“…the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.” Psalms 10:14b
Of all the tragic and heartbreaking stories we see and hear while working among the poorest and neediest of this world, the ones that impact us most are those which involve children. Our hearts always go out to kids who are alone, scared, and suffering, and so does our Heavenly Father’s. Independent Church In India’s missionaries and pastors all share this heart burden for orphans. Pastor Calvince, the leader of our partner ministry in Kenya, has a wife and children of his own to support. Yet, like most of the pastors in our Kenya team, he has by faith opened his home and his heart to needy orphan kids from the streets of Rongo where he lives. He knows all too well the sufferings of their kind of life – he himself grew up as an orphan in the streets of that same town. Although his family already had six orphans living with them, when Pastor Calvince found a starving and desperate little girl named Joy Akinyi wandering by herself, he could not help but bring her to his home as well, to do what he could for her.
Joy is only seven years old. When both of her parents died of AIDS, she became homeless. Living out on the streets, she often had to go hungry for days between meals. Malnourished, unwashed, and covered with sores, she was suffering alone with no one to help her.
Pastor Calvince shared his family’s food with Joy, managed to obtain a clean dress for her, and took her to the hospital for testing and treatment for her sores. When the test was done, he received the heartbreaking results: Little Joy had tested positive for HIV.
What can be done to help this precious little girl? It’s true that the doctors can’t cure the virus that is in her body. But she can have a good, loving home, and know the love of Christ and of people surrounding her who care about her. She can have three nourishing meals each day, clean clothes to wear, a safe and comfortable place to sleep, a chance to go to school, and medical care should she begin to need it. She can find happiness. Most important, she can have hope for the future, because with God, all things are possible. Our God works miracles each and every day. Many of His greatest miracles take place through the love and compassion of His people. Pastor Calvince will not be able to keep caring for Joy without help. You can help ICII to provide for Joy, or another child in a similar situation, through your one-time gift. Even more effective, you can begin a monthly sponsorship. Your faith commitment of any amount per month can mean a world of difference to Joy or another needy orphan child in Kenya, India, or Pakistan.