I was probably having one of the worst days since leaving home 9 months ago. I was at the end of my rope….I was sick, I could barely speak because I was losing my voice and to be honest, I did not want to do any more ministry that day. I was tired of packing, moving, and traveling for the 4th time in 8 days. My body had about had it and emotionally I thought I was going to have a break down soon from exhaustion.
At this point, my team and I were in a small town in Malawi in the middle of the town square with a local church putting on a program. This was the third program of the day and we were nearing the end. When it came to the final portion of the program, we were supposed to pray for the needs of the community. I walked off to get away from everything and to get a drink. It hurt to talk and I was in no mood to carry on a conversation. When I returned, I felt pulled to come back in to the group to see where I was needed. I grabbed a translator and immediately saw Jessie talking to a young boy by herself. He did not speak much English but kept saying ” No mother, no father.” The translator then told us Isaac’s story.
He explained that he had heard over the loud speaker that if people wanted prayer because they had needs, that they should come over to where we were to be prayed for. His name was Isaac, he was 12 years old, and he said that he was an orphan and has been living at the bus station across the street for the past year. He was wearing tattered jeans, a windbreaker three sizes too big for him, and old tennis shoes that would not even stay on his feet. His bed was a wood bench or a grass mat, which ever was available for the night. He begs for food to get by and sometimes goes a few days without food. The town is in the mountains and it gets extremely cold at night. Isaac has absolutely nothing to keep his body warm besides the concrete walls of the busy bus station. He had to stop going to school a year ago because he did not have any money to pay for the fees and the uniform.
Jessie and I both looked at each other and we knew that we HAD to do something to help. Our hearts were both broken for him and his situation. We told Isaac to meet us at this same location the next morning and we would bring people to help him.
I went back to the village that night where we were staying and went straight for my tent. All I could think about was how I could help him. I didn’t know what I was going to do or how I was going to do it, I just knew that I HAD to do SOMETHING.
The next morning we met up with Isaac and brought our local contact with us, Pastor Charles. Pastor Charles wanted to interview the boy to see if his story matched up and to make sure this was not some sort of scam. The boy then explained in detail how he had come to this area. His parents were refugees from Mozambique and they have both since passed away along with his sister, Lillian. The pastor told us that he was very detailed in his explanation
and seemed to be a very sharp kid. We then went to the village where Isaac had last lived before the bus station to make sure he did not have any remaindering relatives that were looking for him. After much discussion between Pastor Charles and the people of the village, the pastor decided that his story was accurate and that we could in fact help him.
We discussed orphanage options with Pastor Charles and Isaac. The only problem with the orphanage is that we would have no idea where he would be placed and if he would even be able to attend school. He kept reiterating to us that school was very important to him. I then asked Pastor Charles about boarding schools. He told me there was a great one up the street and that he knew the headmaster.
We decided to check it out and see what the school was like. The headmaster was extremely welcoming and wanted to help after explaining the situation. After much discussion, the headmaster accepted Isaac that same day with the understanding that Jessie and I would help fund the school fees and other basic needs for Isaac. For room and board for one year at this school along with other daily needs such as school uniforms, additional food for holidays, and other clothing and toiletry items, the cost will be roughly $1000 USD. Pastor Charles has signed as his Malawian guardian and will have Isaac live with him during school holidays and summer vacation. Jessie and I have committed to supporting Isaac for the next 5 years so that he will be able to live there and finish school.
We then took Isaac and bought him new clothes, soap, shoes, uniform, etc. You name it, we bought it for him. We had to start from scratch because he literally owned
NOTHING but the clothes on his back. He took a shower at the pastor’s house and then put the new clothes on that we had bought for him. He walked out of the house a
different child. He flashed us a large smile and walked with a confidence that was not there when we had met him the night before. He swung his new backpack over his shoulder and told us over and over again how thankful he was. Jessie and I then began taking pictures and hugging him like we were his mother sending him off for his first day of kindergarten. I think he probably thought we were a little crazy, but he went ahead and laughed at us anyways.
We took Isaac back to the school with all of his new belongings to drop him off. The headmaster barely recognized Isaac this time when he walked in. Isaac was still smiling, his shoulders were lifted a little higher, and he spoke more in those 10 minutes before dropping him off than I had heard him speak in the past 24 hours.
Isaac would still be on the streets begging for food had we not met him that day. Had I walked away completely and not come back to pray, I don’t know if I would have had the opportunity to help him at all. God put me in my place that day. Here I was, complaining about living in a tent and being sick, when 100 feet away from me
was a young 12-year-old boy sleeping on a bench in a bus station. I am reminded of how blessed I am to live in the states every
day, but sometimes I can even take the opportunity to have a tent and food for granted as well. Am I sick, tired, and ready to not live in a tent in a village anymore? Yes! BUT God reminded me that day that no matter how awful I felt and how hard I thought I had it, there will
ALWAYS be someone else out there less fortunate than me.
Jessie and I had a divine appointment with Isaac that day. I feel extremely honored that God chose us that day to be His hands and feet. I look forward to seeing Isaac grow up and into the mighty man of God that I know he will be. Isaac now has the opportunity to be a kid and to dream big dreams. He is a 12 year old, BRIGHT, funny, SMART child who deserves to have an education. He DESERVES to have a childhood, attend school, and play with children his own age. He does NOT deserve to be on the streets sleeping at a bus station begging for his next meal.
I am glad that we were able to help Isaac, but Isaac represents THOUSANDS of children just like him who have no hope. They are orphans sleeping on the streets, starving, and just trying to survive.
If you would like to help Isaac or others like him, please press the “contact me” button on the left hand side or email me at
[email protected].
