FS: Free to Bloom
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.
“No, no, no!” shouted the little girl as she stomped her feet in protest. Flat Sujata and her best friend Sami* looked on wondering what this was all about.
They were watching a skit at the youth group at Mukti Mission. Flat Sujata knew it was all make-believe, but Sany was acting too ‘real.’ Nine-year-old Sany* had the lead role in the skit – a role that Sami had badly wanted – but that’s another story. Sany was to play a pampered child who was used to getting her way. During the skit, the spoiled child becomes curious about Jesus and wishes for Him to visit her. His visit changes her. What a performance! Flat Sujata was amazed at how well Sany had played her part!
Applause arose from the audience. Flat Sujata clapped loudest of all. Sami just sat glumly dreaming of how this had been her big chance to break into Bollywood. Flat Sujata rolled her eyes and giggled as she watched Sami.
“Do you think you could have done better?” Flat Sujata pressed her friend.
“No,” Sami acknowledged. “Sany did a wonderful job. I just don’t know how she could pull off all of those complex emotions.”
“Look, there’s Sany’s housemother from the Dahlia Flower family. Let’s ask her.” Sami nodded her head and the two friends walked over to speak to Chayya.*
Chayya answered the two girls’ questions about Sany’s performance. “I’m her housemother and I was so very proud of her. You see, I know Sany’s story and that of her sister, Saroj*.”
“Do tell,” pleaded Sami.
“They had it tough,” began Chayya. “Sadly, their father died and their mother ran away. So they went to live with their grandma, uncle, auntie, and their children. But Sany and Saroj were treated like slaves.”
“That’s terrible,” moaned Flat Sujata.
“They were expected to wash dishes,” continued Chayya, “scour pots and pans, carry water, sweep and mop the floor. The school they attended had no proper system in place, but it was still an escape from their house. The years of their life that should have been filled with playing instead were filled with housework and no play.”
“So, how did they come to Mukti?” Sami inquired.
“Well, soon the family decided they didn’t want to care for the two girls any longer. They were brought to the Mission.”
“That must have been scary,” Sami mused. “I know when I came here, I was terrified.”
“It can be very scary, indeed,” agreed Chayya. “The sudden change to a huge, unknown place frightens a lot of you girls and leaves them feeling overwhelmed. Saroj cried day after day.”
“I’ll bet she doesn’t want to leave now,” smiled Flat Sujata.
“Not when you find out how safe it is here,” Sami agreed.
“It hasn’t been all easy for them,” Chayya pointed out. “They found it hard to settle in after being treated so poorly, they didn’t know how to be little girls. They had picked up bad habits and dirty language.”
“Had they heard about Jesus?”
“No Flat Sujata,” Chayya beamed. “They had heard nothing about Jesus! All the Bible stories and devotionals about Jesus had them confused.”
“I remember those days,” Flat Sujata noted.
“But as you can see,” Chayya pointed out again, “Sany has begun to understand about Jesus. That is why she could act so well. She was acting out her life before she came to Mukti.”
“So, she wasn’t really acting,” marveled Sami. “She was remembering how much her life had changed since coming to the Mission.”
“That’s right.”
“Sany and Saroj are lucky to be at Mukti Mission,” Sami stated boldly.
“So are you two,” Chayya confided.
*Names changed for privacy and security. Images representative.
