Mary Jane

Mary Jane never finished elementary school.  Abandoned by her parents before she ever had memory of them, Mary Jane was handed off from one unwanting relative to another, never feeling that anyone cared about her.  Finally, at an early age, she married a guy who said he loved her.  But after 12 years and 3 children, he left her for another woman, never to be seen again.

Mary Jane struggled to provide for her 3 children.  The oldest, a girl named BeBe, quite schooling after grade 3 so she could work to help provide for her 2 younger siblings, both boys.  This family of 4 lived in a one room nepa hut that leaked miserably during rainy season.

Last September, through the encouragement of a friend, Mary Jane enrolled in our BOOST program.  Skeptical at first, she soon heard about a God who cared deeply for her, even to the point of sacrificing His son as payment for her sins.  Mary Jane was baptized and, for the first time in her life, felt and understood unconditional love.  She was excited to show this love to her children and help them begin a relationship with Jesus Christ.  She chose to reenroll in our BOOST program so she could learn more.

But she did not arrive on January 8 with our next group of enrollees.  Nor was she there the next day.  On the evening of Jan. 9, her body was found stripped, raped, and beaten, left dead in a ditch.  She was last seen Saturday evening washing dishes during a town fiesta, where the men commonly drink too much.  As she left to go to the restroom, one of the drunk men likely followed and abducted her.  We don’t know which one, probably never will.

I believe God knew before Mary Jane was born that this would happen to her.  Graciously, God arranged for her to hear the gospel message and receive Christ as Savior and Lord.  Mary Jane is doing fine now, enjoying the rich rewards for those who have placed their trust in Jesus.  

God could have prevented this from happening to Mary Jane.  Just as He could have prevented John the Baptist from being beheaded, or Peter from being killed, or countless martyrs from being persecuted, or Jesus from being crucified.  But we live in an evil world where Christians are not exempt from its grasp.  More often, we are its target.  

For now, pray for BeBe, age 16, who now must raise her 2 younger siblings.  BeBe is somewhat scared and uncertain about the future, but she has begun attending our BOOST program and we have an obligation to help her as much as we can.  James 1: 27 says, “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress…”  

What happened to Mary Jane reminds me how awful this world can be, and how excited I am for heaven.  May we all be diligent to shine the light of Jesus for those living in this dark world so that evil will not win in the end.