Bad Reputation

“There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing, and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.” Hosea 4:2, NAS.

Bonnie’s* village had a bad reputation. In the area, it was often said that if your farm animal turned up missing it had likely been taken to Bonnie’s village. A group of rich Christian women had started visiting the village to show Christ’s love by doing acts of service. Their own Muslim people didn’t like them, so the reason behind Christians showing them love was a mystery. Bonnie began spending time with a Christian woman named Joy. Joy was a doctor’s wife.

One evening as they were washing dishes together, Joy asked Bonnie, “What is paradise to you?” Bonnie responded about having lots of food, beauty, and money. Joy shared the Gospel using an evangi-cube. Bonnie prayed to receive Jesus right then. For the next three years, Joy worked at discipling Bonnie.

Bonnie dreamed about becoming a nurse so she could provide medical care to serve her people. Joy and her husband agreed to sponsor her schooling. In the course of her education, Bonnie helped a lot of people in the community. As she helped she shared the Gospel that had changed her life. Fifteen women from her village accepted Christ’s offer of salvation. All of them are currently working abroad as nannies and maids for foreign families.

Tragedy struck while Joy and her husband were on vacation. Bonnie developed a cyst on her face. She tried to get medical care, but the prejudice against her people and her poverty resulted in the government hospital’s delay in giving her treatment. By the time Joy and her family returned the infection from the cyst had spread to Bonnie’s brain. She died shortly after that.

The year of Bonnie’s death, Joy had asked a favor. She said, “Bonnie, can I give you a hug?” Bonnie agreed. As Joy embraced her, tears flowed down Bonnie’s cheeks.

Joy was afraid she had offended her dear friend, but Bonnie said, “You are the first person to treat me like I was precious. You are the first person in my whole life to make me feel loved.”

Joy was heartbroken over Bonnie’s death. As she mourned with the family, God began to open the hearts of Bonnie’s brothers and sisters. Her brother said, “What Bonnie has started, we will finish.”

Joy’s connection to the community is deeper than ever, and she believes that Bonnie’s death will not be in vain. Instead, the seeds she planted will result in many more from her village coming to know Christ. Just before Bonnie became sick, she had cleared a plot for one of her aunts. Little did she know that she was preparing her own burial plot. While Joy still mourns deeply for Bonnie, she also celebrates, because Bonnie is one of the first from her people group to be in heaven. Joy imagines what it must have been like for Bonnie when Jesus gave her a hug in heaven and fully revealed to her just how precious and loved she really is!

*Names changed for security reasons

Pray that:

All of Bonnie’s family will become followers of Jesus.

Joy will continue to boldly show the love of Jesus to Bonnie’s people.

A rapidly reproducing church will be established among the more than one million population that makes up Bonnie’s people group.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.