The relationship between Mary and Jesus is a perfect manifestation of the love between God and men. From Mary’s song, we saw her humble heart before the Father, and out of her humbleness and love for God, she brought up Jesus with love and care. The same love and humble heart are also illustrated in the work of FACT today.

Nomatter, a Zimbabwean girl who was born in a family affected by HIV, described in her letter that the support from CEDAR was like a miraculous motherly love.

CEDAR’s partner in Zimbabwe, FACT (Family AIDS Caring Trust), is serving over 90 children orphaned by HIV in three impoverished communities, providing education sponsorship and psycho-social support, as well as organising Kids Clubs and youth camps for peers support. Nomatter shared, “CEDAR has provided us the best support every child needs. You supported me when I couldn’t support myself. You gave me hope when the future was all bleak and I was in the middle of nowhere.”

Four volunteer mothers participated in FACT’s project to provide holistic care and parental guidance to orphaned and vulnerable children. “With the help of our caregivers and coordinators, they offered us guidance and counselling that we needed so much. Just like a mother who won’t let her child fall to the ground, she always gives her hand in any means possible so that you gain your foot again,” Nomatter shared.

FACT’s volunteer mothers’ care and support brought God’s overflowing and unconditional love into the lives of these vulnerable children, just as Deuteronomy 32:11 says of God’s motherly character, “like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them aloft.”

Let us give praise to our Lord who raises us and helps us. Let us also learn from the volunteer mothers who devoted their love and care for the vulnerable children.

Prayer Items:

• Pray that God will use the Kids Clubs to brighten the lives of the orphaned and vulnerable children, and equip them with a heart with courage, love, and faith.
• Pray that God will strengthen the four peer educators’ faith [1], so that they can bless the younger ones with the blessings they received from the Lord.

 

[1] Peer educators offer education and spiritual mentorship to younger children in the Kids Club, helping them to grow into a responsible person who can firmly stand against temptations and strive for their dreams. Nomatter is one of the peer educators.