Changed Lives
Mukti is all about kids. Jesus loved children:
“Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.” Matthew 19:13-15
Our Lord’s passion is Mukti’s passion. Children are rescued from devastating poverty and oftentimes intense tragedy. Physical needs are met, a caring home provided and education given as the good news of Christ is lovingly woven throughout. Below are a few stories of lives that were changed or are in the process of being changed. We share these with praise to God for He, and He alone, is the One who is able to grant forgiveness, transform lives, energize hope and provide assurance for eternal life.
Tiny Praisey's Health Improves at Mukti
Mukti’s nursery babies capture hearts like no others. A tiny baby girl recently was carried to Mukti’s front gate according to God’s orchestrating Hand. Someone dubbed her Praisey and the pet name has stuck. At four months, weighing only two kilograms, Praisey has a cleft palate and is being fed through a tube in her nose. When she eats, her eyebrow raises and lowers as she swallows. Surgery is needed when she gains more weight and is a little older. Like babies around the world, she loves to be held and there are many loving arms at Mukti to indulge her! Won’t you pray with us for her to gain weight and strength so the surgery can be performed?
Kiran is Rescued After Being Orphaned by AIDS
Kiran (middle) now thrives at Mukti
Can you imagine what your life may have been like had both your father and mother died of AIDS when you were only 5? That’s exactly what happened to Kiran. As if that wasn’t horrible enough, Kiran’s family lived in the slums of Mumbai in deplorable circumstances.
An aunt, who lived in the same slums, took her in but, cruelly, she died from the same dread disease when Kiran turned 11. A Christian doctor who visits AIDS patients in the Mumbai slums brought Kiran to Mukti.
At admission time, Kiran’s head was covered with open, oozing sores. The doctor had to shave her head to treat the parasites. But her emotional wounds were much deeper than the physical ones. Bonding with her houseparents and ‘sisters’ in Mukti’s Lotus Family, Kiran now has begun to heal.
Although she came from a staunch non-Christian background, as she learned more about Jesus and the Bible, she came to believe in Him. She trusted in Jesus as her Savior and is memorizing portions of the Word. A door of hope has opened for Kiran.
Mangulu is Lifted Out of Illiteracy & Idolatry
Mangulu (red shirt) shortly after graduating college
I come from a primitive village where my mother and father worshipped hundreds of gods as well as practicing animism and the occult. Many times they consulted shamans who scared us with threats of what angry spirits could do. My parents were illiterate and very poor.
A team of people would come to our village and share about the love of God. The villagers would assemble in an open space and this team would speak about a Person named Jesus Christ. We would listen and ask questions.
This team directed us to Mukti’s expansion home in our state. Although my father had no education, he longed for me to have one. He felt I had potential and wanted me to have success.
When I first arrived in the Home, things felt beyond strange to me. There was no god-shelf or statues, no candles or incense for worship. Weren’t these people afraid of what the spirits might do to them? Instead they had glowing faces of joy and their attitudes were positive. They taught us all about the Bible and more about this Jesus that the team had spoken of.
Five years passed in the Home but I was still far from Jesus. I had been steeped in the practices of my family. When a time of trial came, I cried out to the Lord Jesus and He rescued me. I felt like the lost lamb on Jesus’ shoulders that He had rescued!
I asked Jesus into my heart to be my Savior, repenting of my sins. I really began to grow in my faith. My family saw big changes in me. Remarkably, they have all come to faith in Him, too. When they refused to worship other gods and to take part in such village practices any more, they began to face severe persecution. Finally they were driven from the village. Please pray for my family’s safety, that they will stay strong and not turn back.
With praise to God, I recently received my degree in Bachelor of Pharmacy. I can only thank the Lord with a heart full of gratitude to Him, to Mukti Mission and to my Mukti houseparents. I praise God that He has chosen me to bear fruit for His glory. Pray I will walk closely with Him and that His plans will be accomplished in my life.
Rutuka’s story
Now with Jesus: Karuna
Abandoned by her parents at age 11 on a dirty railroad platform, all alone and unable to communicate due to cerebral palsy and paralyzing fear, Karuna found a home of refuge at Mukti Mission. Staff members and residents embraced Karuna with caring. Nourishing food and physical therapy provided strength and allowed her to walk with a walker for some time, although a wheelchair was later required.
Karuna was a shining reflection of the Lord's love & joy.
How she responded to attention and loving-kindness! Her face often glowed with a radiant, contagious smile. With praise to God, she trusted in Jesus as her Savior. Wonderfully, she was able to forgive her parents and prayed that they—wherever they were—would hear of Jesus and trust in Him.
Later, cancer was found in Karuna’s twisted body. She died in Mukti Hospital on February 14, 2011, at the age of only 23. Although her brief earthly life entailed much suffering, God had His Hand on His child. Karuna has now entered into the very presence of her loving Savior. Her transformation is perfected and her healing complete for Eternity.
Kashay Aahay? (Are you okay?)
by Diviya Koshy [edited]
“Didi, may I come in?”
It was bedtime. Payal stood at the door clutching her bedroll. Salomi had been expecting her. Salomi [Sah loh’ mee] is the guardian of the Sunflower Family and Payal [Peye’ uhl] is one of the little girls in the family.
Payal has been regularly waking in the night, screaming from nightmares, awakening the rest of the children, too. However, when she sleeps with Salomi, the incidents are noticeably fewer. As she patted her bedroll down just so, she knelt, closed her eyes and prayed.
“Kashay aahay, Payal?” (Marathi for: Are you okay, Payal?) Salomi inquired.
“Ho, Didi,” (Yes, Beloved big sister.) Payal answered.
Salomi who had not been feeling well at all that day said, “But I am not well.” Payal looked at her questioningly. “Will you pray for me?”
Without hesitating, Payal jumped up, laid her hands on Salomi and began to pray to Yeshuappa (Father Jesus) for the healing and strengthening of her beloved guardian. What a girl!
Payal has come to life at Mukti
Salomi recalled that when she first arrived at Mukti just a few months earlier, Payal was afraid of her. Salomi was from a different Indian state and didn’t speak Marathi, Payal’s language, the language spoken in Maharashtra. In just those few months and a smattering of Marathi later, Salomi had won her over: now Payal calls her, Maaza didi (MY big sister).
Sweety, Payal’s sister, is also part of the Sunflower Family. Soon another sister hopefully will become part of the family, too. Their mother, abandoned by her husband, was depressed and suicidal. Who knows what ghosts of the past trouble Payal and trigger her terrible nightmares? Children too young to understand their traumas are nonetheless profoundly affected by them. Salomi and her housemother are trusting the Lord for deep healing in her life.
Payal is growing into a smart young girl. Salomi enjoys teaching her about Jesus and the Bible. She absorbs lessons like a sponge.
The biggest difficulty? Keeping her occupied! When given something to do, she finishes in a blink.
It’s a joy to watch how tiny hearts open up with little, loving acts. Payal loves bananas. She has figured out the days when Salomi gets bananas and inevitably appears at her door inquiring: “Didi??? Banana???”
One of the best moments of Salomi’s day is when Payal wakes up. The first thing Payal does is to look over at her with a huge grin and say, “Good morning, Didi!”
Yes, a day couldn’t begin better.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deut. 6:5-7
To Know Her is to Love Her
If you spend more than two days at Mukti, it would be hard to miss the diminutive octogenarian in her light colored sari and cloth shoulder bag as she glides across the campus. Her radiant smile embraces everyone who catches her eye, as she welcomes, “Hello! How are you today?”
She sincerely loves people. Possessing a buoyant sense of humor, her characteristic giggle lies just beneath the surface, waiting for any small opportunity to bubble out.
Who is this delightful sprite? She’s Mukti’s beloved Suwerna-Akka. Being brought to Mukti at the tender age of six months, Suwerna grew up in Mukti, came to Jesus at the age of 12 and has literally poured out her life for her Savior serving in dozens of ways at and with the Mission.
Suwerna is continually on the move for the Lord
Her passion is sharing the love and message of Christ. Jesus has revolutionized her life and her greatest joy is to introduce Him to others. For decades she served as a ‘Bible woman’ in villages surrounding Mukti. She also ministered as a housemother, adult literacy teacher, Bible teacher and discipler. She still teaches Bible study courses and Sunday School regularly, conducts morning prayers for the Mukti farm and maintenance workers every Wednesday and travels every Thursday to Supa village to the expansion home there to minister. Her schedule would keep those much younger than she huffing and puffing!
Suwerna thanks the Lord for the many years of joyful ministry He has privileged her and longs to honor Him to her final breath on earth. She knows her eternal, heavenly home, prepared just for her by her Heavenly Father, awaits her. Hallelujah!