Stories

Every aspect of Darshini’s life made her feel like she was “too old.” And for the most part, she was comfortable with that.

She lived with her youngest daughter’s family, and she spent her time doting on all of her grandchildren, though it was difficult to keep up with them. She attended church with her family, and three times a month, she walked to a local development office where she received a small government allowance similar to social security or retirement.

Darshini was happy with her family and her faith in Christ. She felt like she had lived a good, long life. So when Darshini was invited to attend an Adult Literacy Class in her village, she shook her head no. She felt she was too old to learn, and she was fine with that.

But God had more for Darshini than her comfortable life, and it started at the development office…

One day, Darshini walked to the development office to receive her funds for the week. There, she said hello to the officer in charge, and when he asked her to sign for her allowance, she stuck out her thumb to stamp it on the dotted line—customary in India for those who can’t write their name.

In India, if you don’t know how to sign your name, they accept your thumbprint instead.

As she pressed her thumb into the inkpad and then down onto her allowance contract, she realized how much she’d like to be able to sign it with her name someday.

All of a sudden, Darshini began dreaming of what it would be like to write.

This stuck with her, and then, at church on Sunday, it struck her again. Watching her pastor hold his Bible in his hands, she wondered what it would be like to read God’s Word for herself.

So she began dreaming of what it would be like to read.

Eventually, Darshini sought out Hridayesh, the Adult Literacy Class teacher, and asked to enroll in his class. He warmly welcomed her.

Since then, she has learned to read, count, and do basic math. She has learned about personal hygiene and started a kitchen garden, which supplies her beloved grandchildren with fresh fruits and veggies.

But the first thing Darshini did with her new skills was open her Bible. She painstakingly made out the words in Genesis 12, and marveled at how the story of Abraham’s journey to the Promised Land came alive before her. As she read verse after verse for herself, a new kind of peace and excitement washed over her. Darshini’s beloved Scriptures were finally accessible to her!

Later, after Darshini graduated from her Literacy Class, she went to the development office. The familiar officer greeted her and handed her the inkpad for her thumb, like normal. To his surprise, Darshini smiled, picked up a pen that was off to the side, and signed her name on the contract with a flourish.

Sharing in her joy, the officer asked her where she learned to read and write. Darshini happily told him.

In the following days, the officer visited the Adult Literacy Classes that Darshini’s teacher, Hridayesh, was teaching. Being a believer himself, he was touched to see Hriyadesh’s efforts in his community. He pulled Hriyadesh to the side after one of the classes and vowed his department’s full support of the growth of Adult Literacy programs in their community.

Today, Darshini reads the Bible to her grandchildren and tends her kitchen garden happily. Through her connections to the government offices, Adult Literacy Classes throughout her area are protected and thriving… all because of a Christian woman in retirement.

Pray

• Praise God for providing security to the Adult Literacy Classes in Darshini’s area. In a country where Christians struggle with intense persecution, God used Darshini’s life to protect His ministry in her whole village!
• Ask God to open your eyes to how He wants to use whatever situation you are in for His glory and your good. Ask Him to help you have peace as He works.

Take Action

• The Adult Literacy Matching Challenge has been met! Thanks to generous people like you, more adults than ever will attend an Adult Literacy Class and gain the opportunity to change their entire communities… and you can join in! Click here to give to Adult Literacy Classes.