. . . . our sister in Pakistan. She has been making bricks as a slave since she was seven years old (making bricks as a slave . . . wait a minute, that rings a bell . . . sounds like Israel). Her father died when she was very young and she joined her mother in brick making at seven. Her mother was grateful for the help as it was necessary for their survival.
Over time, it became evident to everyone else, including the slave master, that they were believers - this caused many difficulties for them and yet they were faithful. One day, the hatred against them reach the boiling point. A group of women severely beat Azra and her mother. Then they were seized and taken to the slave master. He was furious and locked them both in a room. A few hours later, the kiln owner called for Azra's mother. Azra was left alone to wonder and pray. It was a long wait. The kiln owner allowed a friend of her mother to bring her food. She was locked in that room for ten days. Then her mother's friend told her the unfathomable truth that the day her mother had been taken from her she had been horribly abused and murdered in a way that only one controlled by the sickness of hate could think of. Azra cried out to God, her only hope.
"You have kept
count of my tossings;
put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your book?"
Psalm 56:8
Two days after receiving the news of her mother's death, the kiln owner had her moved to his house where he could more easily abuse her. She threw herself before the Lord. The kiln owner tried many tactics to convert her to Islam. She replied, "My God is an alive God. How can I leave the alive God and accept your faith?" He then decided to force her to marry him (at 70 years of age) and set a day seven months away. Azra continued to throw herself before the Lord, "I prayed day and night asking my Jesus, 'Please send me an angel who can release me from this bondage."
After long months of praying, the day before her wedding someone came asking for her. It was the pastor of a neighboring village church with a couple of people from the congregation. Somehow they heard of her situation and had come to help. After a long conversation, the kiln owner agreed to release her if they paid her debt amount, $1,100 (US) - which is an unheard of accomplishment for a people so poor. Here I will continue the story in Azra's own words.
"The next day, May 26, the day my marriage was supposed to take place, the pastor came with the money. They paid the money to the kiln owner, but he was very angry. He beat and injured the pastor, but I was still set free.
"Wow, what a moment! I cried before my Lord, 'I am released! I am free! I can go where I want to go. Oh Jesus, I thank You. Oh my beautiful Lord, You heard my prayers.' I also wept at that time, because I miss my mother.
"One of the Christian brothers (with VOM) brought me to his home. His wife was very happy to see me. She is just like a mother. God provided me with a father, mother, brothers and sisters. This brother told me about the people who paid my debt."
Voice of the Martrys assisted in paying Azra's debt; in placing her in a new family; and in providing her with a sewing machine and teaching her to sew as a new vocation. She is now enjoying the love, joy and belonging of her new family.
Azra with one of her new brothers.
(information gathered from VOM newsletter)
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