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When her husband
was killed in a bomb
attack in Youhanabad
in 2015, Balkees
Khushi did not know how she would
be able to carry on. In one moment
her life had been devastated: not only
had she lost her beloved partner but
she would now have to bring up their
children alone.
On a recent trip to Pakistan we were
privileged to meet Balkees, who
described to us how life had been for
her and her eight children (two boys
and six girls) after Khushi Masih’s
death.
At the time of the attack, the oldest
was 20 years old and the youngest
just four. The couple had been
supporting themselves and the
children by running a business selling
chickens.
On that day there were about 1,200
people in the church. Most members
of the congregation, including
Balkees, stayed in the building for
holy communion while Masih and
a few others left the church. When
the bomber saw people starting to
come out, he detonated the explosives
and 17 people were killed. It later
transpired that he had been visiting
the church in previous weeks in order
to plan the attack.
When Balkees heard the blast she
hurried outside and collapsed in
shock because of the terrible things
that she saw. Her husband was taken
to hospital but sadly he did not
survive.
Over subsequent years, Balkees has
been extremely upset and has called
out to the Lord in her desperation.
She had not expected to become a
widow, nor for her children to be
fatherless and she was unsure how
she would survive. However, she
has received much support and told
us that she has known the Lord’s
comfort. She praises God and has
shown courageous faith, declaring
that His word in her heart is her
strength.
Martyr’s widow relies on God’s grace
Needless to say it has been immensely
challenging for Balkees to live in a
male-dominated society without
her husband and to bring up their
children on her own. Owing to her son
being a Christian he has been unable
to obtain a well-paid job and instead
has to work in a factory.
She asks that we remember her in
our prayers, especially as she seeks
to bring up the younger children in
a Christian way. She asks that we
pray that her sons and daughters are
successful in life. There are financial
challenges for them as a family but
she described her experiences ‘like
a thorn in her flesh; but His grace is
sufficient’.
PLEASE PRAY
•
 That Balkees’s spiritual life remains
strong and the family remain
committed in their Christian faith
•
 That God provides for the family’s
needs and the children succeed at
school and at work
Balkees Khushi
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International 2024