Image above: Iranian woman - for security reasons we cannot show a picture of Rana.
Rana says: Books gave me joy and a place to escape to. My biggest wish was to go to school and get a good education. But my family had other plans.
Rana's husband cheated on her
When I was 14, my dreams of studying were shattered when my father married me off to an older man. I had no say in the decision. My marriage was terrible. After just 17 days of marriage, I discovered that my husband had entered into a "temporary marriage" with another woman. I was devastated. I sank into depression and our marriage devolved into an endless series of arguments. I started drinking and hurting myself to forget the pain I was feeling.
Read about Jesus' forgiveness
I also read one book after another. Through the books I could escape from my life for a while. In one of the books I read something incredible: Jesus came into the world to forgive our sins. There was something about that thought that spoke directly to my heart. I simply could not let it go. I didn't know anything about the Bible - at the time I didn't even have a Bible. But I became convinced that Jesus could forgive all my sins. And somehow I also knew that if Jesus had forgiven me, then I had to forgive my husband for everything he had done. Then one night I dreamt that Jesus welcomed me into his family. I was so happy and it made me determined to find a Bible.
Then one night I dreamt that Jesus welcomed me into his family. I was so happy, and it made me determined to find a Bible Rana
Pictured right: Although risky, Rana brings Bibles back to Iran whenever she goes abroad.
As soon as I managed to find a copy of the Bible and bring it home, our lives began to change. I gave up alcohol and cigarettes. My thoughts of self-harm disappeared. I even started to care about my husband.
Became part of the underground church
After a while I had the opportunity to meet another Christian and she asked me a strange question: "Do you believe that Jesus is Lord?". I had never heard that question before, but I knew it was true. Through my new friend, God opened a door for me to join a house church. And my faith grew through the teaching. I shared the good news with my husband and he was also thirsty to hear more.
I thank God that he has now also come to faith. Our lives are so different now. His temporary marriage with the other woman has ended and now he is faithful to me. Today, I can finally pursue my love for books and studies. Whenever I have the opportunity to go to Elam's Christian conferences in countries close to Iran, I take the opportunity to get more wonderful Christian books. At the last conference, I bought 20 new books to immerse myself in.
My thoughts of self-harm disappeared. I even started to care about my husband Rana
Of course, taking Christian books and Bibles back to Iran is risky, but for me it's always worth the risk. My father stole my dreams of studying when I was a child, but now I have a great opportunity to study, learn more about Jesus and share what I have learned with others," concludes Rana.
You can help ensure that people like Rana can get a Bible and grow in the brand new life they have gained through faith in Jesus. Thank you so much on behalf of the Iranian Christians for every gift to the persecuted church in Iran.
