It warms my heart to walk into SCH and see her smiling, waiting to greet me and give me a hug. We greet each other like old friends even though it was just two weeks ago when I sat down to learn her name and her story.
Parvati is a beautiful middle aged woman who manages the Ayahs (caregivers) at Sarah's Covenant Home, a orphanage for special needs children, in India.
Parvati grew up in a Hindu family, but when she was thirteen years old, God took something that could have been a tradegy and changed her life forever. Parvati's older sister was married to a violent drunkard. One day, he beat his wife so hard over the head that she went blind. This terrible tragedy could have ruined lives, but instead God used it as a Genesis 50:20 moment. Parvathi's family had some neighbors who were Christians. They told Parvathi's mother that Christ is a healer. After going to church and being prayed over, Parvathi's sister was healed.
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Gen 50:20)
After the healing, Parvati, her mother, and her sister all became Christians. It could've been easy for for Parvati to forget what God done for her family- after all, even the Israelites forgot God. But she remained faithful.
From early on, it had been arranged for Parvati to marry a certain Hindu man, and so, when the time came, they were wed. But Parvati's husband did not approve of his wife's beliefs. As time went on, his hatred for Christianity, as well as his violence and drunkardness, grew. Parvati told me through the transaltor that through out their marriage, her husband burned three of her bibles. He beat her often. And he tried to force hinduism on her. But her faith did not waiver. She clung to the knowledge that God was with her in this marriage, and that He would protect her. And He did. Parvati told me several stories. Once, her her husband threw a rock at the back of her head. The rock hit Parvati, and then it fell down the stairs and broke. But Parvati was not hurt. Another time, as she was running from her husband, Parvati fell and shatter her teeth. Bu they grew back.
While sharing her testimony, she began to cry. At first, the tears came from the hurtful memories. But as Parvati spoke of God's faithfulness, those tears of sadness turned to tears of joy.
As she grew older, God put it on Parvati's heart to pray for the orphans of India, and she did. Then, the director of SCH told Parvati about the orphan homes they were starting. Parvati went to the home to pray for the children, and was so moved by what God showed her, that she asked for a job. She feels that her job at SCH was an incredible gift from God, and He has given her so much more peace since working there.
Parvati is a beautiful woman. She thirsts for God. And despite the pain her husband caused her, she prays that he, too, will one day thirst for the one true God.
Please pray for Parvati. Pray that God's love continue to pour out of her like a constant spring. Pray that she can be an encourager to the Ayahs. Pray that God be a light in her that shines brightly to everyone around her.
On our last day of ministry, I got to lead a bible study for the Ayahs. Precious Parvati sat next to me, and as I spoke, God reminded me of her story. He reminded me of what these women struggle with. I shared Hosea 2:14-20 because God wanted to show them that He is a perfect husband who desires much for them. I shared Isaiah 43, Parvati's favorite verse, to remind the women of God's protection. And lastly, I shared with them Psalm 139:13-18 because every woman, young and old, needs to be reminded that she is a work of God- fearfully and wonderfully made.
It was diffiicult to say good bye to such a wonderful woman, who I will mostly likely never see again on earth. So I hugged her and whispered "Until Heaven".
