Visit to the Orphan Village

Village life isn’t glamorous. We went on a hot day, and the place was dry and dusty, and when I took off my shoes to enter the chief’s hut, I nearly yelped aloud as my feet touched the heat of the earth; then I looked at all the barefoot villagers around me who pad about uncomplainingly day after day. The available water was warm and dirty. Putrid heaps decomposed in the sun and flies buzzed lazily between them and us. Groundnuts (aka peanuts) were spread out to dry, chickens clucked softly and pecked at insects, goats were tied to posts and munched wilted leaves and patiently twitched their tails.

In the midst of these surroundings that are frankly repulsive at first glance, your brothers and sisters are joyfully serving Christ. They are doing the ordinary things of life: carrying water, farming corn, preparing meals, raising livestock, washing clothes, constructing mud buildings. They are doing everything they do heartily as to the Lord, loving Him and loving people on His behalf. They are struggling to survive, and yet they want to devote themselves to caring for the orphans in the surrounding communities.

Precious orphans who need God's love

As we had a photo assembly line, where children were being thrust into place, then whisked away to make way for the next, I couldn’t help but think that to God, these children aren’t just names or numbers in a process: each one is an individual soul, incredibly precious in His sight. He’s called His people to take care of them. All that’s needed is the funding.

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