Provision Amongst the Children

Every Wednesday, my coworkers and I pack ourselves into the back of a truck and hold on tight for the long hurdle ahead: an hour or two through the city, out into flooded rice fields, and down muddy routes, eventually finding our way to one of the children’s homes where we help out. Since the older ones usually have not yet returned from school, the dozen or so children who tumble out of their simple homes to greet us are either sick: fevers and colds run rampant during the rainy season: or very young. Many are orphans, but some come from impoverished families who wanted a better life for their children.

‘Helping’ wears many different garments: stories, songs, games, health education, sacks of rice, but mostly spending time with the children and supporting the local believers who care for the homes. For the last few months, many of the homes have been facing opposition and harassment, which prevented us from visiting a few of the homes.

One Wednesday, we were unable to visit our ‘normal’  home, so one of our local staff led us to a new home. In the warm golden glow cast by the afternoon sun peeking through the day’s storm clouds, a cluster of shy children gathered on the floor with us to sing and share stories.

Unlike most of the other children I work with, these children have grown up with love and faith. It glows quietly in their faces and in the faces of the dear souls looking out for them. One of these gentle ladies approached us as we were leaving, and pointed at the sacks of rice leaning against the wall.

“Did we know that she had spent the previous day begging the Father for rice, since they only had enough to last them one more day?”

“No,” we replied. We hadn’t even known we were coming until a few hours earlier.   She smiled and nodded in understanding.

The children are in good Hands.

OM’s role in the Church is to mobilise people to share the knowledge of Jesus and His love with every generation in every nation. OM pioneers and leads initiatives to redeem lives, rebuild communities and restore hope in over 110 countries.