[Field Story] Shout for joy of eternal salvation, Afghanistan

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Hi! I'm Hannah, an Afghan refugee living in Pakistan. I grew up in Afghanistan in a strong Islamic family and have been a devout Muslim all my life. I still read and learn the Quran, I memorize the Hadith by heart, and I send my 5 children to a school where they learn the Quran, and I make sure that they keep their prayers, but also read the Quran whenever they have a chance.

When the Taliban came into our country, there was a lot of public opinion in favor of extremist Islam, and I was one of them, so I sent my sons to study in places where they were training, but the reality was that life under the Taliban was getting worse by the day, and they closed all the doors except for hospitals, banks, and made everyone sit at home. My husband, who was supposed to be the breadwinner, couldn't find work, so he was sitting at home more and more.

Seeing the Taliban's ruthless assaults and hunting down and killing people who were part of the previous Taliban government inspired me to flee to Pakistan.

Also, when my sister developed breast cancer and realized she couldn't get treatment here, we fled as a family to Pakistan. Myself, my five children and my husband, and my sister's two daughters and their husbands left Kabul at night, crossed illegally to the Kandahar border, and through a series of twists and turns ended up in Karachi.

It was here that I met a missionary who believed in Jesus and he prayed for me in the name of Jesus. I also met a man who prayed for my brother's illness and had the wonderful experience of having his prayers answered. They visited our home every week to share about Jesus Christ, and my brother and I tearfully accepted Jesus as we experienced the forgiveness of sins and salvation.

I asked the missionary to bring this gospel to my home and the gospel of Jesus was shared with me, but I have not yet accepted it. But thankfully, my family participates in the worship service that the missionary visits every week. I am enjoying the grace of thes ervices where we praise and pray to Jesus.

These days, I was able to find a job and work to earn a living. One day, my 19-year-old son went out to look for a job and didn't come back after two hours of traveling a distance that should have taken 30 minutes, so I searched and waited for him with tears in my eyes, worried. He had no visa and no phone, so when my mind was filled with anxiety, I prayed in the name of Jesus and went out again, and my son was right at my doorstep. I believe that the name of Jesus casts out all fear. I confess that I am not afraid, even if I shout it a thousand times. I realized that it is Jesus who hears my prayers.

Although life as a refugee is difficult, I am thankful that I have a job and that my children and husband are alive and well. Praise God for he led us away from Islam, which could not help or answer us, and God brought us to the real truth! May we never forget the sweetness of that salvation, relying only on Jesus, and pray that our families and our people living as refugees will also meet the Lord and receive new life!

I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths. (Psalm 86:12-13)

Hallelujah, Lord, we praise your power of salvation that saved Hannah and her family!

Thank you for being the eternal hope of Hannah's life when she could rely on nothing else. We confess that your grace in rescuing her from the depths of the pit, and has renewed her life, filling her with true joy and grace.

Now we pray that this grace will flow into Hannah's home. Fill Hannah's home with the excitement of the salvation that has saved them in God's timing, even though they may not yet believe and accepted it yet!

Allow them to no longer stumble through life as refugees and sufferers, but that they may be Your people who obey Your call as missionaries, not as refugees, and become

Your workers in perfecting Your eternal kingdom!

We lift up to You the Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Have compassion on these people who have been forced to flee their barren homeland and now realize that Jesus Christ alone is their savior, and raise them up as Jesus' people who cling to the cross! May they know that they have never been abandoned by You! May they realize Your holy will to make them a royal priesthood of Your holy nations, to fulfill Your will!