Yubelina Thanks You for Your Letters

Our Indonesian sister, Yubelina Hgato, was featured on the cover of the January 2011 newsletter. After we published the image of her badly burned face, our mailbox quickly filled up with letters. Many were angry, accusing us of sensationalism, of playing on emotions. Others were more understanding. Katie wrote, "I keep Yubelina's picture displayed right by my computer. I hate to say it, but it was hard to look at her picture every day. Now, all I see when I look at her is the joy of Christ!"

Yubelina was badly injured during an attack on her Christian village. As she ran from her attackers, she spilled a kerosene lamp that ignited and burned her face. That was in 2001. During the past 10 years, VOM has walked alongside Yubelina. We paid travel costs from her remote village to the island of Java, where she received high quality care, and arranged for her to have plastic surgery. Yubelina still bears the scars of her ordeal, not only on her face but also in her heart. Her husband left her, and she supports her two children by working on her brother's farm.

Every time a stranger gasps or recoils at her face, every time her daughter comes home in tears because someone called her mother a monster, Yubelina's suffering is renewed. Seven months ago, we brought Yubelina from her home on the island of Halmahera to the island of Java for a follow-up medical appointment and to get new eyeglasses. Between appointments, Yubelina joyfully spent some time at our Java office helping fold and stuff Indonesian VOM newsletters into envelopes for mailing.

This September, we met Yubelina at her brother's home in the village of Tomabaro, a cluster of simple structures alongside a road. Yubelina gave us each a hug before proudly walking us about 50 feet down the road, where her new home is being built. VOM provided funds for the home, and a local pastor is helping Yubelina oversee the project. The foundation is poured, the roof sits atop the wall frames, and the brick walls rise more than halfway to the roof. One room of the four-room structure is intended to be a prayer room.

"I'm so happy this year," she told us. "God gave me this house." Yubelina told us she now has new hope.

Yubelina's two older children, Vivi, 17, and Vandi, 15, study at a boarding school an hour and a half away. Her youngest child, 13-year-old Febi, is still at home with her. Since becoming more committed to her faith in 1999, Yubelina has prayed that her children will grow strong in the Lord.

She is encouraged each Sunday when she attends her church, which is still meeting in a semi-permanent structure 10 years after the attack on the village. The village is made up mostly of those who fled the Muslim attack in 2000.

Although Muslim neighbors live just yards down the road in the next village, Yubelina says they do not interact. As Yubelina and her two daughters sifted through more than 1,200 cards, letters, drawings and small gifts from VOM readers, she was overwhelmed by the love shown by her Christian family. "After the incident where I was burned and when my husband left, there was so much misery and suffering. But I received blessings from the Lord. I believe God has a plan for me."

In Philippians 4:17, the Apostle Paul says the church at Philippi receives fruit for helping him in his distress. As we see Christian persecution increasing around the world, we rejoice in the vital fruit that we receive through Yubelina's persevering faith.

—Tom White
Director, The Voice of the Martyrs USA

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• indonesia
• letters
• thanks
• vom
• voice
• martyrs
• persecution

[ohhmyyamanda]

she's beautiful <3

[YouAreNotAMonkey]

Yubelina's picture is on the table next to my bed. I think of her everyday, night and morning. I wish I could share and help more. I wish distance was not such a problem.

All should support Voice of the Martyrs.

[edwafor]

God bless you sis, I never thought I would get to see video of you and hear your voice. Much love from the US.

[mikerouleaubass]

The Lord love you and continue blessing you and using you Yubelina, my beautiful sister in Christ. I salute you for your courage and your enduring faith in Christ and your loving devotion to your daughters. You are a great inspiration to my wife and I. Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year :)

[AjRobinsonUg]

I brought the magazine with her picture on it to a youth missions trip to Iowa in the summer. I used it in a teaching in my group I did about love. I was very blessed to have this with me. Because this, this is the face of love.But also the cost of love. I hope one day to meet her in this life, I would be very blessed.

[SugarRose25]

wow, that is really sad she was burned by dropping the kerosene while her Christian village was burning. This made me cry.

[Shoots1978]

Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword.

Heb 11:32-37 (ESV)

[astral400]

Praise God...He is so faithful. I pray this new home will be a blessing always, and the children will know the Lord. Gods blessings.

[10cannons]

amazing yubelina. God bless

[rawar777]

This is so sad, but I am happy to see the body of Christ coming together to help her! I pray God uses her situation to show the world that no matter how bad things are in this life, you can still believe in Him.