| Refresh | |
Dear Friends and Family As you all know orphans and aids come to our minds when we think of Africa. We encounter literally hundreds of orphans in the many churches we visit. The group photo is of some of the 25 orphans cared for by the members of our church. This is common in every church we visit. The Christians are doing a wonderful job with what little resources they have to provide for the children who cannot ehlp the fact that disease takes so many parents. We are assured that our website is being developed and we will be featuring orphans each month. This photo (click here to view) is of an exceptional young woman. Beatrice is 20 years old and leads both worship at our church and is over the younger orphans. She herself was orphaned when her father died leaving her mother to care for 9 children with no support except what she could raise from her small holding. Beatrice had to leave school prematurely and hopes yet to finish. For most of us we think of an orphan as someone who has lost both parents, which is true for many of our children, but we the wage earner dies in our Africa families leaving a dependent wife and several children, the older children often must go to live with a relative or with anyone who will care for them. In Beatrice's case our Pastor and his family have taken her in, but on his meager salary there is money only for food, shelter, and clothes. (I understand that Heather sent pictures to some of you and you couldn't view them. If this happens with this sending please let me know!) God bless you, |
www.pearlofafrica.net |