No longer will the poor be nameless!

For the needy will not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not parish forever." Ps 9:18 (ESV)

This scripture describes my heart!

The vision/goal for Hands is to reach 100 000 orphans by the year 2010. When we look at how many orphans there are in Africa and how many we are currently reaching, the need to push to reach more becomes clear. I read Psalm 9:18 in the Message this morning. The first part reads "no longer will the poor be nameless..." Wow. This perfectly describes our desire to reach more orphans. May we know each of their names and be able to touch them individually and personally. May you know their names... or even just the name of one child so that you may pray for him/her by name.

The second part of the scripture made me very excited as well. A couple of weeks ago I heard a pastor make the statement "poor people have no hope." Shame. I do not agree with him. Rather, I am here to walk with those who desire to have someone to link arms with them as they pursue the dream that the Lord has placed in their heart.

In March I will be traveling to Zambia to meet James. James is a business man who saw a need in his community. He facilitated the start of community schools for children that did not have a school to go to. He is passionate about reaching the children in his community. After meeting George in January, he saw how doing home visits would help the community be more aware of the children's needs. After hearing George one time, we went to him community, gathered volunteers and started doing home visits/Home Based Care.

A team will be coming from Canada to train his volunteers in the basics of Home Based Care. There are 8 or 9 other similar communities who have contacted us for resources, training and support in various ways. How exciting that the Lord will be using me as one player to resource community leaders who long to effectively help there communities.

The HOPE of the poor will not perish forever! AMEN