What?
“A mental breakdown appears imminent,” asserted the doctor soberly after examining his patient. “What? How can that be?” responded one of the doctor’s assistants.
How did this lovely young woman, come to such a state? Shantel* completed high school, fell in love and soon after got married. It is not uncommon for lower-caste, Indian women to marry soon after high school (which is the completion of 10th grade, age 16) and sometimes even younger. (Educated, higher caste women usually wait until their 20s or later to marry.)
Shantel dreamed she would have a wonderful life after she married. But she and her husband lived with his parents. Sometimes the mother-in-law can become the daughter-in-law’s nightmare, as she can never live up to the mother’s expectations for her doted-on son.
Her mother-in-law routinely harassed Shantel. She arranged for her to do day labor on a farm and then come home to perform multiple tasks that she never seemed to accomplish to her mother-in-law’s desires, which resulted in Shantel being physically abused. “Get rid of her!” the mom demanded of her son. “She’s my wife,” he would reply weakly.
Along with the harassment, the mother-in-law and her 6 daughters dabbled in the occult and black magic. They devised evil curses for Shantel and she became entrapped in their wicked web. The couple’s two children were often deprived of food and affection.
One day while Shantel was cooking, she felt the bone-chilling drench of kerosene thrown onto her. The mother and daughters crouched with matchsticks to set her on fire. “O God!” Sarita yelled in panic. Although she didn’t know the God she cried out to, she desperately called on Him nonetheless.
“Stop!” the husband gasped. “What are you doing? If you want, I will get a divorce; but do not kill her!” With his help, she managed to escape, dragging her two little children with her.
“What will I do? How can I possibly survive and care for my babies?” Shantel despaired. Although she fled to her parents’ home, they had no means to care for the three refugees, although they loved them.
Someone told her family about Mukti Mission and Shantel and her children came that summer. She was extremely ill, barely able to walk, despairing of body and soul.
“The God I cried out to in my desperation became real to me through the loving care of the Mukti staff. I know God is the One who gave me strength to escape my terrible situation and find a place where His love prevails.”
Her children were well-cared for at Mukti, too, attending school and holding hope for the future. Shantel’s daughter often bears a sad countenance, possibly remembering the traumas of the past. Although her son doesn’t outwardly seem sad, he no doubt remembers and has unhealed emotional wounds festering, causing problems in the future. God is gracious and He has brought them to a place of hope, healing, and life!
*Names changed for privacy and security. Images representative.
