Your short & sweet Wednesday Soundbite from Wesleyan Women
Asha was recommended to be a part of the first cohort of 10 women currently enrolled in the Women’s Empowerment Training funded by Wesleyan Women’s Heart of Ministry Offering. Asha is 20 years old and comes from the impoverished Dhading district of Nepal where the literacy rate for women like her is 33.81%.
Asha was born into a Hindu family, but a few years ago a preacher came to her village and, that very day, she became the first and only Christian in her village. Although she had support from her mother, the rest of the village, including her own father, hated her. Asha remembers praying for courage and strength. After one year, an elderly woman in her village became ill and Asha read Bible verses and prayed for her… and she was healed! Then many of the sick in the village came to be prayed over and were also healed.
Surprised by the transformation in Asha’s character, even her father eventually became a Christian, along with her whole family. The small group of believers grew to 25 people and a fellowship was started in Asha’s home. After 3 years, they built a small church and Asha is now the lay leader of this church of 40 members. During the earthquake last year, her family’s house collapsed. A year later, her family is still residing in a tent.
Right now, Asha is in Kathmandu participating in 5 months of training while her sister oversees their church in Dahding. This program is Asha’s first formal Biblical education. She is very active in class, always smiles and loves talking to people. She spends her mornings studying Scripture and her afternoons learning vocational skills like sewing and knitting. She is excited to return to her village after her training in Kathmandu so that she can teach vocational skills like sewing, knitting, candle making and life skills like personal health and human trafficking awareness. She is also committed to teaching Bible lessons in her church.
Click here to see all the women currently participating in the Empowerment Program.
To learn more about the Heart of Ministry Offering and to give go here.
Interviewed by: Linda Caringal
The Wesleyan Church
PO Box 50434
Indianapolis, Indiana 46250 United States
(317) 774-3888
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