:28.68\00:12:33.18
they come and
they learn stitching,
00:12:33.18\00:12:36.02
and it's a six months program.
00:12:36.02\00:12:39.12
And within the
six months of time
00:12:39.12\00:12:40.56
they learn how to
stitch all different
00:12:40.56\00:12:43.16
kinds of dresses.
00:12:43.16\00:12:45.19
- Okay.
00:12:45.19\00:12:46.26
- For the ladies
and for the children
00:12:46.26\00:12:48.36
and for some men dresses too.
00:12:48.36\00:12:50.80
How to stitch shirt
and after the six month,
00:12:50.80\00:12:55.20
we were able to give
them free sewing machines.
00:12:55.20\00:13:00.18
- Okay.
00:13:00.18\00:13:01.31
- And now, those people
have their own business.
00:13:01.31\00:13:04.15
- They have their,
oh, that's wonderful.
00:13:04.15\00:13:06.15
- And they are not
depending on anyone now
00:13:06.15\00:13:08.35
for their, to find
anyone, - Any money,
00:13:08.35\00:13:12.05
yeah, their livelihood.
00:13:12.05\00:13:13.49
- And they don't
fear anymore the society,
00:13:13.49\00:13:17.39
or the men will
come and disturb them,
00:13:17.39\00:13:20.03
because they have
something which supports them.
00:13:20.03\00:13:23.23
- Right, and it's a
respectable occupation.
00:13:23.23\00:13:25.60
- [Israel] Well, yeah.
00:13:25.60\00:13:26.67
- Wow.
00:13:26.67\00:13:27.74
- And the lady who
was in all these kinds
00:13:27.74\00:13:30.51
of bad habits, her life
is completely changed now.
00:13:30.51\00:13:34.11
- [Natalie] Wow.
00:13:34.11\00:13:35.21
- And she's able
to walk and mingle
00:13:35.21\00:13:38.55
with the society,
how she was before,
00:13:38.55\00:13:42.28
because she has
earned the respect
00:13:42.28\00:13:44.02
from the people back now.
00:13:44.02\00:13:45.49
- Wow.
00:13:45.49\00:13:46.59
- She has proved that
it is not her character,
00:13:46.59\00:13:49.39
it is because of her life--
00:13:49.39\00:13:51.56
- Her circumstances.
- because of there was
00:13:51.56\00:13:52.63
circumstances,
there was no support,
00:13:52.63\00:13:56.06
and no way for her to
take care of the children.
00:13:56.06\00:14:00.94
And they are having
a wonderful life now.
00:14:00.94\00:14:03.30
And by the grace of God we had,
00:14:04.44\00:14:06.84
we have 12 people who
come to these classes.
00:14:06.84\00:14:10.91
It's kind of a
batch way as we do,
00:14:10.91\00:14:13.95
because we have got limited
00:14:13.95\00:14:17.15
soil, space-- - Space.
00:14:17.92\00:14:19.22
and sewing machines.
- And sewing machines.
00:14:19.22\00:14:20.86
And usually we
started in that village,
00:14:20.86\00:14:24.36
and we were not
able to function there
00:14:24.36\00:14:26.36
because the building
was in a very bad shape.
00:14:26.36\00:14:29.93
It was like,
anytime it would fall apart.
00:14:31.80\00:14:35.70
So that is why we
went and told the landlord
00:14:35.70\00:14:40.68
to repair it, but
that lady, the landlord,
00:14:40.68\00:14:44.35
she was not
(chuckles) willing to do that.
00:14:44.35\00:14:46.35
And this building
was really getting
00:14:46.35\00:14:48.75
more worse and worse. - It was,
00:14:48.75\00:14:50.22
yeah it was scary.
00:14:50.22\00:14:51.85
- Scary, and all the
ceiling was really cracking
00:14:51.85\00:14:56.19
and so we thought
it's very dangerous
00:14:56.19\00:14:58.83
and now by the
grace of God we are able
00:14:58.83\00:15:00.80
to move this project
to a place near Tandur
00:15:00.80\00:15:05.20
in South India, and now
it's also a great blessing
00:15:05.20\00:15:08.84
because it is
helping so many widows
00:15:08.84\00:15:12.31
in that area now.
00:15:12.31\00:15:13.71
- Okay.
00:15:13.71\00:15:14.81
- And these people are
also called the gypsies,
00:15:14.81\00:15:17.48
like, they don't,
but the government
00:15:18.61\00:15:21.22
has given them a place to stay.
00:15:21.22\00:15:24.15
So where they are
not moving from there.
00:15:24.15\00:15:26.45
- They're not
nomadic at this point.
00:15:26.45\00:15:28.32
- Yes, they are settled there.
00:15:28.32\00:15:30.66
And if you see their lives,
00:15:30.66\00:15:32.86
men just marry
and they have children
00:15:32.86\00:15:35.10
and they just leave and they go.
00:15:35.10\00:15:37.40
They can marry any
number of wives and...
00:15:37.40\00:15:41.04
- Oh.
00:15:41.04\00:15:42.40
- So it's, their lifestyle
is really, really very sad.
00:15:42.40\00:15:44.47
- So the women are
widows without being widowed
00:15:44.47\00:15:47.24
because he just goes
and marries someone else
00:15:47.24\00:15:49.21
and leaves her. - Someone else.
00:15:49.21\00:15:50.48
And this lady will
have three, four children,
00:15:50.48\00:15:53.28
and he'll go marry another one,
00:15:53.28\00:15:54.95
they will have children.
00:15:54.95\00:15:56.25
So their life is
really, really sad.
00:15:56.25\00:15:59.05
And these ladies, just imagine
00:15:59.05\00:16:02.02
having three
children and without any kind
00:16:02.02\00:16:04.63
of support-- - Support.
00:16:04.63\00:16:05.73
- And what they will do?
00:16:05.73\00:16:07.00
And the children
they go and beg money,
00:16:08.13\00:16:11.87
for money, so
that they can bring
00:16:11.87\00:16:13.94
and give it to their mother.
00:16:13.94\00:16:16.10
And what a child can do?
00:16:16.10\00:16:18.34
And because of
this, the child is not
00:16:18.34\00:16:20.64
having good education.
00:16:20.64\00:16:22.24
The child is
not given good food.
00:16:22.24\00:16:24.48
And moreover, the
family is completely
00:16:24.48\00:16:26.82
like falling apart and
now, by the grace of God,
00:16:26.82\00:16:31.72
this project over
there, it was started
00:16:31.72\00:16:34.06
by Mrs Dorothy Watts.
00:16:34.06\00:16:35.89
The former division
president, Pastor Watt's wife
00:16:35.89\00:16:39.29
started this project.
00:16:39.29\00:16:41.20
And after she passed away,
00:16:41.20\00:16:43.57
for nearly about
five to six years
00:16:43.57\00:16:47.14
this building
was just kept closed.
00:16:47.14\00:16:50.14
It was not functioning-- -
Nobody was keeping it going.
00:16:51.44\00:16:54.01
- Yeah, nobody was taking care
00:16:54.01\00:16:55.81
of the thing and that
is when the local president
00:16:55.81\00:16:59.91
Basu Polmony gave us the
the proposal that he said,
00:16:59.91\00:17:03.52
"It would be nice to
start this widow project"
00:17:03.52\00:17:05.79
because the building was there.
00:17:05.79\00:17:07.26
- Right.
00:17:07.26\00:17:08.09
- But it was
00:17:08.09\00:17:09.12
not functioning-- -
It wasn't being used.
00:17:09.12\00:17:10.23
- Yeah, because
they didn't have enough
00:17:10.23\00:17:11.96
of funds to run the project.
00:17:11.96\00:17:14.13
They had a midday meal
and Mrs Watts was there
00:17:14.13\00:17:17.90
and all completely
the project was stopped.
00:17:17.90\00:17:20.77
Only the church was functioning,
00:17:20.77\00:17:22.50
which is the other side,
but in the same compound.
00:17:22.50\00:17:26.44
The other two
projects, the midday meal
00:17:26.44\00:17:28.64
and the widow project
was completely shut down.
00:17:28.64\00:17:32.25
And by the grace of
God, when the president
00:17:32.25\00:17:35.02
took us and Elder Jon
Wood was there to see that,
00:17:35.02\00:17:39.15
and again we prayed
and God helped us to open
00:17:39.15\00:17:43.49
the widow sewing
project in that area now.
00:17:43.49\00:17:47.13
And so many
widows have been blessed.
00:17:47.13\00:17:50.20
- Wow, I remember the story.
00:17:50.20\00:17:52.30
The head man from
the village traveled
00:17:52.30\00:17:54.00
all the way to
the president's house
00:17:54.00\00:17:57.01
or the section
officer, whatever, to beg--
00:17:57.01\00:18:00.31
- Right.
00:18:00.31\00:18:01.41
- for this
program to be restarted
00:18:01.41\00:18:02.28
to help them - Very sad.
00:18:02.28\00:18:04.61
At least weekly twice.
00:18:04.61\00:18:07.12
Because from this
place, from this house,
00:18:07.12\00:18:11.02
where the project is,
he has to go travel nearly
00:18:11.02\00:18:14.82
25 kilometers,
which is 14 miles.
00:18:14.82\00:18:19.69
All the way he
asked he will go, one way.
00:18:19.69\00:18:23.30
And he will go beg
them, please do something.
00:18:23.30\00:18:26.57
Because he was like
kind of elder leader
00:18:26.57\00:18:29.77
of that community.
00:18:29.77\00:18:31.51
So people in that
community they had
00:18:32.64\00:18:34.91
good respect on him.
00:18:34.91\00:18:36.41
But after this
program was shut down,
00:18:36.41\00:18:38.98
they gave up hope on the church,
00:18:38.98\00:18:41.62
because it was of great help
00:18:41.62\00:18:44.65
and all of a sudden
00:18:44.65\00:18:45.72
it was shut
down-- - It was gone.
00:18:45.72\00:18:46.52
- And it was gone and they felt,
00:18:46.52\00:18:48.76
oh what is
happening with this church?
00:18:48.76\00:18:51.49
And I was told when
they started this program
00:18:51.49\00:18:54.46
the church was
completely packed.
00:18:54.46\00:18:56.77
The church was not
enough to hold people inside.
00:18:58.10\00:19:01.10
There were
people sitting outside.
00:19:01.10\00:19:03.51
It was growing
and all of a sudden
00:19:04.61\00:19:07.18
when this program was shut down
00:19:07.18\00:19:09.28
without funds and
proper guidance and the people
00:19:10.41\00:19:13.92
started going
away from the church,
00:19:13.92\00:19:17.55
which was really
breaking our heart.
00:19:17.55\00:19:19.79
And when we heard
after a long prayer
00:19:19.79\00:19:23.22
God, amazingly,
helped Elder Jon Wood
00:19:23.22\00:19:26.23
to start this
program again in that place.
00:19:26.23\00:19:29.33
So we cleaned the whole area.
00:19:29.33\00:19:31.37
We painted,
repainted and there were needed
00:19:31.37\00:19:34.40
of a little
renovation works and did
00:19:34.40\00:19:37.67
and bought all the
sewing machines back.
00:19:37.67\00:19:40.18
And when we
started that project,
00:19:40.18\00:19:44.75
when we saw the
faces of those people,
00:19:44.75\00:19:47.25
the widows, it was
bright and very happy.
00:19:47.25\00:19:50.92
They came, each they came
and got hold of our hands,
00:19:52.32\00:19:55.79
they said, "Oh,
thank you so much
00:19:55.79\00:19:58.33
"for helping us, for
opening the door again."
00:19:59.69\00:20:04.40
And now, by the grace of God,
00:20:05.40\00:20:06.90
it is really,
we're going very well,
00:20:06.90\00:20:09.00
and every batches have 12 widows
00:20:09.00\00:20:12.91
come and learn how to,
stitch the cloak, dresses,
00:20:12.91\00:20:17.98
and they are really happy.
00:20:18.95\00:20:20.58
And after six months we
give them a certificate,
00:20:20.58\00:20:24.92
the graduation certificate.
00:20:24.92\00:20:27.06
And not only the certificates,
00:20:27.06\00:20:29.26
we also give them
free sewing machines.
00:20:29.26\00:20:32.33
- Right, so they can
have their own business.
00:20:32.33\00:20:34.46
- Yes, and they have
it in their own house now.
00:20:34.46\00:20:38.10
And these ladies
because, they also sometimes
00:20:38.10\00:20:43.10
when there is a
festival, or a function
00:20:43.10\00:20:46.37
and some
gathering, public gathering,
00:20:46.37\00:20:49.14
they would stitch and
they would go and sell that.
00:20:49.14\00:20:52.01
- Oh, nice.
00:20:52.01\00:20:53.25
- Like small, a
purse made up of cloth,
00:20:53.25\00:20:57.82
because they're in that area,
00:20:57.82\00:20:59.65
it is very famous.
00:20:59.65\00:21:00.82
The ladies would
have these purses
00:21:00.82\00:21:02.86
made up of cloth material.
00:21:02.86\00:21:05.16
So they make that
and they go sell it.
00:21:05.16\00:21:09.46
They are really doing well now,
00:21:09.46\00:21:11.17
by the grace of God.
00:21:11.17\00:21:12.43
- Wow, praise the Lord.
00:21:12.43\00:21:13.67
- And we were also able to start
00:21:13.67\00:21:15.70
the evening school there.
00:21:15.70\00:21:18.47
- Right in the same building.
00:21:18.47\00:21:19.34
- The same building.
00:21:19.34\00:21:20.58
(laughing)
00:21:20.58\00:21:21.38
And now by the grace of God,
00:21:21.38\00:21:22.41
those projects
which was shut down
00:21:22.41\00:21:25.48
for quite long
years of time and now
00:21:25.48\00:21:27.75
it is reopen, it started again.
00:21:27.75\00:21:31.12
And those children,
the way you see them eat
00:21:31.12\00:21:33.72
because they
don't get good food.
00:21:33.72\00:21:35.69
They go out and they are not
00:21:35.69\00:21:38.53
disciplined. - They
scavenge and they beg.
00:21:38.53\00:21:41.30
- Oh yeah.
00:21:41.30\00:21:43.37
Recently I went to
that property, the place.
00:21:43.37\00:21:46.60
I was really
surprised, because it doesn't,
00:21:47.77\00:21:50.97
no more it looks the same way
00:21:50.97\00:21:52.91
how it was before.
00:21:52.91\00:21:54.64
Very clean, very
neat, and they put
00:21:54.64\00:21:59.61
fencing now and
the compound wall.
00:22:00.78\00:22:02.78
Everything is put, it
is well maintained now.
00:22:02.78\00:22:06.19
- Nice.
00:22:06.19\00:22:07.32
- They have a place
for cooking the food
00:22:07.32\00:22:09.49
and the children, they
come study in the evening,
00:22:09.49\00:22:12.39
know about Jesus.
00:22:12.39\00:22:14.46
When you see
them the way they sing
00:22:14.46\00:22:16.56
the songs, wow.
00:22:16.56\00:22:18.83
So happy with big
smile on their face.
00:22:18.83\00:22:23.27
They sing these
songs and any kind
00:22:23.27\00:22:25.77
of church
activities, now these ladies
00:22:25.77\00:22:28.74
are there in the
front, taking care
00:22:28.74\00:22:30.88
of all those programs.
00:22:30.88\00:22:32.28
- Wow, so I know
that when we talk
00:22:32.28\00:22:35.25
about sewing and
learning to tailor
00:22:35.25\00:22:37.12
and things like
that, a different picture
00:22:37.12\00:22:39.15
comes to mind
when you think like
00:22:39.15\00:22:41.42
a person from India,
from someone from America--
00:22:41.42\00:22:45.29
- Okay. - that sews.
00:22:45.29\00:22:46.63
Because in India,
they don't use patterns.
00:22:46.63\00:22:49.66
- [Israel] Yes, we don't.
00:22:49.66\00:22:51.47
- And so (laughs)
they use measurements.
00:22:51.47\00:22:53.90
- Yes, we start from
the scratch. (laughs)
00:22:53.90\00:22:56.00
- Yes, so we have a picture here
00:22:56.00\00:22:58.71
of one of the
ladies holding up a blouse
00:22:58.71\00:23:00.54
that she was working on.
00:23:00.54\00:23:01.71
- Right, you know these ladies,
00:23:01.71\00:23:04.41
when they come,
they start with prayer.
00:23:04.41\00:23:07.12
They start with prayer.
00:23:08.12\00:23:09.28
- Wow.
00:23:09.28\00:23:10.09
- And then, even at the end,
00:23:10.09\00:23:12.35
when they complete,
when they go from the,
00:23:12.35\00:23:14.32
before going, they have prayer.
00:23:14.32\00:23:16.59
- Wonderful.
00:23:16.59\00:23:17.69
- So, our pastor,
who's working there,
00:23:17.69\00:23:20.80
he goes and
inspects them and he also
00:23:20.80\00:23:23.57
prays with them.
00:23:23.57\00:23:24.47
- Wow.
00:23:24.47\00:23:25.60
- And where there
is a need of something
00:23:25.60\00:23:27.10
like a prayer in
their house, in the family,
00:23:27.10\00:23:29.44
for the children,
they call the pastor.
00:23:29.44\00:23:32.01
So it is not only
giving them a start,
00:23:32.01\00:23:35.31
in their life
again a new beginning,
00:23:38.21\00:23:41.58
it also includes the spiritual.
00:23:42.62\00:23:45.39
- Right, it connects them.
00:23:45.39\00:23:46.52
- Connects them,
so they're very happy.
00:23:46.52\00:23:50.33
- [Natalie] Wonderful.
00:23:50.33\00:23:51.33
- Yeah they are so
happy (Natalie laughs)
00:23:51.33\00:23:52.43
that this place is
kind of helped them
00:23:52.43\00:23:57.33
in their life change.
00:23:58.10\00:23:58.83
- Wow, so,
Israel, can you tell us
00:24:00.10\00:24:02.27
a story about
something that changed
00:24:02.27\00:24:04.67
for these ladies spiritually?
00:24:04.67\00:24:06.51
- Yes.
00:24:06.51\00:24:07.31
- [Natalie] From these schools?
00:24:07.31\00:24:08.41
- Oh, yes so many
instance are there.
00:24:08.41\00:24:11.05
And particularly,
talking about the teacher.
00:24:11.05\00:24:15.12
She came and asked us.
00:24:16.08\00:24:18.82
She comes from a strong
Hindu family background.
00:24:18.82\00:24:22.66
Even though the
church is supporting them,
00:24:22.66\00:24:26.39
but still they have that
thing from the beginning.
00:24:26.39\00:24:29.90
- Right.
00:24:29.90\00:24:31.13
- But when they
practically see every day,
00:24:31.13\00:24:34.77
day to day's life how
the Christ, like character,
00:24:34.77\00:24:39.84
when they see in the Christians,
00:24:40.64\00:24:42.48
their life is changing.
00:24:42.48\00:24:44.11
And this lady, this
teacher, she asked us
00:24:44.11\00:24:48.08
to come and pray
for her daughter.
00:24:48.08\00:24:49.95
- Aw, so, the
specific health issue,
00:24:49.95\00:24:53.02
if I remember
the story correctly,
00:24:53.02\00:24:54.59
was that she wasn't
able to get pregnant.
00:24:54.59\00:24:56.89
- [Israel] Right, yes.
00:24:56.89\00:24:57.79
- So the daughter.
00:24:57.79\00:24:58.83
- Yes, her daughter.
00:24:58.83\00:25:00.16
She was not pregnant.
00:25:00.16\00:25:01.86
Married and I think
nearly about three, four years,
00:25:01.86\00:25:05.40
she didn't have child
and because if you don't
00:25:05.40\00:25:09.44
have a child in the
village surrounding,
00:25:09.44\00:25:14.41
people might think, oh
is something wrong with the,
00:25:14.41\00:25:17.45
what is happening?
00:25:17.45\00:25:18.85
They talk very bad.
00:25:18.85\00:25:20.82
And this lady, she
was really feeling so bad,
00:25:20.82\00:25:24.82
sad that her
daughter didn't conceive
00:25:24.82\00:25:28.59
or have any child.
00:25:28.59\00:25:30.06
So she came and
asked us to pray for her,
00:25:30.06\00:25:33.06
and we prayed.
00:25:33.06\00:25:34.50
God answered the prayer.
00:25:34.50\00:25:36.13
- Amen.
00:25:36.13\00:25:36.97
- One after the other.
00:25:36.97\00:25:38.93
They had their first baby
(laughs) and the second baby.
00:25:38.93\00:25:40.90
- Oh. (laughs)
00:25:40.90\00:25:42.94
- And now she's so happy.
00:25:42.94\00:25:45.61
God answered the
prayer and they are
00:25:45.61\00:25:47.81
now complete family.
00:25:47.81\00:25:49.68
- Wow, and so she saw
God answer her prayers--
00:25:49.68\00:25:53.52
- Right, yes. - Also, wow.
00:25:53.52\00:25:55.82
Well, praise the Lord.
00:25:55.82\00:25:56.89
Thank you so much
for coming and sharing
00:25:56.89\00:25:58.32
this project that
is changing lives.
00:25:58.32\00:26:00.72
- Yes I'm really,
really happy that God
00:26:00.72\00:26:03.86
helped these ladies--
00:26:03.86\00:26:06.33
- [Natalie] Amen.
00:26:06.33\00:26:07.13
- With these kinds of projects.
00:26:07.13\00:26:08.70
Just imagine, if these
projects were not there,
00:26:08.70\00:26:12.33
their life would
have been in the darkness.
00:26:12.33\00:26:15.40
- Right, right, wow. -
Through these projects.
00:26:15.40\00:26:18.21
I really thank--
- That's wonderful.
00:26:18.21\00:26:20.18
- The church,
which is supporting
00:26:20.18\00:26:22.28
and the people who are
supporting these kinds of
00:26:22.28\00:26:26.31
projects. They
are earning a lot of--
00:26:26.31\00:26:29.72
- Jewels? -
Jewels in their crown.
00:26:29.72\00:26:32.79
- [Natalie] Amen.
00:26:32.79\00:26:33.59
- Definitely when God comes,
00:26:33.59\00:26:35.52
he's going to bless
them, because they are
00:26:35.52\00:26:38.19
not only helping
one individual widow,
00:26:38.19\00:26:41.60
they are helping
the whole family.
00:26:41.60\00:26:43.57
- Right.
00:26:43.57\00:26:44.53
- They're helping the whole--
00:26:44.53\00:26:45.70
- And the whole
community. - community.
00:26:45.70\00:26:47.27
- Right.
00:26:47.27\00:26:48.07
- Which is a great blessing.
00:26:48.07\00:26:49.27
- [Natalie] Yes.
00:26:49.27\00:26:50.37
- I think this is a
wonderful and blessed
00:26:50.37\00:26:53.41
ministry because
it has been a blessing
00:26:53.41\00:26:56.18
for many families.
00:26:56.18\00:26:57.71
- Amen.
00:26:57.71\00:26:58.78
- Because women
are very important.
00:26:58.78\00:27:00.75
In a family, women
plays an important role,
00:27:00.75\00:27:04.22
and when their life is ruined,
00:27:04.22\00:27:06.42
the whole family's ruined.
00:27:06.42\00:27:08.59
But when their life has changed,
00:27:08.59\00:27:10.39
the whole family's changed.
00:27:10.39\00:27:12.03
That is what we have been--
- (laughs) That is wonderful.
00:27:12.03\00:27:13.50
- Experiencing in
these widows course.
00:27:13.50\00:27:16.50
I'm so happy to be here to share
00:27:16.50\00:27:19.00
what our God is
leading these wonderful widows,
00:27:19.00\00:27:22.54
their life changes,
seeing them happening.
00:27:22.54\00:27:25.61
Oh, I am really
so happy and excited.
00:27:25.61\00:27:29.28
(both laughing)
00:27:29.28\00:27:30.28
- Oh, praise the Lord.
00:27:30.28\00:27:31.58
Thank you so much for
coming and sharing with us.
00:27:31.58\00:27:33.55
- You're
welcome, you're welcome.
00:27:33.55\00:27:34.78
Thank you, thank you so much.
00:27:34.78\00:27:36.92
- Well, I know I've
been blessed by the stories
00:27:36.92\00:27:38.95
we've heard today and I
hope you have been also.
00:27:38.95\00:27:41.76
And I would like to
invite you, if the Lord
00:27:41.76\00:27:43.63
is impressing you to be
a part of this ministry,
00:27:43.63\00:27:46.26
you can contact
us at Jesus for Asia.
00:27:46.26\00:27:48.93
PO Box 1221,
Collegedale, Tennessee 37315.
00:27:48.93\00:27:52.97
Call us at (423)
413-7321 or visit our website
00:27:54.90\00:28:00.04
at Jesus4asia.org.
00:28:01.01\00:28:03.51
May God richly bless you,
00:28:03.51\00:28:05.15
until we see you next
time on "Jesus for Asia Now."
00:28:05.15\00:28:09.02
(upbeat bright music)
00:28:09.02\00:28:12.25