The Ram family owns a store in the neighborhood near our offices. We lived near here when we were at the guesthouse for 10 days between houses and frequented their store. We found out they were next door neighbors to our guesthouse and some of our friends found out their daughters were interested in the Gospel, but the parents did not want their daughters to study.
One night the daughters came over to the guesthouse and these friends of ours spent hours with them, playing cards, eating, and finally reading the Bible and discussing passages! We prayed for our friend's interaction with this family... but then we moved away into our new house.
However, today, as we brought one of our volunteer groups back to the guesthouse, the mother of the family saw us and invited our family inside their home. We spent some time with them today - they prepared chicken for us (meat is expensive here) - and juice. The girls were given cookies. We spent time getting to know them and were able to shine some of the light of Christ.
The eldest daughter is very interested in Jesus, but her husband does not want to stop believing in their idols. She says it breaks her heart that in her mother-in-law's home she is required to maintain the puja room (worship room with family idols, incense, candles, and more) One of her prayer requests was that her husband would believe. We were able to counsel her with Biblical perspectives on Marriage and troubled extended family relationships - (like most married women, she lives with her mother-in-law).
When we ended up leaving, we asked permission, and then prayed in the name of Jesus. We prayed for another daughter (who had been in a motorcycle accident and had a bandaged knee and foot. We prayed blessings for their business (which is struggling because a chain store opened next door), We prayed for relationships to be better with the eldest daughter and her mother in law... and all of this within 10 feet of their 'puja' room where their family idols were hidden from our view behind a curtain. Join us in praying for the Ram family - that the light of Christ shining over and over in their lives makes a difference. God's word will not return void! Praise him for bringing us into contact with people he has already been drawing to himself!