Christmas Gift of Hope on Wheels Means Family No Longer Suffers From Hunger

Gospel for Asia (GFA) News, Wills Point, TX

A bicycle can literally change the course of someone’s life. In Asia bicycles are a major form of transportation. The two-wheeled machine can often save hours of travel time, enabling much more productivity to the user.

One of our favorites gifts to give impoverished people in Asia are bicycles. Whether that be for a school-going child or a hard-working dad, we have seen how these simple tools have amazing effects. In Gospel for Asia (GFA) 2016 Special Report, there’s a story about a man named Tosa who received a bicycle through the kindness of donors and supporters across the globe.

Here’s a snippet:

Tosa was known as the poorest man in his village. Though Tosa and his wife both worked as much as they could, they were barely scraping by. If they couldn’t work, they didn’t eat that day.

Tosa knew that if he could get to the city, he would find better work and be able to feed his family. But there was a problem: His family owned only one bicycle, and his children needed it to get to school each day. There were no other means of transportation he could afford. So he stayed in his village—sometimes walking by foot to nearby villages—looking for work so his family could live.

Doors Begin to Open

Whenever Gospel for Asia-supported pastor Gobi visited Tosa’s village, he made it a point to check in with Tosa and his family. As they saw the genuine love and care Gobi had for them, they decided they wanted to learn more about Jesus, the One who deeply loved the world.

Christmas Give Brings Hope on Wheels

When Pastor Gobi organized a Christmas gift distribution, he requested that Tosa be added to the list of recipients. Two months later, Tosa was presented with a bicycle. With this useful gift, Tosa traveled to the city and began to earn a better living. Soon his family could enjoy three meals a day, and he was even able to purchase more clothing for his family, including school uniforms for his children.

Breakthroughs in the Village

As Tosa and his family’s lives began to transform, the villagers watched them closely. Slowly others’ hearts began to soften. Their ideas about Pastor Gobi and God began to change. The villagers began to take the literature Pastor Gobi offered, and they read it with curiosity. They have begun to ask Pastor Gobi for prayer when they are sick or in need of peace.

Can you imagine being in Tosa’s shoes?

He no longer has to helplessly stand by watching his family suffer from hunger. This thoughtful gift made such an impact on Tosa’s family that now their village has hope in the love of Christ.

It is pretty amazing to watch the Lord work through practical things like a bike. The compassion of Jesus is alive today as it motivates us to action when we see someone suffering. And Tosa’s life is living proof of that unending compassion.

=====
Click here, to read more blogs on Patheos from Gospel for Asia.

Go here to know more about Gospel for Asia: GFA.net | GFA Wiki | GFA Flickr