About a decade ago, there was no electricity in my village in Maharashtra. Soon after work was done for the day children and youth normally engaged in playing a game or two or just sat about chatting. Playing cricket in a makeshift pitch using sticks as their wicket was a favourite among the youth, especially Anosh.
Anosh however, had something else planned for that evening. India and Pakistan were playing a one day international match in Mumbai and nothing was going to stop him from listening to the commentary on the radio. It was the closest he could get to the live match and it was bound to be thrilling, considering that the two countries were arch rivals. The young lad could barely contain his excitement; all his classmates could talk of nothing else that entire morning.
A few minutes prior to the scheduled time of commencement of the match, Anosh sat with his transistor and tuned it to the right frequency. His family left him to it, knowing that on this day he could not be counted upon to help with the household chores or share the radio. But outside, the sky was overcast and the occasional rumble of thunder could be heard. Rain was expected.
The match began and Anosh was beginning to enjoy the commentary in Hindi as he smiled in anticipation, routing for the opening batsmen. A few minutes into the match it began to rain quite heavily and all the cricket-fan heard was disturbance, before being cut off completely from the match coverage. Much as he tried, he failed to receive a signal. Disappointed, he sought other channels and came upon some music with a catchy tune, in his own language. He continued listening to the music and there followed a message about ‘worry.’ Quite interesting that was, something he could relate to. Later that night he had trouble falling asleep as he kept pondering over the message. It led him to thinking about his needs and that of his family’s. He parents, both farmers worked in the fields each day and he knew that they were extremely worried about their financial situation that was deteriorating day by day.
The next day Anosh again listened to the same program that was being broadcasted by TWR and heard about Jesus Christ the living God who cares for all those who believe and trust in Him. This was the first time he had heard about Jesus. Although he realized that he was a sinner, uppermost at that moment were the crucial needs of his family and the pathetic situation they were in. His family was in great debt and anxiety about it kept his father awake at night. It worried Anosh to see him that way and he wished he could do something, contribute in some way. When the speaker began to pray, Anosh prayed too, sincerely asking God to answer his prayers and meet his needs. He continued to listen to the program each day and fervently prayed, pleading with God. And Jesus was faithful in answering his prayer. Amazingly, a huge amount that was due to the family which they had written off as bad debt years ago was returned all of a sudden. It was large enough to clear their entire debt.
Ever since, Anosh became a regular listen of the radio program, listening even more diligently to the teachings that brought him to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Eager to know more, he began to communicate with the counseling center that provided him with a New Testament other than guidance and counsel, time to time. When he started reading the Bible every day, he began to experience Jesus in his life. Eventually, his family too received Jesus into their lives through the program.
Anosh today is a pastor who spreads the good news among the villages. To TWR he is ever grateful for broadcasting wonderful programs such as Upasana.