The countries of Central Asia are not well known in the West. But God knows them. God sees every single person in Central Asia and wants them to experience His love.
Gulya's husband beat her while she was pregnant and the baby died
One of them is Gulya. She contacted the Danish European Mission's partner organization when she found herself in an unfortunate situation. For security reasons, we cannot write which country she lives in.
Her first husband had thrown her out of the house. Gulya married for the second time according to Muslim law (nikah). The new husband was cruel to Gulya, and even though she was pregnant, he beat her often. As a result of regular beatings, the child she was expecting died.
As this was her second marriage, she endured all these blows. In the local culture, it is very shameful for a woman to get divorced.
When Gulya was six months into her second pregnancy with her second husband, he beat her severely. He demanded that she abort the baby. Gulya wouldn't agree, so he gave her a religious divorce (talaq) and threw her out of the house.
A helping hand
Since September 2021, the couple has not lived together, and in January 2022, she gave birth to their son Ibrahim. Our partner organization arranged for her to get a lawyer so that her rights and interests could be secured and protected. Her case went before a judge who ruled that the husband was the father of the child and had to pay alimony.
Gulya didn't just get legal help. She also got a safe place to stay at a shelter.
The shelter's Christian housewife took care of Gulya. The housewife encouraged her from the Bible, prayed with her and supported her. Gulya was very open to being prayed for. Gulya was happy for pastoral care, where she could also pray with a Christian woman.
Today, Gulya lives with her parents in the countryside. We don't know if Gulya has become a Christian, but the message of Jesus is planted like a seed in her heart.
Help for vulnerable women
On average, it costs DKK 700 to help a battered, prostituted or trafficked woman. In some cases, like Gulyas, the cost of a lawyer must be added to this.
If necessary, in addition to shelter and counseling, the women also receive job training. Through cooking courses, jewelry making courses and sewing courses, they gain qualifications so they can apply for permanent jobs or start their own business.
Please pray for local Christians in Central Asia who are reaching out to battered, prostituted and trafficked women. They have challenges of their own, but God's call burns in their hearts to reach out to vulnerable women. The project can also be supported financially.
