India: The Card Project
Monica’s story
The smile on the face of this beautiful North Indian woman reflects the grace of Christ to all those around her.Â
Monica and her husband are sincere followers of Christ in a dominantly Muslim community where the majority of the people live in dire poverty. One way that Monica and her husband are able to share Christ’s love is through an income generating project for the women in the community. Monica is an artist and designs cards. Local women paint the cards using natural dyes and are paid fair wages in exchange for their work. Monica also tutors poor children and women in English and the Bible.
For all those observing, the circumstances in Monica and Lal’s lives magnify the all sufficiency of the Christ they love and serve. Â
After over three years of marriage, waiting and praying for a child, Monica conceived and in approximately the 4th month was told to abort this child because an ultra sound revealed this baby would be born with a severe hydro-cephalic condition. Monica and Lal grieved, but refused to take the life of this child, instead entrusting their lives and the life of their unborn baby to God. As expected, their baby girl was born with a severe hydro-cephalic condition.Â
Sarah is now three and a half years old. She needs constant care. Monica and her husband give Sarah amazing care—day and night. Monica seldom leaves the house. Women who paint come to Monica and Lal’s house to do the painting. There are no facilities or government help or professional assistance or social service people to come alongside this couple in the care and development of this child.
Monica and Lal have chosen a difficult path in a world that devalues the girl child and rejects those with disabilities. Children with disabilities are often either aborted before birth or hidden away with a sense of shame, as if they were sent as a punishment from God. Everyone observing can readily see these parents love, enjoy, and tenderly care for Sarah and each other. The only explanation is that Monica and Lal know and have received God’s love and grace in their own lives and this is being poured out onto their child as well as to the people in their community. The path that Monica has chosen and the life that she lives authenticates the reality of her faith before the women in the community.
Issues
- Lack of value of the girl child
- Abortion
- Lack of value/rejection of children and others with disabilities
- Women and families living in communities trapped in financial poverty
- Women and families living in "unreached" communities
Praise and pray
- Praise that the path Monica has chosen and the life that she lives authenticates the reality of her faith before the women in the community.
- Pray for Monica and her husband’s relationships in the community. Pray for opportunities to share the gospel.
- Pray for Monica’s card business —designs, women involved, God’s blessing on the business and the marketing.
- Pray for effective outreach into Muslim communities.
- Pray for effective and strategic ministry opportunities to poor Muslim communities.
- Pray for new systems to be developed in Asia that will provide quality care for developmentally disabled.
How to respond
- Send a note of blessing to Monica. Write to JusticeInitiatives@efca.org.
- Purchase a package of cards online at Global Heart Links.
- Inquire about becoming a card distributor. Contact: JusticeInitiatives@efca.org.
- Find out what is being done for people with disabilities in your area and make a contribution—financial or as a volunteer.
