Global Connections

Ratanang's Story

BY DR. JENNIE CERULLO AND DR. MARCIA BALL

22 years in international ministry, our most significant joys are watching our friends and colleagues fall in love with and walk together with Jesus. Yes, there are the 53 countries we’ve trained in, and multiple millions we’ve reached with our education programs, community projects, and programs launched serving orphans and their grannies. But our passion has always been Jesus and sharing His love and hope. We work in developing nations offering prevention strategies to end HIV/AIDS and the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children and improve the quality of education. We work to care for the ill and oppressed, and we are thrilled to empower local churches to engage with the challenges in their community with great courage and compassion. Our lives exploded with adventure, trials, profound grief, and incredible joy when we said yes to God’s invitation to leave our university positions to assist the poorest of the poor around the world. Today, it feels like we live five extraordinary lives crammed into one! We had no idea that our small step of obedience and faith would bear so much fruit and transform so many lives. One of those precious lives is our dear friend, Ratanang.

Ratanang is one of 15 extraordinary staff members at our orphan care center in Soshanguve, South Africa, a large township where some of the poorest of the poor in this beautiful nation live. Poverty, crime, and disease are overwhelming, and it is often children and grannies who suffer the most. Ratanang said goodbye to her parents after many long months of struggling with AIDS. She became one of the millions of orphans in her country struggling under limited resources to provide help. As the eldest, she would become head of her household and mother to her little brother—at 13 years old! She was responsible for balancing school, avoiding dangerous people in her community seeking to use and abuse her, meeting her brother’s needs, and figuring out how to put food on the table—a young teenager scrambling to survive. Her heavy burden seemed impossible to carry. Grief, fear, and frustration turned into torrents of despair-filled tears. A heavy fog of hopelessness descended; her life was just beginning, and she was ready to quit. Where was God?

At 18 years of age, Ratanang desperately pleaded with her friend, a staff member at our orphan care center, to help her join our staff team. To her great surprise, our manager hired her! When we met Rati (the nickname we now lovingly call her), we immediately fell in love with her infectious humor, candid demeanor, and radiant smile! Rati’s sweet spirit and passion are invaluable as she relates to our children with gentleness and a genuine understanding of their life circumstances and emotional journeys. Eight years ago, she walked through our doors needing rescue, and today she is rescuing others, leading our teens to the hope she has found. It is a privilege to have Rati on our team; she is an integral part of our Kerus family!

Now married and a mom of two beautiful girls, one might not realize at first how challenging Rati’s life has been and continues to be. But love changes our perspective; the once fearful and sad teenager’s eyes today reflect confidence and purpose. We have loved Rati, prayed with her, and walked with her through several challenging issues. In 2015, her young daughter was hit by a drunk driver and almost killed. After many overwhelming months in the hospital and several surgeries, her daughter’s scar-filled legs still show the horror of that afternoon. But the miracle to witness is her daughter playing on the playground, walking and running like other children! She defied all odds by the touch of God. We are so grateful!

A year later, Rati’s husband, a policeman, was off-duty and in a barber shop when gang members came in to rob the place. He dove to the floor to hide, knowing he and all inside would likely be killed if he was recognized. A gun went off! The bullet meant for someone else ricocheted off the floor and pierced her husband’s belly. He survived, but there were long months of surgeries and doctor visits again. And, just last year, Rati was a victim of an armed robbery in the township. Life in the township is so hard! But Rati has a whole new perspective.

Deep shame and discouragement were constant companions of Rati’s. She believed that bad things happened to her because God was angry and disappointed with her behavior. Haven’t you felt that way before? Her view of God was about performing to appease God instead of having a loving relationship with Him. Bad events are perceived as HIS way of punishing us for other things. Through a staff study of the book, The Good and Beautiful God, by James Bryan Smith, Rati realized her view of God wasn’t the truth about God. God wasn’t punishing her; He was walking with her through those hard things.

Rati would tell you that for years she struggled with feelings of abandonment and the stigma associated with being labeled an “orphan.” A few years ago, during a discipleship training retreat for our staff, we had taught about what it meant to be “adopted” into the family of God. Our Father God, Abba, not only loves us but gives us privileges and authority as HIS children. He calls us His own. During a quiet time of praying and reflecting, our vivacious Rati began to weep and weep. Her group patiently waited, and then she burst with emotion. All she could say was, “He (meaning God) said I’m not an orphan anymore! He said I’m not an orphan anymore!” Rati was finally free; the reassuring voice of her Father called her HIS own! Most recently, after overcoming the dangers of ongoing illness and a high-risk pregnancy, God has blessed Rati with a sweet and healthy baby girl! And through it all, the hard times or blessings, she gives thanks. The once frightened teenager, full of heartache, fear, and shame, is now confidently rescuing others, offering gifts of grace and invitations to intimately know Jesus. Her life is full and purposeful. Please pray for Rati and other heroes like her worldwide who follow Jesus under the weight of poverty’s unique challenges. Bearing the scars of the journey, their stories of courage and finding hope will reap a legacy of “Jesus followers” touching the lives of others for generations.

Many years ago, we were invited by God to share the message of His great love for humankind. We are privileged to be invited into the stories of others; to witness love’s extravagant ability to bring forth rivers of living waters in parched souls is amazing! Our heavenly Father will invite you too! Respond! Whether abroad or in your neighborhood, small or big steps forward with Him are life-giving and life-saving! Expect radical change in you and through you. Jesus’ love will spill over, again and again, to transform lives like Ratanang’s forever!

To learn more about how you can be involved, visit our website @ www.kerusglobal.org.