Taraneh* is a young Afghan girl who lives in Tajikistan and regularly calls in to SAT-7 PARS’ live children’s shows. Her family do not own a television, but she travels three hours to watch her favourite programmes at a relative’s home.
Taraneh’s inspiring enthusiasm and faith, despite her family’s difficult circumstances, shine through in her messages to the channel.
DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES
“We have to live out of town because we don’t have much money,” writes Taraneh on the messaging app she uses to communicate with the SAT-7 PARS team. “Our house has nothing, we don’t even have a house number.”
The team had asked Taraneh for her address to send her a small gift. She then explained that her family does not own a television: “We have to travel three hours to go to my uncle’s house to watch this programme. I go to play with my cousin because I like it, and I go there to watch your programme too.”
Taraneh and her family are from Afghanistan, but because of the many difficulties they faced in their home country they had to flee to Tajikistan. As a foreigner, her father is not permitted to work and this is a cause of financial hardship for the family.
SHARING PRAYERS AND SONGS
However, these circumstances have not dampened Taraneh’s enthusiasm and she shares what a treat it is for her to watch SAT-7 PARS children’s programmes on satellite television every week.
Taraneh regularly calls into the SAT-7 PARS live children’s show Golpand, which means ‘beautiful or golden advice’, to participate in the games, or share a prayer or song.
During one episode exploring what it means to be thankful, she called to say: “My father is not allowed to work but he always prays about our difficulties and we all go to church every Sunday.
“I give thanks for having a mum and dad, a family who are Christians, and that I have been freed from sin.” She went on to sing a worship song.
“I send kisses to all you believers,” writes Taraneh. ■
*Names changed and image used for representation only
PRAY
- Praise God for Taraneh’s faith and enthusiasm for SAT-7, even in difficult circumstances. Pray that she will continue to grow in her faith.
- Pray for safety for Afghan believers – both those in Afghanistan and those who have had to leave.
- Pray for displaced children around the world, like Taraneh, that they will discover their joy and security in God.