Karamial Hembrom is a Hindu man. He and his family did not like having Christians in their village. The Christians ate all kinds of things that the Hindus wouldn’t eat.
On the day I met Karamial we talked about the weather, his field work and other things. Seeing me well-dressed, he asked where I was going and what work I did.
“I am a preacher,” I said. “I tell people about the end of time, and that they should change their sinful ways and come closer to God and be saved.”
Karamial was not happy about this. Rejecting my message, he told me frankly to leave people to their own fate.
“You leave us with our gods, and you stay with your God!” he said.
“I can’t do that,” I replied. “God has asked me to tell everyone about this sinful life and the sinful world in which we live.”
Karamial told me to go away and not to preach anything about my God.
He was clearly unhappy, thinking to himself, “Why has this man taken the burden of telling everybody about their sinful ways? There must be a reason for him to do this.” He pondered on this and on how he and his family were living. Were they happy with their lifestyle?
After some weeks I returned to the village and met Karamial again, speaking about the upcoming election. I noticed that Karamial was not happy—something was disturbing him. I asked about it, and Karamial told me about his burdens and about the dissatisfaction in his family.
“Please don’t get upset!” I said. “Just listen and see if what I’m telling you is right or not. I am not forcing you to believe me.”
Taking my Bible from my shoulder bag, I continued, “I didn’t write this book. It is God’s book, and everything that is going to happen is written in this book.”
I read a few verses about the end of time.
Karamial was shocked, and asked, “Even the weather? Is it in the Book?”
I replied, “Yes, the sun is getting hotter, and famine, flood, sickness and earthquakes are occurring more and more frequently.”
He wanted to know more, so I invited him to weekly Bible study classes. We are now praying for Karamial and his family.