DIRECTOR'S BLOG

Dr. Sam Martin

“Tears are words the mouth can't say nor can the heart bear.”

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

I turned my lights off, put my coat on as I made ready to head home from the office but as I passed Barb’s desk, I noticed her eyes were heavy, she was fighting back tears. Obviously I stopped to talk and the conversation led to this blog.

Barb like all the AOJ staff, is not only a dedicated professional, but a deeply committed and caring person and when I asked her what was wrong, she shared she had two children she was trying to find sponsors for. She then shared the story of Icker, a young 5 years old, and as she did so, she was fighting back the tears. I looked at the profile we have on this young boy and I share it with you:

‘Icker Fernando is a kind and polite child, who likes to help out at home. He gets along well with his grandparents. This year he studies at the AOJ School in Pre-Kindergarten, in faith that a sponsor will be found. Lately, he has had some problems with depression since his father died 10 months ago. His father would often take Icker to soccer games in nearby fields and to the market, and now he asks his mother to call his daddy to see him for a moment and play with him.

Icker’s mother, Maria Catalina, is 29-year-old and works some days on a fruit packing farm, but this is not a stable job. Erick Fernando was Icker’s father who died 10 months ago. He was a good father and a good husband. As the family misses him so much, we have prayed with this widow to encourage her to know that there is a God who loves her and can help her.

They live in a rented room, where there are three other families living in the same house. They have a table and two beds. Mrs. Maria Catalina continues living with her in-law’s family who support her.

WOULD YOU BE AN ANGEL IN ICKER’S LIFE?’

I fully understood Barb’s emotions, I could feel the pain in this young boy’s heart and I prayed for him and his Mom, and this morning in staff devotions we prayed again. You might wonder why I share this, well this is the ‘face of the Mission’ children in need! And of course hoping someone will become the angel that is needed!

By the way we always have children in need of sponsorship.