My family and I work the fields from sunup to sundown. It’s hard, exhausting work, but we have no other way to support ourselves. The place where we live is very poor. I’ve heard it’s one of the poorest places in the country. And it’s dry here—very, very dry. Some seasons there is enough rain to produce a small harvest, but sometimes we lose everything to the hot, scorching sun. Every day is the same routine. We get it up while it’s still dark outside. We eat some bread and drink some tea for breakfast and then we head out into the fields. We work all day long and come home to prepare a simple meal of mostly noodles with a few vegetables. On special occasions we may get a little bit of meat as well. We then wash our clothes, rinse off, collapse into bed and do it all over again the next day.  Life is hard. I often wonder about the meaning of it all. Although I’m Hui and have never eaten pork, I don’t understand much about Islam. But I do feel guilty that I don’t have time to go to the mosque or to say prayers. I’m just so tired—so very, very tired.

Prayer Requests

• Pray that these Hui workers will find forgiveness of sins and true spiritual rest in Jesus.
  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
• Ask God to send out many laborers into His harvest fields.
  “When he saw the crowds, [Jesus] felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.’” Matthew 9:36-38

The picture is not of the storyteller in order to protect the identities of those who have shared their stories and lives with us over the years.