Stories from the Field: How a Mother’s Testimony Rebuilt Villages
- Breck Merkle
- Sep 17
- 3 min read
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“When you prayed, she said she felt love in her heart,” Peter told me as we walked along the riverbank, following a new friend who had just received a bag of rice from us.
That simple gift opened the door to share with the Buddhist villagers the truth of the gospel, that we came because we love them, and because we believe Jesus loves them and has not forgotten them, even in their time of tragedy.
My team and I handed out soccer balls, chinlone (cane balls), and 10-pound bags of rice. I shared from John 6:35 and prayed for the 50 or so villagers gathered there, plus many children. The atmosphere was heavy; these people had lost so much.
Then someone called us over. I wasn’t sure where she was taking us or what story was about to unfold, but I was grateful to be engaging with this sweet woman. We walked to where her house used to be, a cracked foundation lay with items of clothing and other belongings strewn about. She walked us over to where the back door was and I began to ask this woman, we will call her “T”, questions about what she had experienced. My friend Peter, a Glory Project missionary, moved between my words and hers, giving voice to the heavy emotions that hung in the air.
Her daughter, age 30, and granddaughter, age 3, had both died at her workplace in the city the day of the first 7.7 earthquake. The land her family had lived on for generations was now uninhabitable. She showed us the tent on the sidewalk where she had been living for a month and a half with her one surviving grandson. Everything - her family, her home, her possessions - were gone.
When I asked where she had been during the earthquake, Peter translated: “She was in the forest, eating lunch under a mango tree. She fell out of her chair as the ground shook, grabbed her grandchild, and just ran. She was very scared.”
Her grief was overwhelming. I told her I couldn’t imagine her pain, and we prayed together. I told her I wanted her daughter’s and granddaughter’s lives to matter, that Jesus cares deeply about her sorrow, and I asked if I could share her story so others could hear. I told her I wanted to help her with a new home.
What I didn’t know then was just how far her story would reach. Many of you saw her interview earlier this year. Because she chose to share, we were able to raise $52,500 to rebuild homes in villages devastated by the earthquake.
Through this, more than 250 individuals across 8 villages were helped. Our teams built 46 homes, along with wells and toilets, bringing clean water and stability to entire communities.
Glory Project missionaries prayed with families, presented Bibles, and shared the gospel in villages where many had never heard of Jesus before. And it all began with one grieving mother’s testimony.
Revelation 12:11 reminds us: “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…”
Below is a photo when the GP team broke ground on her home :) |
 I witnessed God use T’s story to rebuild not only her life but also the lives of those around her. Truly, He is the Good Shepherd who guides our steps.
I wanted to share this as a testimony of the Lord’s goodness. Starting next week, we’ll be posting “Stories From the Field” every Monday as we gather them from our partners.
Every day, because of your generosity, the kingdom of God is advancing. People are hearing the gospel, being discipled, and experiencing His love. Thank you for your partnership as we seek His kingdom together.
As we look ahead, we invite you to continue praying, giving, and sharing these stories. Your support makes it possible for local missionaries to meet both physical and spiritual needs in some of the hardest places. Together, we can see even more lives and villages transformed by the love of Jesus.
Can't wait for next week, Carissa Taylor & the Glory Project Team |