"Mommy, she's crying"

Story of a little MK

Far away in a valley among the snow-capped mountains of Central Asia, a troubled woman sobbed. She tried to hide her tears, but a little child, an MK quietly approached and stroked the woman's wet cheek. "Auntie, why are you sad?" she asked in Russian. The woman had no answers for one so young. Troubled now, the child ran to her refuge. "Mommy, she's crying. Please help her." The missionary mother sat close, coaxing a sad but familiar story from the sobbing woman.

In this Muslim area of the world, part of the former Soviet Union, abortion is a routine method of birth control. It is not unusual for a married woman to have seven or eight abortions. The fact is that even happily married couples are impoverished by years of Communism, living in one-room homes shared by scores of relatives. It wasn't that the pregnant wife didn't want her new baby. The young couple treasured the dream of a second child-someday. Perhaps in two years when they had enough money. But the husband had made it clear that a child now was impossible. The only option--a common one for women who can not afford costly birth control--an abortion.

The missionary whispered words of hope. "Eva, God created this life. He wants this baby to live. I know you don't believe God exists, but He does, and He cares about you. He loves this baby. Please, don't do anything for a week."

"My appointment is on Friday," Eva replied.

"One week, please." The missionary reached for the small, trusting hand of her daughter. They walked away, her next question echoing behind them. "Mommy, what's an abortion?"

On Friday afternoon, Eva said, "I just couldn't go through with it. I want this baby, but I don't know what to do."

This time, the missionary was able to smile in the face of Eva's despair. She had set in motion a call for help. The WIN offices called supporting churches and friends, telling the story. Their response was remarkable. Christians in America pledged enough money to support a baby for two years. By then, Eva and her husband would be able to provide for the baby themselves.

"Why would they do this for us?" Eva asked.. "They don't even know us. They've never even seen us."

"No, and they probably never will, but that doesn't matter. They believe God creates life, and God wants your baby to live. They care because God cares."

For the next two years, Eva was haunted by the faceless people who believed so strongly in a God who cares that she couldn't resist His appeal. The friendship between Eva and the missionary grew. Their conversations were now about this God of the Bible.

Eva gave birth to a beautiful blond-haired, blue-eyed boy who is the delight of his parents. Eva watched as he grew and sometimes played with the little MK who found her crying that day two years before--the day that began a change in her life.

One day the missionary planned a special luncheon, taking God at His word, "Even a cup of water in my name ... the truth will make you free ... be not weary in well doing, for in due season you will reap ... I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it." A national believer used the spiritual vocabulary of the ethnic language necessary to lead a person from darkness into light. In that moment, in a former Communist land, three women bowed their heads and Eva prayed to receive Christ as Savior. While we in the West slept, missionaries faithfully reaped a harvest, one at a time. This time two lives were saved. First a child rescued from destruction, then a woman snatched from darkness into eternal light and hope.

Often, in restricted access countries, words of the Savior are whispered quietly, not shouted from the street corners. However, no government can stop the building of relationships, responses to needs, living in such a way that Christlike actions draw people to the Lord. Many countries have closed their doors to missionaries, but as long as people are willing to go drying tears in Christ's name, the door cannot be shut to the Gospel.

Back to Top	Respond to this Article Email Article to a Friend Print this Article