The leaders of the church knew a wonderful young man named Simon who would be a perfect match for Martha. In India most marriages are arranged, including in the church. The only hitch was that Simon lived in the neighboring country of Bangladesh. India and Bangladesh have a very tumultuous history so for Martha, moving to Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, would involve some serious cultural adjustments.
Bangladesh is a Muslim country. It is even poorer than India. Martha is a courageous young woman and she couldn’t resist the opportunity to train in an exciting mission field as well as marry the young man she agreed to spend her life with.
Simon and Martha are now leading the church in Dhaka. They have two young children. The country is constantly torn apart by riots, strikes, and violence. Every single political leader of that country has ended up assassinated. Everyday commodities are not always available. The pollution, the noise, the heat, the traffic, are all very overwhelming.
Martha left her family behind in her home country. She has now made Bangladesh her home. She is known for her hard work, dedication, and constant smile. She accomplishes in one day what would take most people there days to complete. She is like the woman of noble character in Prov 31.
A year ago HOPE Worldwide started a Center of Hope on the outskirts of Dhaka. Simon and Martha started leading that center. Every morning they leave early and make the long arduous trip to the industrial deprived area right outside Dhaka. They run a school and a vocational training center, catering to the needs of the children and family members of the garment factory workers. These are very deprived communities steeped in tradition.
Martha is making good use of her training as a teacher. Since she is very tall compared to other women she is known by the nickname of “Boro miss”, which means, “Big miss”. The children are thriving under her care. In the evening she makes the long trip back home. She arrives dusty, sweaty, and tired. She has a quick wash and then takes care of her family and the needs of the ministry.
The HOPE center has been so successful that a second center was inaugurated in a nearby area this month. Now Simon and Martha run two Centers of Hope. Martha has trained another principal to run the second school. Each center caters to hundreds of people.
Martha also continues to lead the women of the Dhaka church while working full time for HOPE and raising her two young children. She is a woman of courage. Her resilient spirit is typical of the women of this wonderful part of the world, South Asia, which includes, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, etc. Let us be inspired and called higher by our sisters around the world who live in challenging conditions yet tirelessly give of themselves.
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