Getting Their Hands Dirty to Share Jesus

"We decided to express our love for the citizens of this country by doing some social work," wrote Gospel for Asia's correspondent in Calcutta (Kolkata), India. This "social work" involved a team of GFA-supported missionaries taking on cleaning tasks at a local hospital—tasks that would normally be reserved for members of the lowest caste. The team decided to take on this monumental job in honor of India's Independence Day, celebrated August 15.

By cleaning out clogged ditches that also served as sewage drains, trimming lawns and clearing garbage piles that had been left for months, the team vividly showed Jesus' love. And the hospital staff and patients clearly saw what they were conveying.

"The eyes and faces of all the patients and their relatives have expressed a deep sense of relaxation after having seen this," a Kolkata newspaper reported.

While the men on the GFA team cleaned outside, the women missionaries visited patients inside, handing out Gospel tracts and distributing little boxes of snacks. As they talked to the patients, they prayed with many of them. They also cleaned inside the hospital, leaving it smelling fresh and clean for the patients to enjoy as they read their tracts about God's love for them.

"Their wholehearted work soon caught the attention of those around," wrote GFA's correspondent. "In fact, those watching could not stand silent without applauding their work for society."

One of those people watching was a political leader. He could barely believe the missionaries' willingness to clean the filthiest areas where even paid cleaning employees refused to work. He asked several reporters to come and see the Christians' service for their people. A prominent newspaper in Kolkata featured the team's service.

Even the hospital superintendent was touched by the team's service. The hospital staff said that the deep cleaning not only made things look better, but it would also help prevent the spread of infectious diseases—a serious problem during the summer rainy season.

The GFA team members plan to do more of this kind of community service in the future, building relationships and clearly showing their desire to care for and help their people.

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