Namrata

VOM Newsletter

 

She was the face of Hindu violence against Christians in India this year. Namrata, 10, was injured by a bomb during two months of horrific violence against Christians in India. Radical Hindu groups carried out systematic attacks on Christians in Orissa's Kandhamal district. Hundreds died, and thousands were left homeless.

 

Namrata and her sisters were hiding at a Christian neighbor's house when militants broke down the door and ransacked the house. The assailants did not find the people hiding in the bathroom, but they destroyed everything inside before setting the house on fire. As they fled the blazing house, Namrata found the present the radicals left behind: a bomb that exploded in her face. Forty percent of her body was burned.

 

Terrified, Namrata's 16-year-old sister carried the injured girl to the forest to hide. Namrata writhed in pain but the two girls were too afraid to leave the safety of the forest. They spent the night alone. In the morning, her parents took her to the state-run Raikia Hospital. But hospital officials turned the family away. They had no medicine. Namrata's father sold his wife's wedding ring to pay for treatment.

 

VOM heard about the family's struggle and wanted to help. We paid for all of Namrata's care and arranged for her to have plastic surgery. After 45 days in the hospital, her face was fully healed.

 

"I am one of the few fortunate ones who escaped death, although I had to spend a long time in the hospital. I feel very loved by the people of India and by so many people in the world who have seen my photo and have prayed for me," she said.

 

Namrata decided to dedicate her life to spreading the gospel, even though she knows firsthand the price she might pay. She believes India needs the peace of Christ and that is more important than being afraid for her life.

 

Namrata's healed face is now the face of VOMedical's work in Orissa. It is the face of believers who refuse to be intimidated and who are bold enough to stand for Christ in India. As she walks through her community, her face is proof that Christians around the world love and support the persecuted church. Her face is evidence of God's care for all suffering believers.

 

"Thank you for taking the pain to travel to visit me in ICU when I was there. Thank you for undertaking to support me with my medical bills -- for taking the trouble to come like this and to talk to me and to pray for me. Thank you."