Resisting the pressure of her father, Mari refused to leave her husband and return to her parent’s home following her husband’s conversion to Christ. As news of his new faith spread across the village of 5,000, so did the persecution and taunting of this poor rural farmer. Many of his friends would meet him in the market, or in one of the village shops, and try to pressure him to return to his old way of life. However, he refused to do so, proclaiming that he had made his decision and would “die on the path of Christ.”

Over a five-year period following her husband’s coming to faith in Christ, Mari continued to watch and listen. Many of our teams continued to visit their courtyard, spending days and nights there as we shared food and told the stories from God’s word. In 2013, Mari made it known that she too wanted to follow Jesus. Coming with her was a friend and neighbor who also wanted to follow the Lord.

God’s patience is not wasted, but is evidence that He wishes all, like Mari and her husband, to come to repentance. He does not count slowness as we do.

Truly, God is amazing in all His works.