A new chapter for a Roma family transformed by the gospel

From struggle to strength

Asim and Alisa, parents of three, lived in extreme poverty in Bosnia-Herzegovina, surviving by collecting scrap materials. Their hardships led to constant arguments, worsened by Asim's drinking and mood swings.

One day, while collecting plastic bottles, Asim met a man who admired his hard work. "I can say that a new chapter of our lives was opened from that moment forward," Asim recalls. The man, a believer from the Evangelical Church, introduced them to the Christian faith.

Alisa adds, "We became very close to this man and his wife. I was wondering how they kept such a positive attitude and never argued. They explained they were followers of Jesus. We were intrigued and asked to read the Bible with them. Asim changed—he calmed down, stopped drinking, and our emotional lives improved. It was fascinating to see how serenely we both started reacting to obstacles."

Embracing faith amidst adversity

God was at work in their lives, and although they still struggled, living in a cold and run-down house, their trust in Him grew stronger.

Alisa prayed for better living conditions, and soon after, she heard a radio announcement inviting Roma families with unsolved housing issues to apply for new apartments. "This left me totally astonished. I felt like a caterpillar ready to become a butterfly," she says.

However, their conversion was met with hostility by neighbours and family. "As soon as I announced that I had converted, I was ostracized by my family," Asim shares. "It was very painful, but I prayed every day. Miraculously, after many years, my mother phoned and said she wanted to see us."

Asim and Alisa with Alisa's family, after their baptism

Baptized in a nearby lake, Asim and Alisa's journey with Jesus continued. Alisa became president of the Roma Women's Association, helping others in need. Through the Evangelical Church, they connected with Mission Without Borders (MWB) and now receive emotional, spiritual, and material support, including educational assistance for their children.

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