Suman awoke in the middle of the night, surprised by the rapidly rising floodwaters that were engulfing the rented house where he lived with his wife and three young children. The raging waters began to enter his home with great force, and all he could think about was how to rescue his family and save the few possessions they had. When dawn finally arrived, Suman went outside to search for a way to help his family escape, only to witness his neighbor’s home completely collapse as the raging river surrounded his own home, separating him from his wife and children. With no way to reach them, he cried out to God, asking for their protection. Thankfully, they were all rescued, but the images of his family trapped in the house with surging waters surrounding them continues to haunt him. He states, “whenever the rains return, fear and trauma arise.” He thanked the Lord for sparing his family. Although they lost most of their belongings, Suman and his wife will continue on and overcome this devastating experience. In their South Asian country, life has taught them to be resilient, resourceful and perseverant and, above all, to trust in God’s grace and faithfulness towards His gospel messengers.
At some time in our lives, nearly everyone has to deal with the burden of unexpected expenses. On the news, we see images of the terrible destruction left behind by a tornado that swept through communities or hurricanes that ravaged the coastlines. These natural disasters cause millions of dollars of damage. Unplanned medical emergencies or accidents can hit us out of nowhere, incurring tremendous costs. Fortunately, for most of us who live in the western world, insurance and emergency funds can cover these unexpected expenses. Wonderful organizations come with volunteers and financial resources to assist with emergencies and help people recover and rebuild. Our lives can continue relatively normally, our possessions can be restored, and we can gradually regain economic stability. Global South missionaries from Africa, Asia and Latin America usually do not have those same advantages. They regularly face the burden of unexpected expenses and their limited financial support generally is not sufficient to cover these costs.
Suman and his wife, Bina, and their three children serve in a South Asian country among millions of people who have not had the opportunity to hear the gospel message and place their faith in Jesus. They are fruitful and faithful workers who often travel to difficult- to-access areas to teach, train and make disciples among unreached peoples. Like many other Global South missionaries, they are faithful to God’s calling on their lives, in spite of the circumstances and challenges they regularly face. Suman explains, “Despite everything, we continue to see God’s hand at work. He has strengthened us through each difficulty as He uses this season to teach us deeper trust and faith. By His grace we are still standing and continuing the ministry He has called us to.”
