Fardoma says: When I was 19 years old, I got married in an arranged marriage to a man I didn't even know because my parents and his parents wanted it. I had 3 children in our marriage.
My life became more and more difficult. We lived in a room in a small house that belonged to my husband's grandfather.
When I told my husband that I wanted to live separately, he always said that his grandfather didn't agree, and that was that. In the family he grew up in, the elderly were in charge, so he felt he couldn't decide anything for himself. Everything was decided for him by his mother and grandfather, because they were the elders.
My mother-in-law was always unhappy with me and my husband's grandfather constantly blamed me and often insulted me with obscene words. Once he started hitting me because I accused him of harassing my daughter. My daughter said that at night when she was sleeping in her grandmother's room, grandpa would come and sleep next to her and touch her. I wanted to report him to the police, but first I told my husband about this incident, but he did not believe it. He started defending my grandfather, saying that it was necessary to be silent and not to speak up as it would bring shame to his grandfather.
After this incident, his grandfather became even more angry with me, so I had to leave the house with my three children. I returned to my family, but my mother feared the neighbors' condemnation if they found out that I had left my husband, and she asked me to return to my husband, but I did not want to.
The love of local Christians surprised Fardoma
But then I heard from some friends about the House of Hope (Danish European Mission's partner, ed.) that might be able to help. I approached them with the children for help. I got a fantastic reception when I arrived at the women's shelter. The warmth, love and interest in helping me was very overwhelming for me. I was given temporary housing and psychological help. I found at that time that I could not control my emotions and often cried as I experienced pain, fear and hatred for my husband and his family.
The leader at the shelter talked to me a lot about God's grace and love, and after a month I began to want to attend a service at their church. When the pastor spoke about faith and repentance, my heart was pricked and I had a great desire to receive the message of Jesus. I asked him to forgive my sins and help me forgive those who I had something against.
My mother-in-law yelled at me that I had betrayed Islam and was a disgrace to the family
I started going to church every Sunday and attending one of the church's home groups. Six months later, I returned to my family and forgave my husband and his grandfather. But when they learned that I had become a Christian, my mother-in-law was very angry. She shouted at me that I had betrayed Islam and was a disgrace to the family. She turned her husband against me and then I left their house.
A few months ago I was baptized and since then my faith in the Lord Jesus has grown even stronger. I now trust completely in God's love and grace. Despite all life circumstances, my life has now started going in a completely new direction. I have experienced God's miracles in my life. I have a good apartment, my children are in a good kindergarten. I have a good job where I can support us. I understand that everything is possible for God and he used the Christians at the shelter as his tool to work in my life and help me. I thank God for his servants and those who pray.
Facts and figures
Since 2012, the Danish European Mission's donors have supported the shelter, Hope House, in the predominantly Muslim country. It consists of two shelters where vulnerable women can find a safe place to stay. There is also a job training center where the women learn to sew, make jewelry and cook in cafés and catering businesses so they can earn money in a positive way in the future.
The women are typically victims of domestic violence, prostitutes and trafficked women. They also receive counseling, medical and legal assistance as needed.
