A troubling reality for ultra-poor women
I can’t believe we are already halfway through this year! Thanks so much for your faithful partnership with Julie’s Heart Cry. Much has been accomplished this year regarding the impact on women and children. The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 1:3-5: “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”
The plight of women we serve
As we delve deeper into the lives of women, we are uncovering a troubling reality that is quite shocking. Many women and children lack things that seem negligible to us, yet very important for their day-to-day lives.
A female staff member named Prunelle, who has been faithfully serving in the Youth at Risk program in the Central African Republic, discovered she could not travel from town to town because she did not have a national identification card. Thankfully, JHC was able to help her secure this card.
But here’s the thing. Without these government papers, ultra-poor women who live on $2 or less a day are held at checkpoints for hours – simply because they can’t afford the fees to obtain these ID documents. That means it’s impossible for these precious ladies to get to the market to sell their produce, which is their source of income to support their families.
A former pastor’s wife named Lydia, who enrolled in our sewing class and graduated last year, lost her husband midway through this training. Thanks to the sewing skills she acquired, she is now able to support her family. Her husband left her and the children a small plot of land, so Julie’s Heart Cry reached out to one of our ministry partners, Paradigm Foundation, who approved the application to build a new home for this dear family.
It’s heartbreaking, however, that not only must Lydia deal with the grief of losing her husband, but she now must live with the stigma of being a widow. No matter how her husband died, she is somehow responsible for his death – even if she wasn’t present when he passed away. Lydia is one among thousands of widows in sub-Saharan Africa who face prejudices deeply rooted in tradition, social norms and legal systems.
Prayer is essential
As I reflect on these two examples of issues plaguing women our ministry is called to serve, one act remains at the forefront. For us to be effective, prayer must be an integral part of this ministry – not only for the staff and me, but for all the women and children in our programs.
The blessing of seeing some of these basic needs met validates our ministry’s credibility. How can we encourage self-sustainability among impoverished women while neglecting the importance of things like ID cards?
Lydia will soon enjoy the dignity of owning a better house, which is almost fully constructed. Still, we must cover her in prayer from the enemy’s attacks as her neighbors continue their verbal abuse concerning her husband’s death.
On behalf of all the precious women and children we have served while sharing the good news of the Gospel, I am honored to pass along their gratitude to each of you. You have been the hands and feet of Jesus to them in their time of need.
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