Thank You for Making this December Different
Each week this month, we shared stories of children and families experiencing a Different December because of your heart to care for the kids God loves. Before our final story, we’d like to share this short “thank you” from Joe Knittig, CEO of the The Global Orphan Project.
We have no memory from 2016 that captures the truth of how God uses the broken—those most often rejected by the world— to bring “peace on earth” more beautifully than the story of Angelo.
Born in South Sudan, Angelo was abandoned because he was blind. He was then abused because he was an orphan. In 2013, one of our local church partners in his country opened their doors and provided a home to Angelo.
Taken in and loved by a new family, Angelo began to flower. Despite being the only blind child among other “normal” children, he learned English faster than the others and became a spiritual leader in his new school and home.
While Angelo blossomed, his beloved country once again fell into war, leaving thousands dead and millions hungry, displaced, and longing for peace. In the fall of 2016, regional leaders organized a day-long peace rally. Aware of the rally, Angelo requested and received the right to read a poem that he wrote from deep in his heart.
Thousands listened to this blind 13-year-old boy “Talk to Peace.”
PEACE, WHERE ARE YOU? SINCE I WAS BORN I NEVER SAW YOU; DEAR, HONOURABLE PEACE, WHEN WILL I SEE YOU? MY MOTHER NEVER SAW YOU. MY FATHER NEVER ENJOYED YOU. PEACE, WHEN WILL SOUTH SUDAN EXPERIENCE YOU? WHEN WILL EASTERN EQUATORIA MEET YOU? CHILDREN ARE BORN TO ONLY MEET WAR. PEACE, WILL I SEE YOU? PSALMS 34:14
The following day, the governor recommended Angelo record his poem for radio stations to broadcast across the region. Angelo, whom no one wanted, is now influencing and inspiring tens of thousands in his nation. One key leader recently referred to him as “the blind boy who gives sight to those with both eyes!”
“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” — 1 Corinthians 1:27
A Different December for Children Like Angelo
100% of your year-end gifts go to help meet the most urgent needs of children in the care of our local church partners around the world. [Click Here] to make this a Different December for children like Angelo.