We received an e-mail from Pastor Joseph today. It was in response to one that I had sent to him just a few days ago. The Lord has been speaking the word "widows" to my heart for several weeks now. I have prayed about it and discussed it with my sisters, Cindy and Terry. We are all in agreement that God is wanting something done with the widows of India. We didn't have much information about them, so I wrote Pastor Joseph to ask a few questions. I asked him the condition of the widows in the villages where he ministers. I also asked him if the Lord has spoken anything to him regarding them. His response has shocked us as well as broken our hearts. He told us that he has been praying for the widows for the past five years. He said he has also been praying that God would speak to one of us regarding this area of ministry. For the past two years he has been supporting twenty widows financially. He also provides them with meals and clothing. He said that last month while his wife, Sony, was praying, the Lord spoke to her heart to support two of the widows. She was immediately obedient and began the support.It seems the widows live a most miserable life. Hindus do not even like to hear the word "widow." Pastor Joseph said that a few years back, a widow could not marry again regardless of how young she was. She could not come near anyone and was not permitted to attend any functions, even if it were a family function. She could not wear any fancy Saris ( the beautiful, colorful clothes they wear). Their clothing had to be plain and without color. The widow was supposed to live a life of death. If the widow didn't submit to these rules, she was thrown in a fire and burned with her dead husband's body. Pastor Joseph said, "Christianity has brought some change to the Indian communities. However, roots of the former traditions are still being followed in the villages." Most of the widows curse their lives and want to die. As stated before, the widows must dress a certain way. The Hindu and the non-Christian widows can wear only a white or a red Sari without anything that is decorative (no jewelry, bobbles, or anything pretty) and she must shave her head. Their presence at family or public functions is totally forbidden because they are considered unlucky and unfavorable. If a person sees a widow the first thing in the morning, then that person is considered unlucky and not permitted to even enter into shops. It is also considered unlucky to see a widow before leaving on a journey. The widows are forced to live as untouchables. If the widow is an old woman, the family wants her early death. Pastor Joseph said, "First they kill her with their words." He said they don't feed her properly (only one meal a day) hoping she will die. During the winter and the monsoon season is the worst time for the widows. They have no blankets to cover themselves for warmth, they have no shelter to keep them dry, and they are forced to live outside of the house in the weather.During the Gospel meetings that Pastor Joseph conducts in the villages, he condemns the old traditions as he shares the love of Jesus. His messages often provoke the villagers to anger but he continues on. He says there are more than 33 million widows in India at this time and it is time for things to change. He gave us an encouraging report regarding a widow that God helped through us in 2005. Her name is Laxmi. Laxmi lost her husband in the tsunami. With money given to us through various donations, we were able to set her up in a fish drying business. She would buy dried fish and then sell it the villages. This business provided for her and her children. However, fishing in that area was banned and she could no longer buy and sell the fish. She began a morning service of selling breakfast and tea. At first the villagers would not buy from her but Pastor Joseph encouraged the church members to patronize her business. Soon the non-Christians started coming to her also. She now has a good business and has become a good member of the local church. She had not been a Christian when we first met her in 2005.Pastor Joseph says this (in his own words) regarding Laxmi, "Now the woman Laxmi is strong enough to stand before all the villagers. The people who made her heart to be broken within the veil of traditions are now downcasting their heads. Because now, she is not in a position to obey their unlawful things. Now she lifts her head up wherever the people made her head look down. Now she is happy where the people made her cry. Now she has self-employment."Pastor Joseph's desire is to see other widows set up in business. He wants to provide training in areas such as sewing and ironing and other hand crafts. This way others can stand on their own feet and arise out of the pit they are forced to live in. There is also a need for monthly support for the widows who are too old or to feeble to work. He has a desire to provide blankets for the widows who are forced to sleep outside in the cold and rain. Pastor Joseph says, "The main aim is to lead them to Jesus by showing them His love in action."He has also asked for prayer for the many physically handicapped in the villages. They need tricycles, and visual aids. Please keep all of these needs in your prayers. God Bless all of you!
We love you!!!!
Cindy, Terry and Angie
