CHANGING LIVES Around the World with the
by MEGAN MCDANIEL
Gospel
Through God’s saving grace, Zamu had recently become a Christian.
MONGOLIA Jargal is a 38-year-old mother of four who grew up in a non-Christian religion. She met LHM–Mongolia staff members when they were distributing radios at an event in the Nalaikh district. Staff members noticed how angry and lonely she was when they first met her, so they invited her to attend one of their upcoming listeners’ meetings to discover the hope and encouragement provided by the Gospel. She came to the next meeting and took home several LHM booklets to learn more about Jesus. Over the next several months, she became the most active regular participant in the monthly women’s meetings and is now a leader for other attendees. As the staff got to know her, they learned that her husband had cheated on her and left her for another woman, which consumed her with self-denial and anger. The staff encouraged her through personal testimonies and shared how to forgive her husband, how to raise her kids on her own, and how to build her family through prayer and knowing that nothing is impossible for God. Today, Jargal’s outlook on life has completely changed. She got a new job at the end of 2020 and is now much more stable and energetic as she sees things from a different perspective. She has forgiven her husband and started rebuilding the relationships within her family, established strong friendships with her work colleagues, and gotten more involved as a volunteer with LHM’s food distribution efforts in the region. Glory be to the Lord!
20 | The Lutheran Layman Spring 2021
Alberto recently lost his father to COVID-19. Shortly after his father passed away, his mother was hospitalized. He was very distressed about his circumstances and was seeking answers and comfort when one day he discovered the LHM– Paraguay office. While staying socially distanced, the LHM–Paraguay staff talked with him and prayed with him. Alberto took some booklets and materials home with him and requested a follow up visit with staff to stay connected and continue to learn more about Jesus.
PARAGUAY
UGANDA As part of their ministry outreach, LHM–Uganda sends inspirational text messages to individuals through their mobile phones. Zamu received one of the text messages and was intrigued to learn more about who had sent the message. She called the number back and realized that she already knew of LHM–Uganda from the radio program she listens to regularly. She shared with the LHM staff that she married a man who practices a non-Christian religion. Through God’s saving grace, Zamu had recently become a Christian. While her husband continues to practice his religion, he recently showed an interest in learning more about Christianity. Now they listen to the LHM– Uganda radio program together and have requested booklets to learn more about Jesus.
Alex is 33 years old and previously worked as a farmer. He was looking for ways to make money quickly, so he joined a group of people who raided homes in his neighborhood. He was caught by the authorities and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He has never been religious and grew up thinking religion was only for weak individuals. While in prison, Alex was introduced to LHM–Kenya through their prison ministry team and says he enrolled in their Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC) as a way for him to pass time. As he studied the Bible and worked through the BCC lessons, he discovered he was living a sinful life and needed to change. Through the power of God’s Spirit, Alex became a Christian. He is now reading his Bible regularly and growing in his faith.
KENYA
