“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
James 1:27
Orphans
Orphanages are no longer common in the U.S.A. And, most people would consider an orphanage a horrible place. Some individuals might even believe they are entirely unnecessary in today’s world. And, I confess that I felt that way many years ago. However, God changed my mind when I met my first orphan in an underdeveloped country. Suddenly, James 1:27 took on a new meaning for me and led me into a ministry to orphans. Almost thirty years later, the work continues. But, let me share how God is changing lives through the ministry of Orphan Relief Effort, Inc.
Orphans in Nepal
In Nepal, vulnerable boys and girls live on the streets. Children as young as five are left to fend for themselves. Filthy faces, distended bellies, and hopelessness make them stand out among the tourist. Yet, they become lost in a sea of humanity. Most have no education, and many have never experienced a loving hug. One four-year-old boy we found had never been potty trained and was forced to live in soiled clothes. I wanted to make a difference in his life by providing a home for him.
Soon, I discovered the “other” places where orphans existed in Nepal. Some children are sold into lives of slavery in factories, arranged marriages, or worse. Also, girls as young as ten become wives to forty-year-old men for a price. One girl was brought to our orphanage before her family sold her to a circus in India. Unfortunately, her siblings were not as lucky as her.
Orphans in Myanmar
In Myanmar (formally known as Burma), years of extreme poverty and ongoing conflicts ravaged the country and left many children as orphans. And, even though these kids might not live on the streets, their situation was no better than those we found in Nepal. Many never attended school. But, the few who went to school did not succeed in classrooms because of the hunger pains in their bellies. But, those in our orphanage thrived in their new environment.
God’s heart breaks for the orphans of the world. And, He calls all of us to make a difference for them. I said yes to this calling, and now many lost children live very different lives. God provided them with love, food, medical care, and education through the organization we formed. And, we witness lives transformed by the hand of God every day.
More Help is Needed
The work continues and grows. We provide for fifty children in our orphanage in Myanmar and twenty-five children in Nepal. We need donors to help us with this calling. Please consider partnering with us. Please consider joining us as a prayer partner if you cannot donate. We want to make sure these children are covered in prayer daily. Please connect with us:
Webpage: http://www.orphanreliefeffort.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OREInc
Twitter: @OrphanREffort
Prayer
Dear Lord, Your Word calls us to hunger and thirst for righteousness — a righteousness that leads to compassion for the poor and a renewing of minds. Lead us to this kind of faith that works to make a better world for all children. And it is right to be angry about people who exploit children. So let that righteous anger fuel action, Lord. Don’t let it fade into complacency. Lead us to those you want us to help. In Jesus’ Most Holy Name. Amen.