Carrots lead to women’s ministry in South Asian village

Sometimes missionaries share the gospel through unexpected ways—like with carrots. 

The invitation to eat carrots surprised two International Mission Board Journeymen as they walked through a rural South Asian village where they were visiting a friend. It was harvest, and the two sisters working the field wanted to share with the foreign women.  

The four young women pulled some carrots, and as they snacked, the missionaries shared the gospel. After a few days, the Journeymen returned to their city but left a Bible so the South Asian women could read and discover God. 

A few months later, Talia Leone, another IMB missionary, went to visit that same village and checked in on the young women. They were excited to see another female believer. They recounted stories they had read from the Bible to the missionary.  

“These girls read a decent amount of the Bible and remembered it,” Leone said. Like the Journeymen before her, she encouraged the young women to attend a Bible study hosted by a man who had been discipled by a team of IMB missionaries.  

This was a problem, however, for the young women. The Bible study leader was single; only men and boys in the village attended.  

Leone explained that in this culture, single females did not feel comfortable attending a meeting with all men, even if the Bible study leader was their cousin. So, Leone’s team made a long-term commitment to teach the women of this village while their friend taught the men.  

The two sisters always asked good questions and were eager to take Leone to meet other women in the village. They’d ask her to pray for a specific person’s needs and share because they’d “never heard the gospel.” 

“We were able to share the gospel with many ladies,” Leone said. “The work is growing and people are listening and in the early stages of believing.” 

The missionary explained that the work can be messy at times. Hindus are often quick to believe in any god because they already believe in so many. They just add Jesus to their list. So, it can take some time and studying to realize Jesus is the only God. A few in the village have been baptized, and more people—both men and women—are studying the Bible. 

“It’s crazy to think this women’s work all started with an invitation to eat carrots,” Leone said. “Every encounter is an opportunity to share the love of Jesus.”