“I hadn’t heard the dialect before, or seen the food. I had to meet new people and I had to go to a new church. I was only 18 and my marriage was arranged. I was very scared. I think, though, that I grew closer to God because everything was new.

“Before that, I was never close to God. And then after we had our second child, I read Psalm 23 – ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures …’ (verses 1-2) I liked that Psalm and I understood it.

“Back when I was growing up in our village, I used to look after 20 goats, for our family. I was their shepherd. I cared for them and I gave them names – Tari and Thali, and Seti … If I called Seti, she would come, and none of the others would come. If I called Thali, she would come, and none of the others would come. They all knew their names and they came when I called them. If I walked anywhere, they followed behind me in a line.

“At nights, I would cover them up with a blanket. I loved them. And so when I read that Psalm, I started to see that’s how God loves us, like a shepherd. He knows us. He cares for us always … and he gently shows us where to go, even if it’s all new. And even now today, when I’m scared, or despairing, I read that Psalm and I remember that the Lord is my shepherd.”

Jyoti’s story is part of Eternity’s Faith Stories series, compiled by Naomi Reed. Click here for more Faith Stories.