Dev Bappa

Flat Sujata is a little girl who, like Flat Stanley, is as thin as a piece of paper because she got flattened by a box of mangoes. Flat Sujata moved to Mukti Mission where she loves her new life and all the friends she has made. These stories will help you understand what life is like for children at the Mission – children about the same age as YOU! We hope that you enjoy these stories of Flat Sujata and her friends so that you can pray for them every day. *Note: These stories are inspired by real-life stories from Mukti Mission.

“I’m sure you know that most men in India want their wife to give birth to a son, not a daughter, but do you know why?” Flat Sujata queried Sami, her best friend.

“Because a son can help in the fields?” 

“That may be one reason, but it’s mostly because they believe they can only receive salvation through a son”, explained Flat Sujata.

“I guess we would not be considered very valuable since we’re girls, but I’ve learned at Mukti that Jesus loves everyone equally!” exclaimed Sami enthusiastically.

“Do you want to hear a story about that?”

“Auntie Rao,” giggled Flat Sujata, “were you listening to us?”

“Of course. As your house mother, that is my job,” responded their house mother kindly.

“Do tell us, then,” begged Sami.

“Well,” began Aunti Rao, “A mother by the name of Devi* had a husband who pleaded with her to give him a son…”

“Like she could work that out,” laughed Sami.

“True,” Auntie Rao concluded and then continued, “but three times, Devi bore him daughters. Because of this, her husband would yell at her and even beat her.”

“How mean,” declared Flat Sujata.

“Then one day he left. Devi tried working as a housekeeper, but couldn’t earn enough money to provide for the family. One day, a Good Samaritan told her about Mukti Mission.”

“That’s us,” beamed Flat Sujata proudly.

“So, Devi left two of her daughters, Aarya and Pari, but decided to keep her youngest daughter, Jiya, until she was older. 

“Wow! What changes for Aarya and Pari!” exclaimed Sami.

“I remember those days when I first came to Mukti too,” admitted Flat Sujata. “But I know they also now have a houseful of sisters, good food, and an education.”

“That’s right, Flat Sujata,” agreed Auntie Rao, “One day Aarya asked her house mother if she could call her mommy. Her house mother told her that she could never replace her true mother, but she agreed since Aarya would be lovingly cared for at Mukti.  Aarya jumped for joy and hugged her tightly.”

“I’ll bet they didn’t understand the talks about God and Jesus,” Sami mused. “That always confused me.”

“Me too,” agreed Flat Sujata.

“When their house mother taught the girls about Jesus,” continued Auntie Rao, “Aarya and Pari would often look at her with confusion. They had never heard of ‘Dev Bappa’ [Father God] or ‘Ishu’ [Jesus]. Their family worshipped many gods, and there was no way for anyone to know them personally.”

“It’s taken me a long time to learn that God loves me and created me just as He wanted,” confessed Sami.

“They are not girls by mistake, nor has He forgotten them in their poverty and fatherlessness. God has a loving plan for them,” soothed Auntie Rao.

“It’s great for us girls to know that we are greatly valued by God, isn’t it, Flat Sujata?” said Sami.

“Yes, we learn so much at Mukti about God that is encouraging,” responded Flat Sujata, “even though I don’t always understand,” concluded Flat Sujata. 

*Names changed for privacy and security. Images representative.