Does it matter if you can read?

When Reach the Nations started a literacy program in Islamabad two years ago, we hoped that learning to read and write would be life-changing for our students.

Now that some have been practicing their new skills for a while, we thought you'd like to hear what they have to say.

Sidra

I left the school from 3rd class, but through the literacy class, I now can read the Bible, and, through Bible reading, God is transforming my life. Before I joined the literacy class, mostly I suffered a spirit of anger, but now, by the grace of God, I have overcome my anger.

When I could not read the Bible, sometimes at home and in church people would ask me to pray, but I had no words for prayer. Now, through the literacy class, I have fluency in my prayers. Now I use God's promises and Bible verses in my prayers, and I am able to pray in public and in the congregation. I'm thankful to my teacher Zarish for her contribution in my life

Vinus

I'm thankful for the opportunity that God provided for me to join the literacy class. I am a regular member of our women’s fellowship, and every week I saw different women come on stage and recite Bible passages and share different thoughts from the Bible.

I had a burning desire in my heart to do the same, but didn’t know how it would be possible that the day would come when I would be able to face the congregation and recite Bible references in the church. God opened that door for me through this class. I want to encourage my teacher Zarish as she works hard with me. I am now able to read the Bible references and I'm so happy.

Rehana

One of literacy class students visited me and invited me to join the class. Now I'm happy to learn the Urdu language. It has been my dream to be able to read the Bible myself, and now this dream is going to be completed through teacher Zarish. God has provided me this class and teacher. I'm thankful for her and all source persons (meaning all who made this possible). May God bless them.

Arshad

Zarish’s words, about this student: When Arshad started the class, she had no knowledge of the written Urdu language. When she was in a village, she tried to join the school, but she left the school from 1st class and, therefore, didn’t even know the alphabet. Now, by the grace of God, she can read and write the Urdu language. She has learned to read the Bible and is also reading Bible story books.

She is a working lady, and she faced difficulty reading the sign board and could not write down numbers of clients. Her son helped her save numbers in her phone, but her son had to save number with symbols like man picture, lady picture, and flower picture, etc. She remembered the numbers with signs. Her son told her this client number is saved with flower, you find the flower, this is number of that client. Now she can save the numbers of her clients herself, using their names. By the grace of God, this is possible through the literacy class and our vision.

All of these testimonies comes from students of Zarish, who, along with her husband, has been overseeing all three of the literacy sites in Islamabad. The pictures are general and are not specifically identifying these individuals.

Please pray for all our literacy students and teachers as their lives are enriched personally, spiritually, and economically by learning these skills.

Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. - Isaiah 25:1