The Many Blessings of a Cow

A dilemma lay before Rajvi and her husband, Parash: either sell their cows — a significant part of their livelihood — or endure sicknesses without medicine. Ultimately, Rajvi and Parash sold their cows, but the consequences of that decision would haunt them for years to come.

Much like the cow with this woman pictured, the cow Rajvi and Parash received at a Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported gift distribution blessed their family in significant ways, providing milk to sell or drink and manure to fertilize their crops.

A Family in Need

Rajvi and Parash lived as farmers along with their four young children in a rural Asian village. After illness forced them to sell their cows — a primary source of money for farmers like them across Asia — just to afford medical care, their income suffered. Rajvi and Parash took up any labor jobs they could find in tandem with farming. Yet still, the money the couple earned couldn’t feed the entire family. Each passing day, poverty tightened its grip around the family.

Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor Mairava, serving in the local village, knew of Rajvi and Parash’s struggles. The family was part of his church, having attended services for quite some time. But Pastor Mairava didn’t know how he could help them.

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