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Stories & Blog
Abandoned. Persecuted. Faithful.
EAST ASIA — Seyha is the only believer in her family. When she was eight years old, her neighbors transported her illegally to a nearby country. Local police stopped the vehicle she was in and everyone fled, abandoning her to the mercy of the foreign officials. She spent a week in prison. No one came to claim her.
Seeing her plight, one of the police officers — a Christian — took her in and for the next seven years, he raised her as his own daughter.
It was in this officer’s home that Seyha met Jesus and her new life began.
Seyha’s adopted father died when she was 15, and she decided to return to her home country. She knew coming home as a Christian would dishonor her family, but she went anyway.
Sure enough, as glad as her mother was to see her daughter alive again, she was ashamed of Seyha’s new life. When Seyha went to church? She would get a beating. When she attended a Bible study? She would get no dinner. Yet Seyha remained resolute in her faith, and she looked for ways to share the love of Christ with her mom.
Once, her mother spent a few days in the hospital but couldn’t afford the bill. Hopeless, she tried to end her life but failed. Seyha asked her mom to give her a week, during which she would pray and fast, seeking the Lord’s help. By the end of the week, God had provided through church friends enough money to pay for the hospital bill!
Then a new struggle arose: COVID-19.
“Can we share some food with the people in my mother’s village?” Seyha asked Crossworld worker Audrey during the pandemic crisis. “There are six families who are desperate for help.”
Audrey agreed, and they traveled to the nearby village where the families had gathered at Seyha’s mom’s house. Smiles flooded weary faces as adults received packages of groceries and kids received crayons and Bible coloring pages. Then Seyha led a time of prayer for God’s care of the people in the village.
Despite the suffering Seyha has endured, she continues to choose Jesus. She trusts that He hears her prayers. That her mom is watching. And that God is working.
Seeing her plight, one of the police officers — a Christian — took her in and for the next seven years, he raised her as his own daughter.
It was in this officer’s home that Seyha met Jesus and her new life began.
Seyha’s adopted father died when she was 15, and she decided to return to her home country. She knew coming home as a Christian would dishonor her family, but she went anyway.
Sure enough, as glad as her mother was to see her daughter alive again, she was ashamed of Seyha’s new life. When Seyha went to church? She would get a beating. When she attended a Bible study? She would get no dinner. Yet Seyha remained resolute in her faith, and she looked for ways to share the love of Christ with her mom.
Once, her mother spent a few days in the hospital but couldn’t afford the bill. Hopeless, she tried to end her life but failed. Seyha asked her mom to give her a week, during which she would pray and fast, seeking the Lord’s help. By the end of the week, God had provided through church friends enough money to pay for the hospital bill!
Then a new struggle arose: COVID-19.
“Can we share some food with the people in my mother’s village?” Seyha asked Crossworld worker Audrey during the pandemic crisis. “There are six families who are desperate for help.”
Audrey agreed, and they traveled to the nearby village where the families had gathered at Seyha’s mom’s house. Smiles flooded weary faces as adults received packages of groceries and kids received crayons and Bible coloring pages. Then Seyha led a time of prayer for God’s care of the people in the village.
Despite the suffering Seyha has endured, she continues to choose Jesus. She trusts that He hears her prayers. That her mom is watching. And that God is working.
Here’s how you can pray for this ministry.
- Pray for the salvation of Seyha’s family and many others in her village.
- Pray for her mother’s health, and for another woman in the village who is suffering from chronic pain.
- Pray for wisdom and God's provision for Seyha as she does not have stable employment at the moment.
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