Dear Friends,
I’d love to tell you about our first day here in the Middle East. Some of my favorite people to see while visiting the work in the Middle East is the disabled community. Here they call them “Hababya Yesua”…..the ones Jesus Loves. Our small team of 10 had the blessing of being with around 150 people with special needs, their caretakers and the incredible volunteers that are the heartbeat of the ministry to them. This is no simple task. Nothing in this country is set up to serve these people and especially no ADA ramps or special vans to take them around. Everything is done by hand with love and lots of muscles. The volunteers literally carry them from the bus to their wheel chairs and then up and over the stairs to this field you see in the pictures.
The joy was contagious. Everyone was so happy to be there. For most, this will be the only time they get outside their home all year. This is the life of those with special needs in this region. They are outcasts, unwanted and bring shame to their family and therefore the culture shuns them. But not anymore. With more than 130 full time workers and 3,000 volunteers they are bringing hope to over 45,000 individuals with disabilities and their families. This is truly the work only those who follow Jesus would do. And the community and government recognize that.
We heard from several families from a Muslim background and they shared that they look forward to the Christian workers that come to their home to spend time with them, serve their needs, and then pray with them. You could see the gratitude in their eyes as they shared. Those that have been forgotten by the rest of the world, even by their own people, have not been forgotten by the Lord.
One family desperately wanted to come to the event but the husbands severe elephantiasis prevented him from coming. So, we traveled through tiny roads and alley ways to go visit him. As we sat and listened to his story, he had tears in his eyes. God sees him and has not left him. He was encouraged and blessed. It’s not easy to leave that situation but we felt comfort knowing that the volunteers would continue coming and ministering to this family.
When you support the work in the Middle East, this is one of the ministries you bless and encourage. Thank you. I wish you could all come and visit these precious people and see firsthand how your support is being used to care for the least of these. The Ones that Jesus loves.
Thank you for praying for our team. Tomorrow we have a big day visiting some of the other teams seeing God move amongst them in the region.
Many blessings to each of you and thank you for your love and care for this work….
Nova is a faithful partner of The Bolick Foundation