(A few days ago, we met a schoolteacher burdened to take the Gospel to mothers of her students from the slums of Kolkata. Today, we join her small group Bible study.)

From her high perch in the fourth floor apartment building, Chitta Thakur* looks into the trash dump next door. She smiles and points out a friend walking the maze-like paths through piles of trash and shacks made out of scraps.

“See her, the one wearing red,” Thakur says. “She’s coming to our cell group. She is now a Christian.”

Thakur’s eyes shine bright as she spies even more women snaking their way up the path to learn Bible stories.

The apartment belongs to one of the women attending the group. There’s hardly any furniture. All she can afford is a wooden frame, draped with a blanket. It serves as both bed and couch. No one cares. The lack of furniture allows for more women to squeeze into the room, sitting on the bed and floor.

Thakur greets everyone by name. She shares with each something their child did in school today. She teaches 70 students from this slum. Her connection with the children opens doors for her to share with their mothers about her most prized possession – a relationship with Jesus Christ.

The meeting starts with singing. Then, everyone covers their heads to pray. After the lesson, the women give their prayer requests and list answered prayers.

Today, the women are quieter than usual. It might be because of the visitors observing the meeting, or it could be that today is just that kind of day. As Chitta says goodbye to her friends, she says a silent prayer for them.

Despite the quietness, she knows God is working in this group. She sees it in their lives.

“I know God is working here,” she says. “I know it because the women don’t keep the Good News to themselves. Once they hear it, they share it with someone else. They are giving their testimonies. They are the ones sharing Christ’s story in their neighborhoods.”