Fatimah

Fatimah
Born: In the 80s
Where: Neighbouring Muslim country
Born Again: 2006
Where: Singapore

This is a story that needs to be told

Born to a family of farmers in a remote village, Fatimah (not her real name) came to Singapore to work as a domestic help several years ago. We met her at the agency when we were looking to hire our first domestic help. We had no experience whatsoever in hiring or managing a domestic help, but we trusted God to provide us with a good helper as well as His favour, love and wisdom in relating to this helper so that both parties (the employer and the employee, i.e.) will have a positive experience.

Fatimah was the only domestic help we met at the agency, though we were there to interview another one whom we have shortlisted. Since the other candidate was no longer available, we interviewed Fatimah and felt that God wanted us to hire her. We were in no hurry to hire a domestic help but since we prayed and felt that she was to be the one, we hired Fatimah.

Fatimah joined us when Chinese New Year was just around the corner. My wife and I looked upon her as an adopted daughter. We welcomed her into our household, as a new family member. Our children were taught to address her as "Auntie", but from every perspective, she would seemed like an elder sister to my daughters. Besides taking care of the household chores, Fatimah would even read and play with our young children. Whenever she goes for her monthly Sunday off, or sometimes on Hari Raya Puasa or Haji, she would often have cute little gifts, such as hair-band, hair-clips, bookmarks, etc for my daughters. On my daughters' birthdays, she would somehow find time to wrap cute little gifts for the kids just before their bedtime. When we found out that her birthday was just one day before my younger daughter's birthday, we had no better reason to celebrate her birthday every year.

Fatimah is truly like a daughter to us, despite being an employee in the legal sense. Since coming into our household, we have been praying for her salvation, and when the opportunities arose, we testified to her about God's goodness and mercies in our lives. We have nothing special to offer Fatimah, except the love of God and the opportunity to see how God featured as Himself, Father, Saviour and Friend in this little family's life.

Some months ago, I felt compelled to pray for God to guide her as a child of God. Although I hadn't asked her if she has received the Lord Jesus Christ as her saviour, I felt led to pray that way. In my heart, she's probably already accepted the Lord Jesus, just that she told no one.

Yesterday, at Sunday Service, we had the wonderful opportunity to take part in the Holy Communion. Somehow, I felt a need to ask Fatimah if she would take the emblem of the body and blood of Jesus. I relayed this question through my wife, and Fatimah replied in the affirmative. She said she's already accepted Christ.

It was a wonderful piece of news, especially knowing that she came from a strict Muslim background. That night, she shared more with us. She shared that she accepted the Lord last year but was afraid to let us know. I told her there isn't anything to fear. In fact, we were simply thrilled by her announcement. Even my dad and parents-in-law haven't been as open to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as this village girl. We spent the next one hour discussing the Word of God and encouraging one another. Throughout the night and this morning, I couldn't really sleep. Well, who could, when something as marvellous as this happened? It's like we have just witnessed the most beautiful aurora in quiet of the night.

In the darkness, I gave thanks to our Almighty God and Father, for He alone is capable of touching hearts this way, and we are truly blessed to be witnesses to this wonderful miracle.

Thomas