WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World and affiliates like Gospel for Asia Canada) founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan – Discussing Anesh and his family, the critical but common problem of not having a decent toilet, and the practical Gospel for Asia (GFA) gift of a toilet, which will give many the priceless gift of restored dignity.

Anesh and his family rubbed the sleepiness from their eyes as they assembled to make their morning trek into a thick, green forest. Tall trees surrounded them with hopeful privacy, but still, there was no telling what they would encounter that morning. Wild animals and lurking men made the daily morning journey a dreaded one, especially for women. But they had to relieve themselves, and the outdoors was their only option.

Toiling Without a Toilet

Anesh gathered his family around him. The family, who had just that morning made the embarrassing trek, joined together to do something about it: pray. They petitioned the Lord for a much-needed but impossible item—a toilet.

Anesh worked hard to bring in daily resources for his family. He had the responsibility of providing for six family members, and though he toiled, he could never make enough to build a toilet.

Anesh and his family loved Jesus, and they served faithfully in the church, growing strong in the love of the Lord. Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor Chamanlal shepherded them and also saw their needs. He encouraged Anesh and his family to pray in faith, believing God would answer their call for help.

A Critical but Common Problem

The need for proper toilets around the world and in Asia alone is staggering. According to WaterAid, approximately 2.3 million people around the world do not have a decent toilet. That’s one out of every three people. A startling statistic—one that Anesh and his family were a part of.

“During rainy season,” Anesh’s wife, Panita, said, “it was difficult to go to an open area for nature’s call. Being a woman, it is humiliating to do business in a public area. Sometimes, when people pass through, I would stand and felt so sad.”

A Need Not Unseen

But God was not distant from this family’s prayers. He knew their need well and worked through Pastor Chamanlal—and believers around the world—to answer those prayers.

As Pastor Chamanlal brought this family’s need to his leaders, he got permission and resources to build a toilet for the family through a Christmas gift distribution program.

Soon, instead of trees, solid cement walls would surround people; instead of bare ground, a toilet was installed. After the finishing touches of blue paint were complete, the newly constructed facility was handed over to Anesh and his family, right in his backyard!

This was a joyous day. Not only were they encouraged to witness God answering their prayers but after many long years, they also finally had a sanitation facility on their own property. They were very thankful to God, as well as to the church, for providing them this facility. Now, Anesh and his loved ones do not have to get up early in the morning, and they don’t have to fear wild animals.

A Toilet Changes a Village

After the construction of Anesh’s toilet, the villagers asked Pastor Chamanlal to build one for them too. Anesh and his family excitedly told the villagers how the church has concern for the people. The community grew positive toward the social services of the church and appreciative of Pastor Chamanlal. Some villagers even started attending prayer meetings.

With much joy and thankfulness to God, Anesh said, “I am grateful to God and to the church for their concern toward us. I do daily work, and I could not build a sanitation [facility] for my family. But thank God for the help from the church.”

Anesh’s mother, Onella, was grateful too.

“The toilet is safe and secure for the females,” she said. “I have been using the open area for many years, and I wished a lot to have our own by seeing others. But due to the lack of money, we could not make it. But I thank God and the church for their concern and the help.”

It’s That Simple

A simple useful gift like a toilet can change the lifestyle of an entire family and even an entire village. Because someone gave, Anesh’s family was blessed with something they otherwise would probably never have been be able to obtain on their own.

This year, for World Toilet Day on November 19, you can make a difference in the lives of precious people in Asia with the practical gift of a toilet, which will give many the priceless gift of restored dignity.

Learn how to help protect people’s health, prevent diseases and help cure illnesses through donating towards Medical Camps, Mosquito Nets and constructing Outdoor Toilets.

*Names of people and places may have been changed for privacy and security reasons. Images are Gospel for Asia stock photos used for representation purposes and are not the actual person/location, unless otherwise noted.

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World) founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan – Discussing Janya & her village, at risk from the absence of a toilet, & Gospel for Asia constructing outdoor toilets that bring relief & eternal hope to many.

As night fell, Janya and her daughter traipsed through the mud. They had waited all day, and they were tired of holding it. Finally, they found a place in the bushes where they could go to the bathroom.

Going out at night was never comfortable, especially when rains flooded the land during monsoon season. But they had no other private place to go to the bathroom. Janya and her family, along with almost everyone else in their village, had no toilet at home. That made it necessary for the villagers to find faraway places to relieve themselves at daybreak. But, like thousands of other women in Asia who desire privacy, Janya and her daughter would go in the evening, risking attack from wild animals—or callous men.

The lack of toilets in Janya’s village didn’t just pose safety risks; it was a health risk. Children often relieved themselves in the farm fields, contaminating public areas. As a result, many people grew ill with health conditions such as jaundice, cholera, polio and paralysis.

Janya and her family knew Jesus was watching over them as they traveled at night to relieve themselves. What’s more, He had given them eternal life—no dangers in the dark could steal that from them. But most of their fellow villagers didn’t have this security. Amidst their vulnerability to nighttime predators and to disease, they didn’t know there was a God who cared about them.

Family Gives Land for Toilet

The local Gospel for Asia (GFA) pastor, Vidur, understood the villagers’ struggle. He himself had been ministering in the area for more than 10 years. Knowing people’s lives were at risk whenever they used the fields as their toilet, he wished there were a way to help them.

Then he found out Gospel for Asia (GFA) had started a program to promote sanitation in underprivileged areas. Excited about the opportunity to help his community, he asked his leaders to build four toilets in the village.

That’s when Janya and her husband, Lalan, gladly offered some of their land for one toilet.

In January 2013, when the villagers saw a concrete outhouse rise out of the dusty ground, they poured out their gratitude to Pastor Vidur and the church.

“[This] saved the lives of people from illness,” shared one villager.

Even the village leader expressed thanks. “[The church] is always concerned about the need of people and works hard for a brilliant life for the community,” he said.

Now, instead of risking their safety while tromping through mud to find some bushes, Janya and her family walk to the concrete structure on their own property to use the restroom. From their house they can see others coming to use the much-needed facility, too.

Constructing Outdoor Toilets Leads Man to Church

Overjoyed to see people coming to his property to use the toilet, Lalan often has conversations with them.

One day Rana, Lalan’s relative, came by for a visit. When he saw the concrete structure, which bore a sign with the church’s name, he asked Lalan about it. Glad for an opportunity to share, Lalan told Rana about Jesus, the God who restores lives, and how the church longed to help bring restoration to the community through projects like constructing outdoor toilets.

A few days later, as Rana was watching one of his family members suffer with illness, he remembered Lalan’s words about Jesus’ power to heal.

He decided to visit Lalan’s church, where Pastor Vidur prayed for healing. When Rana went home, his family member was already healed. Now Rana joins the congregation for worship services each week, even though he lives about 50 miles away.

A Gift With Eternal Impact

Rana isn’t the only visitor who has been introduced to Jesus after seeing the toilet. The gift opened up conversations between Lalan and two other families, and they are now following Christ.

Through this gift, the health of Lalan’s family and their neighbors is improving, and they are much less likely to contract life-threatening illnesses. Most importantly, people who didn’t know Christ are learning about Him as they talk to a family that’s excited to proclaim His goodness.

Since the toilet on Lalan’s property was constructed, Pastor Vidur’s congregation has grown from 68 to 115 people, and Gospel for Asia (GFA) has been able to finish constructing outdoor toilets in three other parts of the village, so people will continue to hear about the God who cares about their safety, their health and, even more importantly, their souls.

You can help bring Christ’s love to more people in Asia by providing an outdoor toilet to a village like Lalan’s.

Give a Much Needed Toilet Today

*Names of people and places may have been changed for privacy and security reasons. Images are Gospel for Asia stock photos used for representation purposes and are not the actual person/location, unless otherwise noted.