Prabha, Red-dyed out hair, she looked like she was chewing Pan (pahn) during the ladies meeting.Yes, she caught my attention in church: she looked bold, brave and courageous.
Ballsy, gutsy, different than the rest.
She didn’t perform in anyways or speak ‘spiritually’. Her outside appearance didn’t give away her heart. She guards her heart.
Then that day arrived, she was there again in a village: 2.5 hour walk away in a new church building with the pastor and his wife.
Then that day arrived, she was there again in a village: 2.5 hour walk away in a new church building with the pastor and his wife.
Why was she there? Does she live here? Is she related?
She sat there, she patiently prayed in the midst of language barrier. She made us tea, she smiled.
She sat there, she patiently prayed in the midst of language barrier. She made us tea, she smiled.
And then, we walked: down the street, through the alley on the dirt road past the goats, the buffaloes and the dry corn: to the street with Nepali prayer flags into a small house. The girls went in, crammed on her bedroom floor.
She was alone: what does that mean? We sat next to her on the floor, her face glowed. She was not alone, He was there, right beside her: his presence was so thick in that tiny room.
Prayer was contagious, never ending, ever-rising for her. Why? What were we praying for? What did she need? She spoke, No she cried: she wailed, a mournful cry.
What was the reason? Why?
‘My name is Prabha, she spoke past her tears about how she was forced to leave, how she was kicked out, her story of how her family disowned her. Her husband, her two sons, their wives, their grand kids: they didn’t want her, anything to do with her. All for the sake of proclaiming her faith in Jesus, her savior, her beloved, her one true God.'
This wasn’t a recent happening, this was her story of 11 years and counting. They said, if she abandons Him: she can return, she can reunite with the concept of family. But she wont, she will perserve for the faith of her family.
He was present, His presence was tangible, and she found peace in ‘her outside appearance of loneliness’. But within, she is strong, brave, she is in constant communion with her beloved.
She cries, not in her sorrow but these are joyful tears: I held her hand and walked with her through her story of abandonment for Christ.
Salvation is her prayer!
