Comfort in the Storm

My pace slowed as larger buildings appeared between the trees on the outskirts of town. I’d arrived in this village a few weeks earlier, yet everything still seemed so new. The vivid blue sky, the lush green surrounding me, and even the ruddy soil beneath my sandals made me pause to appreciate the beauty of this place.

“Are you lost?”

I turned toward the voice, spotting a young woman smiling at me from the steps of a tiny home. She repeated the question, and I returned her smile, thankful she spoke the common national language instead of the local dialect I’d only started learning.

“I’m not lost,” I said. “Just exploring.”

“There’s certainly a lot to discover. I’m Suriya and I’m new to the area. Are you a tourist?”

“No, I actually just moved here, too.” After I introduced myself, Suriya invited me to sit with her and enjoy a cup of tea.

As we sipped our drinks and enjoyed the gentle breeze, I learned Suriya was a refugee who was having to adapt to this new culture, too. We laughed over our many blunders, quickly bonded over our mutual struggle being so far from our loved ones, and shared about our families.

I teared up as Suriya told me about the conflict that had forced her to leave her home and how she had become separated from her family while fleeing. Yet, Suriya remained vibrant and hopeful that they would soon be reunited.

I hoped my teammates and I would be a wonderful surprise.

Just before I left that afternoon, Suriya said, “Please come back and see me again.”

Over the next few weeks, I returned whenever I wasn’t busy learning the local dialect.

One day, my Frontiers teammates and I were nearly to our language helper’s home when we received a message from her that she needed to cancel. We were all disappointed and stood in the dirt street trying to figure out what to do next.

Suddenly, Suriya came to my mind. I wasn’t sure why, but I sensed she might appreciate a visit during our unexpected free time.

“I know someone we could see. She doesn’t live far from here.”

After the team agreed, we rerouted to Suriya’s. I hoped my teammates and I would be a wonderful surprise.

She told us about a cyclone that had devastated the refugee camp where the rest of her family had been staying.

I almost didn’t recognize Suriya when she answered the door. Her eyes were pink and puffy, her usually sunny disposition shrouded in sadness.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, immediately reaching out to hug her.

“They died.” Suriya pulled away from me but left the door open so we could follow her into the living room.

I sat gently beside her on the couch, desperate to help but unsure how I could. “Do you want to talk about it?”

She told us about a cyclone that had devastated the refugee camp where the rest of her family had been staying. Then she held out her phone and showed us videos of the destruction.

Suriya’s mom, dad, grandparents, and four of her siblings all lost their lives. Only her youngest sister had survived. But with cell towers down, Suriya struggled to keep in contact with her.

The path of grief can be treacherous, but it’s clear the Lord doesn’t intend for Suriya to walk it alone.

“Oh, Suriya.” I wrapped her in another hug. “I’m so sorry. We’re all here for you.”

In the face of such a tragedy, it’s hard to know what to say in English, let alone in a foreign language. But I was certain God had provided this time so we could sit with Suriya in her pain.

“Could we pray for you in Jesus’ name?” I asked.

She didn’t look up from where her hands were folded in her lap but nodded slowly. My whole team took turns praying for her and asking the God of all comfort to be near.

Then we shared stories about Jesus and explained how He walks with us through life’s storms. “He alone can grant peace in spite of terrible circumstances,” I whispered.

The path of grief can be treacherous, but it’s clear the Lord doesn’t intend for Suriya to walk it alone. As I continue to yield every step to Him, my desire is for the Lord to work through me and my team to lead Suriya to find ultimate hope in Christ.

Orar:

• Lift up Suriya and other Muslims dealing with grief. Ask God to lead them to the comfort found only in Christ.
• Ask God to bring physical and spiritual healing to refugees and displaced people suffering in the aftermath of natural disasters.
• Pray that the Lord will prepare more workers who are willing to follow Him and bring the Gospel to the least-reached parts of the Muslim world.